As a kid my father and my coach always wanted me to swim the fly but I always resisted. Only once was I ever persuaded to swim the 100m fly. I went out hell for leather in the first 50 and even turned in front but the wheels came off in the second 50, in a bad way, and I ended up limping in the last 25m swimming one arm butterfly! I never tried again!
Now after a 20 odd year abscence from swimming I find myself actually wanting to swim fly and enjoying it when I do. It's a beautiful feeling when the fly is executed well: smooth, rhythmic and exhilarating. When you hit the zone in fly it is an even better feeling than hitting the zone in crawl. It is an addictive feeling.
How did I get into fly? Well it has only been recently really, but I started to do a set of 25m at the end of every practice. I started off really slowly: 10 times 25m at 30 sec's alternating fly and crawl. Slowly I have built that up to 40 times 25m at 30sec and more recently I have been adding a set of 10 times 50 fly at 90sec. Next I plan to cut the repeat interval down to at least a minute on the 50's and then add some 100's. I can't wait to try the 100's but I don't want to try before I am really ready for them.
I always laugh when I see SwimStud's "Fly: Just say no!" because that is exactly how I felt but I have to say now, a practice without fly is a a practice without my 'fix'!
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Syd
Therefore it can be said: fly is the most difficult stroke. Now if you want to be a real swimmer you should, at least, try to master the most difficult stroke. Which means, if you can't swim fly, you are not a real swimmer! Now don't get upset with me. Muppet said it first!;)
Syd
Now we're talking. Definitely the most physically demanding stroke! Timing, rhythm, balance, strength ... But no 2-flys for me; I'm sticking with 50s and 100s. (Fly is a bit hard on shoulders, after all.)
As to the monofin issue, Minnow, here's a thread on monofins. forums.usms.org/showthread.php. Post #4 also references a couple other fin/MF threads. I love my MF, and use it frequently. I missed it during my recent taper. I do a lot of four point dolphin kicking with it (back, front, left side, right side), do some drills with it, and do 25 shooters with it. Love those shooters. I think it helps build leg and core strength and helps with the undulation motion. My SDKs have significantly improved since I got it last December. Really helps on the backstroke starts and turns too! Of course, as non-MF Ande would tell you, you should be working on SDKs without the MF as well.
Keep your head down! I find I sometimes have to look up a bit to see the finish. Do some drills -- I still do caterpillar drill, chest press fly and lots of one arm fly.
Glad everyone is getting into fly and becoming addicts. Flop and pop! :bouncing:
Therefore it can be said: fly is the most difficult stroke. Now if you want to be a real swimmer you should, at least, try to master the most difficult stroke. Which means, if you can't swim fly, you are not a real swimmer! Now don't get upset with me. Muppet said it first!;)
Syd
Now we're talking. Definitely the most physically demanding stroke! Timing, rhythm, balance, strength ... But no 2-flys for me; I'm sticking with 50s and 100s. (Fly is a bit hard on shoulders, after all.)
As to the monofin issue, Minnow, here's a thread on monofins. forums.usms.org/showthread.php. Post #4 also references a couple other fin/MF threads. I love my MF, and use it frequently. I missed it during my recent taper. I do a lot of four point dolphin kicking with it (back, front, left side, right side), do some drills with it, and do 25 shooters with it. Love those shooters. I think it helps build leg and core strength and helps with the undulation motion. My SDKs have significantly improved since I got it last December. Really helps on the backstroke starts and turns too! Of course, as non-MF Ande would tell you, you should be working on SDKs without the MF as well.
Keep your head down! I find I sometimes have to look up a bit to see the finish. Do some drills -- I still do caterpillar drill, chest press fly and lots of one arm fly.
Glad everyone is getting into fly and becoming addicts. Flop and pop! :bouncing:
