All this back and forth between the breaststrokers and the freestylers (in particular) is all just in fun, right? I realize everyone has their favorite stroke (well, except for the IMers). I can't really swim anything other than freestyle, but I do enjoy the occasional bit of breaststroke (as long as I'm not in a big hurry and my knees are feeling okay). I think it allows me to concentrate on the catch fairly well which should help my freestyle, especially because I can actually watch what my hands and forearms are doing, not just guess based on "feel". So I guess in part I treat breastroke as a stroke drill for freestyle.
Yes? No? Maybe?
Thx,
Skip Montanaro
So why do it at all?
I do it because I love it! Fly is my favorite. I just have to be really careful to not overdo or my shoulders suffer.
But if you don't like it, I wouldn't do it. Fly is hard to learn from scratch. It took me awhile to re-learn it as a master after my 24 year break. As long as you're doing some breaststroke or backstroke to give yourself and your shoulders a break and work different muscle groups, that should be fine.
Rich: In my experience, most breaststrokers can learn to do fly, but it doesn't always work in reverse. Many flyers (like me) never learn to do breaststroke very well.
I thought Fort had made peace with her inner breaststroker,but now she calls us crazy(we are,but thats not an excuse.) I think those fast freestyles may have moved her to the darkside(long axis is the axis of evil.) Stay Good Fort,Stay Good.
Actually Fort, my love, I must disagree slightly. I think it's okay to swim tired fly. Not when you stroke is completely falling apart but when it hurts (tired muscle pain not ripping muscle pain or joint pain).
If you want to swim the 100 or 200 fly in meets you are very likely to die a bit in your stroke and technique. So you need to know that you can push through that. Last night we did a long set and I did 1/2 of every 100 fly my arms were really tired at the end but it was a great time to focus on technique and to really stretch out the stroke. I think it helps mentally as well.
The catch (haha) is that you have to know the difference between hurting yourself and pushing yourself.
Long Axis is only half evil ... and short axis is only half good ... the other half is for old ladies and people that don't want to get their faces wet ... real swimmers swim fly!
Actually Fort, my love, I must disagree slightly. I think it's okay to swim tired fly. Not when you stroke is completely falling apart but when it hurts (tired muscle pain not ripping muscle pain or joint pain).
If you want to swim the 100 or 200 fly in meets you are very likely to die a bit in your stroke and technique. So you need to know that you can push through that. Last night we did a long set and I did 1/2 of every 100 fly my arms were really tired at the end but it was a great time to focus on technique and to really stretch out the stroke. I think it helps mentally as well.
The catch (haha) is that you have to know the difference between hurting yourself and pushing yourself.
I agree! If you want to swim the longer fly events, you have to build up endurance. But you can do broken swims too. I was just saying that you shouldn't be flailing around or pushing through a complete stroke breakdown --- you know what bad technique causes! ;) :rofl: Plus, I still think if you know how to do fly, you don't have to train that much fly in practice.
Tracy: I'd rather be me than you!
So why do it at all? This is an honest question. I don't know how to fly. It doesn't look like fun and its really slow--something, I am trying to overcome and avoid injury.
I have found that my *** kick is a lot faster than my free style and I'll do *** just as a break from swimming all free. I am sure I am doing it all wrong, but I don't understand Fly at all.
Sorry, :dunno:
It is definitely not slow! It is the second-fastest stroke and is actually faster at its fastest point than any other stroke. But anyway, if you love fly, there is nothing like it and if you don't, you don't. De gustibis and all that. But if you love it, it is the perfect combination of grace, power, splashing, and showing off.
Thank Fort and Queen: One more question that will hopefully not spawn too many *** strokers to comment. Is there a benefit to doing the Fly?
Since you are risking your joints and admittedly use Free as a training device, does Fly help balance the muscles in the shoulder or have a beneficial stretch, add power, or coordination, anything positive, except that it is fun for those of you that can?
PS: it is impressive to watch when done right!:bow:
What some girl said. Plus, fly is all about core strength and balance and timing. So presumably mastering fly would derivatively improve your other strokes.
As for as the shoulders, I think fly just makes them really really BIG. I don't care if SS agrees with this or not. Fly breeds broad shoulders. No illusion. However, it does nothing but strain your rotator cuff muscles, so you better strengthen those separately. Also, freestyle is a "training device" for all strokes, not just fly.
Tracy: See how jealous you breaststrokers are!! :rofl:
I love breaststroke and breaststroke loves me:hug:
I love fly,but it hurts me:frustrated:
Freestyle and I are"just good friends":smooch:
Backstroke hates me and has tried to drown me:help:
Seriously, a good drill I have found for EVF is dog paddle with snorkle. It is basically one EVF after another and it is easy to watch your hands and forearms.
Actually Fort, my love, I must disagree slightly. I think it's okay to swim tired fly. Not when you stroke is completely falling apart but when it hurts (tired muscle pain not ripping muscle pain or joint pain).
I agree, but when it breaks down to the point of butterstruggle (for me at about 75 y) then you should quit.
...it is impressive to watch when done right!:bow:
A friend of mine said this. "Chicks dig guys that swim fly"
:banana:
