I'm a straight arm flyer and lead with my wrists. I was told by a very knowledgable person that this might be hard on the shoulders if you're not flexible (Although personally I am very flexible and loosey goosey, so I don't feel like I'm straining anything.)
So do others think straight arm fly is actually hard on the shoulders? Should we be leading with the elbows instead of the wrists? This seems odd to me. From what I can tell, Michael Phelps has a straight arm fly. I'll have to look at Crocker again. Thoughts?
Parents
Former Member
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....
Interesting test. I can barely get my palms within 45deg to being face up. So for all you folks out there with doubts about your flexibility impeding your fly development, there is hope. For me, perseverance and an indomitable will are the keys.
Just a few weeks ago I got one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten. A highly respected swim coach at my pool gave me some feedback on my fly and stated my timing was great (wow, what a huge relief that was), but that I might want to alter my entry. She suggested arching my back more, like going over a barrel. She cautioned me that it would likely shorten my glide.
I tried it on my next few visits and it was really awkward, and even painful. I decided it was just a case of “we are all similar but different”. I also realized that I NEED a long glide so that I have plenty of time before starting the catch/pull to set my shoulders (to protect them), which I accomplish mainly through a rotation gained by really opening up the chest wide, chest pressed down, wrists high... along with those ever so elusive hips high, legs trailing (because I'm at he end of my glide). This is how I start doing fly from a dead stop prone position. Simply press the chest down, keep the wrists high, and go (by pulling and kicking yourself FORWARD ). If I execute it well I can even get a breath on that first pull.
I’ve tried to match the vids I’ve watched (mainly Phelps and DeBruin), but I simply cannot do what these people do. I’m amazed at how they start the catch and pull at almost the instant their hands hit the surface of the water.
My “dude” side wants to apologize for any implication that your stroke was broken, :"> it is just that in order to maintain my “bubba” status I feel obligated to throw that one out every so often, and it’s been a while. :-D
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....
Interesting test. I can barely get my palms within 45deg to being face up. So for all you folks out there with doubts about your flexibility impeding your fly development, there is hope. For me, perseverance and an indomitable will are the keys.
Just a few weeks ago I got one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten. A highly respected swim coach at my pool gave me some feedback on my fly and stated my timing was great (wow, what a huge relief that was), but that I might want to alter my entry. She suggested arching my back more, like going over a barrel. She cautioned me that it would likely shorten my glide.
I tried it on my next few visits and it was really awkward, and even painful. I decided it was just a case of “we are all similar but different”. I also realized that I NEED a long glide so that I have plenty of time before starting the catch/pull to set my shoulders (to protect them), which I accomplish mainly through a rotation gained by really opening up the chest wide, chest pressed down, wrists high... along with those ever so elusive hips high, legs trailing (because I'm at he end of my glide). This is how I start doing fly from a dead stop prone position. Simply press the chest down, keep the wrists high, and go (by pulling and kicking yourself FORWARD ). If I execute it well I can even get a breath on that first pull.
I’ve tried to match the vids I’ve watched (mainly Phelps and DeBruin), but I simply cannot do what these people do. I’m amazed at how they start the catch and pull at almost the instant their hands hit the surface of the water.
My “dude” side wants to apologize for any implication that your stroke was broken, :"> it is just that in order to maintain my “bubba” status I feel obligated to throw that one out every so often, and it’s been a while. :-D
