Hi all,
One of the sets in practice today was 400 IM. And, no, the coach wouldn't let me change it to 4x100IM, but I guess the upside of that was that once the fly was done, it was DONE. But in my case, once it was done, I felt done for.
As you can tell from the title of this thread, just let's say I don't make it look pretty. :rolleyes:
But I realize it would be nice to at least do something that didn't make the coach want to shield his eyes. In a lot of IM sets I wimp out and just substitute free for butterfly, with the idea that it might be nice to finish practice the same day I started it... oh and be kind to the coach's sensibilities lol... But all the same, I think to myself, other human beings have done this stroke. It must be possible, if not easy.
Actually, the coach didn't really shield his eyes, and did give me some "remedial butterfly" lessons after the practice. This, I will say, showed courage, as he had to look at me doing my not so pretty version.
One thing he said was to push chest down, then hips down... and told me to try it a few times just with the body movement before taking any pull, then three times before taking a pull. I guess I had a little semblance of the movement, but I didn't feel at all as if I was going to master it any time this millenium.
Sooooo.... flyers.... HOW DO YOU DO IT? Have you any tips for the butterfly-challenged? I don't want to keep wimping out w/ free during the butterfly portion of IM sets. (Not that my other strokes look that great but at least they give me some remote hope of moving forward rather than :drown: ing.)
Thanks much, folk!
Parents
Former Member
Leading with your chest, I don't know how else to describe it, is key. Press FORWARD with your body, not up and down.
One thing people have a tough time with is the breathing and timing of the breath. I really can't think of a good drill to correct this. I guess one thing to feel when you breathe, is pushing forward, NOT UP, with your chin. I know most of us are guilty of this. When we get tired we turn into what I describe as Godzilla and try to life our heads way up to get our breath out of fear of choking on water. You won't....just push forward with your chin each time. As with any stroke, your head should stay in line with your spine as much as you can and not break the neutral position. If you're pressing forward with your chest when you swim and pressing forward with your chin when you breathe, you'll feel a HUGE difference. You will come just over the surface of the water for your breath with takes a whole lot LESS energy than trying to lift your chest and head up and over the water. Maybe watch some Olympians swimming fly from the side view. You will see them push forward this way.
I hope this makes sense!
Godzilla butterfly
www.youtube.com/watch
Good head position (and video)
www.youtube.com/watch
Leading with your chest, I don't know how else to describe it, is key. Press FORWARD with your body, not up and down.
One thing people have a tough time with is the breathing and timing of the breath. I really can't think of a good drill to correct this. I guess one thing to feel when you breathe, is pushing forward, NOT UP, with your chin. I know most of us are guilty of this. When we get tired we turn into what I describe as Godzilla and try to life our heads way up to get our breath out of fear of choking on water. You won't....just push forward with your chin each time. As with any stroke, your head should stay in line with your spine as much as you can and not break the neutral position. If you're pressing forward with your chest when you swim and pressing forward with your chin when you breathe, you'll feel a HUGE difference. You will come just over the surface of the water for your breath with takes a whole lot LESS energy than trying to lift your chest and head up and over the water. Maybe watch some Olympians swimming fly from the side view. You will see them push forward this way.
I hope this makes sense!
Godzilla butterfly
www.youtube.com/watch
Good head position (and video)
www.youtube.com/watch
