Questions about Butterfly

RE: Questions about Butterfly

Former Member — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:44:45 GMT

Also, breaststroke is much more reliant on lower body muscles (just think how much the hip and knee flexors have to work during breastroke compared to the other strokes). Consequently, you're engaging the larger muscle groups .. which in turn demand more oxygen .. etc etc ...

RE: Questions about Butterfly

Allen Stark — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:30:49 GMT

Yes. Breaststroke burns more calories at competitive speeds than fly because of the big muscles in the lower body. Of course it's easier to cheat in breaststroke by gliding more and raising your head so slow breaststroke(reststroke) is easier.

RE: Questions about Butterfly

Former Member — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:12:57 GMT

Wow, I always thought butterfly used more energy. I'm not completely sure why breaststroke would use more energy, but here's a few ideas: Speed: Since breaststroke is a slower stroke, are they comparing the energy needed to swim a set distance? Or are they comparing a swimmer swimming breaststroke and butterfly at the same speed? Or are they simply measuring energy used per unit time? Technique: How good are the swimmers who were tested? If they were elite, they may have such good technique that the results are different from those of "normal" swimmers. I could be completely wrong about both of these. Has anyone here actually tried an experiment of this sort?

RE: Questions about Butterfly

FlyQueen — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 04:32:36 GMT

Fly is more efficient, you cover more water faster than you do in breaststroke. Breaststroke is the least efficient and slowest stroke. It takes longer to cover more ground. This is true for even your average swimmer. Now if you cannot swim fly at all than there is a difference, but a good relaxed fly takes less energy. That doesn't mean it is easier. I can swim fly better tired than I can swim breaststroke tired ...