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
I'm not an expert,but I was taught that SDK is lower amplitude and faster than full stroke kick.I have also been told that you should move your upper body less in SDK,and then have read that was not true.I tend to move my upper body less in SDK,but I'm not that fast(my whip kick is faster.)
I use a faster, high cycle, less amplitude motion for SDKs that is somewhat different than full stroke fly. Without the pull, I think you naturally have somewhat less upper body movement. Although when I SDK, I still try to start the motion from the chest. But I am probably using the core and legs more.
Allan have you ever watched Thorpe doing his dolphin kicks at the start of a race or when he comes off a turn. There is nothing to compare it to, it is great.
So, is the SDK supposed to be qualitatively different than the dolphin kick during the normal fly? Higher frequency? Lower amplitude? Less core involvement? It seems to me that if what you want is a higher frequency during SDK you will have to have a lower amplitude kick and less core involvement, at least to some degree.
Skip
The core does move however less than when you are swimming fly. The hands do not move up and down. I notice that the hands of many doing it go up and down as much as a foot, they should not do this.
Does that mean I should hide in the corner wearing a pointed swim cap during IM sets? ;)
I have the breaststroke dunce cap for my 100 IMs. Try not to let that stop you! How cool is it that we actually get to swim a 100 IM?!
Syd's advice is good. Patience and gradual build up. Don't do too much at once. Do some drills. Try fins for awhile to get a feel for correct body position. You'll eventually get the hang of it with a little determination and persistence.
... 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!;)
I am definitely a phony swimmer, and were I to attempt fly, it would definitely be a faux fly. Around here, it just doesn't seem to be something which is taught to anyone over the age of 10, and I missed my chance a few decades ago. Does that mean I should hide in the corner wearing a pointed swim cap during IM sets? ;)
I am definitely a phony swimmer, and were I to attempt fly, it would definitely be a faux fly. Around here, it just doesn't seem to be something which is taught to anyone over the age of 10, and I missed my chance a few decades ago. Does that mean I should hide in the corner wearing a pointed swim cap during IM sets? ;)
Don't worry inklaire, it was never taught to me either. I am also a few decades past ten and am only starting to learn it now. It just takes perseverance: getting past that 'this is absolutely impossible stage'. Once you have built up adequate strength to swim a 25m it starts becoming fun. Trust me on this one. My main problem now is to stop myself from swimming fly every practice. I keep telling myself I need variation but lately my practices have become exclusively free and fly affairs. Truth is I find breastroke boring (probably because I don't do it well enough) and water gets down my nose in backstroke!
Don't give up!
Syd
Hey Syd you have it right - I also do not think any one should swim backstroke or breaststroke. There are only 2 events to swim fly and crawl, and no more than 100 of either stroke.
Thanks, Fort and Syd, for your encouragement. I haven't exactly started to learn the stroke -- I wouldn't know where to start (you have no idea just how long it took me to learn to swim the strokes I do know) -- but I still appreciate the sentiment. As it is, my current choice is to substitute breaststroke for fly in IM sets because I enjoy torture. :)
Fly to me is an easy stroke to do. Just do a double arm crawl and kick twice with the legs. Swim 3 strokes with out breathing and you are flying. Practice 3 strokes at a time until you can do four and so on. Then take a breath or two. After a while 25 yards then 50 yards, before you know it 100 yards.
In my old age I do a lot of one arm fly 3 or 4 strokes on one side a then same on other side
