Today, for whatever reason, I made a focused effort to sight the end of the pool, albeit momentarily, during my breath. I think it helped me keep correct orientation and pitch thus helping my body dolphin. I think before I was just looking cross eyed into the water ahead and not really picking the end of the pool as the focus. It was cool seeing the wall "rapidly" approaching.
So my question is, should you not look at any discernable thing and zone out looking for the tee, or should you take a conscious peek at the wall on every breath to help keep body orientation?
What say you?
Looking down will reassure you that your head position is relaxed. If you want to see the other end of the pool, go ahead and look. The wall isn't moving anywhere, but your butt will be dragging for the time you look. If your recovery and breathing portion is sufficiently aggressive, you can probably get away with rolling up your eyes, but I prefer to go by the lines on the bottom to tell me where I am.
The "look down while breathing" is an odd sensation if you are not accustomed to it, but is very efficient.
Over the years I have tried many things to improve my butterfly, but core strength and powerful kicking will always be the key. You can have no arms left at all but if your legs can hold out, the race is a thing of beauty.
Looking down will reassure you that your head position is relaxed. If you want to see the other end of the pool, go ahead and look. The wall isn't moving anywhere, but your butt will be dragging for the time you look. If your recovery and breathing portion is sufficiently aggressive, you can probably get away with rolling up your eyes, but I prefer to go by the lines on the bottom to tell me where I am.
The "look down while breathing" is an odd sensation if you are not accustomed to it, but is very efficient.
Over the years I have tried many things to improve my butterfly, but core strength and powerful kicking will always be the key. You can have no arms left at all but if your legs can hold out, the race is a thing of beauty.
