I just read the Speedo tip of the week about "muscling" the recovery in buttetfly. I'm definitely that guy. I love the butterfly and want to swim faster, but seem to be stuck with the same times over and over. I'm sure my recovery has something to do with it. Any advice out there beyond the speedo tip of the week or is it really a mental thing that I've turned physical?
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...I'm sure my recovery has something to do with it. Any advice out there...?
If you want free advice, you’ve defiantly come to the right place.
It sounds like “muscling” the recovery is a bad thing according to the Speedo tip. I know for sure that it is not how I envision my fly recovery. In fact it was not until I did not feel like I was forcing the recovery that I began to feel like I was really getting proficient in fly, especially on the breath stroke.
For me the key in having a relaxed and smooth fly recovery starts with setting my body for the catch/pull. Once I developed a more fluid body motion, the recovery became a whole lot easier, and a lot less of an issue. My easy breaths now come when I get the correct balance of kick/no-kick at the most powerful point of the stroke, as I launch myself forward (and up) for the breath.
Opening my chest really wide, and really elongating my body as I set for the pull/kick really helps me drive forward. While the kick at the end of the pull is by far the more powerful kick for me, it often comes when it seems that I’m not really kicking at all, since my whole body is engaged in the movement. (Woo-Hoo! Look at ‘dem abs!)
When it all comes together it really does feel as if I’m being launched forward, which makes it relatively easy to get the loft I need for a relaxed recovery, or even a relaxed breath/recovery.
I’m still learning however. And I really love doing fly too. It has been quite an education, and a very satisfying challenge too. I think anyone that can to the other three completive strokes can do fly. (One coach I spoke to early in my butterfly practice claimed the ability to do it was genetic.)
I don’t focus on speed very often. I’ve found that speed comes naturally with good technique. And while there are some rather tried and true rules for technique, I believe a good technique is ultimately different for each individual and simply needs to be something you are just comfortable with. If you want to get really fast then I reckon you’ll have to do as the Big Dogs do… me, I’m just a porch puppy.
...I'm sure my recovery has something to do with it. Any advice out there...?
If you want free advice, you’ve defiantly come to the right place.
It sounds like “muscling” the recovery is a bad thing according to the Speedo tip. I know for sure that it is not how I envision my fly recovery. In fact it was not until I did not feel like I was forcing the recovery that I began to feel like I was really getting proficient in fly, especially on the breath stroke.
For me the key in having a relaxed and smooth fly recovery starts with setting my body for the catch/pull. Once I developed a more fluid body motion, the recovery became a whole lot easier, and a lot less of an issue. My easy breaths now come when I get the correct balance of kick/no-kick at the most powerful point of the stroke, as I launch myself forward (and up) for the breath.
Opening my chest really wide, and really elongating my body as I set for the pull/kick really helps me drive forward. While the kick at the end of the pull is by far the more powerful kick for me, it often comes when it seems that I’m not really kicking at all, since my whole body is engaged in the movement. (Woo-Hoo! Look at ‘dem abs!)
When it all comes together it really does feel as if I’m being launched forward, which makes it relatively easy to get the loft I need for a relaxed recovery, or even a relaxed breath/recovery.
I’m still learning however. And I really love doing fly too. It has been quite an education, and a very satisfying challenge too. I think anyone that can to the other three completive strokes can do fly. (One coach I spoke to early in my butterfly practice claimed the ability to do it was genetic.)
I don’t focus on speed very often. I’ve found that speed comes naturally with good technique. And while there are some rather tried and true rules for technique, I believe a good technique is ultimately different for each individual and simply needs to be something you are just comfortable with. If you want to get really fast then I reckon you’ll have to do as the Big Dogs do… me, I’m just a porch puppy.
