I recently had a disagreement with another swimmer about proper fly technique. After the recovery, where do the hands enter the water? I was taught they should enter the water a little wider than your shoulders, but he insisted that they should enter the water closer together, more like 6 inches apart. Which is correct? Does it make a difference whether you're swimming sprint fly or distance fly?
Mainly makes a difference how flexible you are or aren't.
6" apart are basically just a little closer than "a little wider than your shoulders".
There is not much difference in the two.
My daughters private coach teaches shoulder width apart, using the shoulders to rotate the arms over so that entry is ready to skull out with palms out somewhat. Does that even make sense? no wonder I don't coach, geez. I know how to show it, can't describe it, and every once in a while I can even do it right and feel it!
I try about 6 inches. I think wha ti simportant about the hands is where they are pointed. I was told ot point them straight abead. Iknow people who point the tips out ready to grab. I don't know which is best?
Let me offer you some secret advice to learning to fly...
IT DOESN'T FLIPPIN' MATTER!!!!
If you are thinking first about what your arms are doing, you are missing the major point. You swim fly mostly with your body, not your arms. Learn an effective udulation technique first; this is often called a body dolphin. (To learn more, go to www.h2oustonswims.org; click on "Articles"; find the piece "Slip Slid'n Away")
Originally posted by hofffam
If the hands enter close together, then immediately go outward - they are not contributing to propulsion. I think the shoulder width hand entry is less likely to create wasted motion during the first phase of the outsweep.
Since when does propulsion start when the hand enters the water, never did never will, propulsion starts at the catch.
Addition just watched the video of Phelps his hands enter slightly wider then his shoulders...
Yes, that is what her coach said as well. He did not want wasted moments, that the outsweep happens immediately, and he had her walking the pool to understand that timing.
I'm comfortable with the body dolphin, that's not a major issue at this point. I can do a solid 50 fly (about 33 seconds for 50 yds) and a pretty good 100 fly (not timed, probably about 1:20). I figured out a few months ago that I can do fly much longer without much loss of speed if I focus on kicking/undulating hard and relaxing my arms. I just wanted to know whether the extra energy required to move my arms the extra 12 inches or so in the front is actually worth it.
