Learning butterfly and breastroke is really awkward for me
Former Member
I will go out on a limb and say I have "mastered" back and free in a beginner-ish, efficient swimming, "looks good and feels good" kind of way.
*** and fly have been a lot more challenging, although in fairness I've also spent less time on them.
I can "dolphin kick" across the pool underwater without any problems. (As a strange aside, the lifeguards thing it's weird when I do this and call it "the wave" and don't associate it with butterfly at all.)
I say I'm practicing dolphin kick, and they say, "well don't practice that if you want to learn butterfly", and then I say, "well what should I practice?" and they say, "butterfly kick", and then everyone just gets really confused.
Anyway, I have trouble integrating the arms into the dolphin kick motion. I also have trouble getting my arms high enough above the water. I really don't understand the entire stroke and I feel like I'd never be able to learn it.
Breastroke I can do, although my kick is horrible, so it's primarily my arms pulling me through the water.
Many o' teachers have tried to fix my whip kick. I can do it just fine on the deck. I can do it just fine if I "watch" my feet in the water. And I can do it well underwater.
But for some reason, when I integrate it full stroke, and especially near the surface of the water, I get almost no power from my kick.
It's all very frustrating...
Parents
Former Member
Now for the Breaststroke! This "nutshell" explaination should be replaced by watching a good breaststroke video (GoSwim has some great ones) but here goes.
The kick can be one of the most difficult skills to acquire and if you have it then timing comes next, followed by the pull and breathing. Turns are a separate issue but all can be tackled during each practice. I think you should begin by watching the underwater video of Brendan Hansen who is one of the fastest breaststrokers in the world. Keep a keen eye on the outward press (with locked elbows) at the very start of the pull. The start of each pull begins when the kick is finishing so momentum is continuous ( an extension of the body is pronounced after the kick). The breath comes when the arms are 1/2 to 3/4 through the pull. The knee-caps point to the bottom of the pool as the heels are drawn up toward the butt (a chambered position) ready to kick back. The knees are approximately two to three fists apart (flexibility will dictate adjustments) while the feet should be wider (also dictated by an individual's flexibility) than the knees.
You can begin timing your kick and pull separately so you can document improvement and evaluate your efficiency. Knee joints can be traumatized by too much kicking so ease into it.
A great drill to help streamlining and tempo is 2 kicks to 1 pull routine. Take your time and you'll get the hang of it. Good luck, Coach T.
When do you start to pull up, or "chamber", your legs - as you are breathing or as your lunge into your streamline or after you have reached streamline?
Now for the Breaststroke! This "nutshell" explaination should be replaced by watching a good breaststroke video (GoSwim has some great ones) but here goes.
The kick can be one of the most difficult skills to acquire and if you have it then timing comes next, followed by the pull and breathing. Turns are a separate issue but all can be tackled during each practice. I think you should begin by watching the underwater video of Brendan Hansen who is one of the fastest breaststrokers in the world. Keep a keen eye on the outward press (with locked elbows) at the very start of the pull. The start of each pull begins when the kick is finishing so momentum is continuous ( an extension of the body is pronounced after the kick). The breath comes when the arms are 1/2 to 3/4 through the pull. The knee-caps point to the bottom of the pool as the heels are drawn up toward the butt (a chambered position) ready to kick back. The knees are approximately two to three fists apart (flexibility will dictate adjustments) while the feet should be wider (also dictated by an individual's flexibility) than the knees.
You can begin timing your kick and pull separately so you can document improvement and evaluate your efficiency. Knee joints can be traumatized by too much kicking so ease into it.
A great drill to help streamlining and tempo is 2 kicks to 1 pull routine. Take your time and you'll get the hang of it. Good luck, Coach T.
When do you start to pull up, or "chamber", your legs - as you are breathing or as your lunge into your streamline or after you have reached streamline?
