Straight Arm Fly

I do a straight arm recovery, and near as I can tell I turn my hands palm down the instant they clear the water (if not sooner). My arthritic damaged shoulders won’t allow anything else. I can do 25’s for as much as I have wind for, I can do 50’s as much as I care to. 100’s are a challenge, but doable. I’m gonna (probably) try a 200 again someday (soon?). I can’t imagine doing a 1Kyd/m fly, not in this lifetime. But if I do it in moderation I can keep it looking and feeling good and not feel like I’m overstressing my shoulders. Most vids and photos I see are flyers arms exiting straight armed, leading the recovery with the wrist, which makes a lot of sense (and looks good too ;-). I see some flyers exiting with an elbow 1st recovery. These swimmers always look super smooth and relaxed in their fly, like they could do it all day long. Haven’t quite figured out how this is done other than that they must have super flexible shoulders. IMHO the only points of real concern are what you do to exit and enter the water with your arms, what you do in-between doesn't matter near as much (unless you are looking for some sort of record I reckon). Arm position in the recovery can have an effect on body position, which is oh so critical in fly, but while we are all similar, we are not all the same. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ... I was told that you needed to be super flexible to do the straight arm without straining the shoulder. Here's the test. Put your arms in the crucifix position straight out at 90 degrees with thumbs forward and then turn the hand back so your palms are facing up. This is pretty easy for me, so I think I'm flexible enough. Got those funky hyperextended elbows. No, don't want to change something that ain't broke. Just want to ease shoulder strain whenever possible. But a bent arm fly seems unnatural to me. Maybe the bent arm flyers aren't the sprinters? I think I'm exiting as you describe. I'll have to pay more attention when I swim today!

I do a straight arm recovery, and near as I can tell I turn my hands palm down the instant they clear the water (if not sooner). My arthritic damaged shoulders won’t allow anything else. I can do 25’s for as much as I have wind for, I can do 50’s as much as I care to. 100’s are a challenge, but doable. I’m gonna (probably) try a 200 again someday (soon?). I can’t imagine doing a 1Kyd/m fly, not in this lifetime. But if I do it in moderation I can keep it looking and feeling good and not feel like I’m overstressing my shoulders. Most vids and photos I see are flyers arms exiting straight armed, leading the recovery with the wrist, which makes a lot of sense (and looks good too ;-). I see some flyers exiting with an elbow 1st recovery. These swimmers always look super smooth and relaxed in their fly, like they could do it all day long. Haven’t quite figured out how this is done other than that they must have super flexible shoulders. IMHO the only points of real concern are what you do to exit and enter the water with your arms, what you do in-between doesn't matter near as much (unless you are looking for some sort of record I reckon). Arm position in the recovery can have an effect on body position, which is oh so critical in fly, but while we are all similar, we are not all the same. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ... I was told that you needed to be super flexible to do the straight arm without straining the shoulder. Here's the test. Put your arms in the crucifix position straight out at 90 degrees with thumbs forward and then turn the hand back so your palms are facing up. This is pretty easy for me, so I think I'm flexible enough. Got those funky hyperextended elbows. No, don't want to change something that ain't broke. Just want to ease shoulder strain whenever possible. But a bent arm fly seems unnatural to me. Maybe the bent arm flyers aren't the sprinters? I think I'm exiting as you describe. I'll have to pay more attention when I swim today!