I've heard a lot of stories about how if you don't know how to do fly properly you could seriously wreck your shoulders.
One story one of my friends told me that a friend of hers dislocated her shoulder in the middle of a race.
I do want to try it but I'm a bit intimidated to tell the truth. Plus, I'll look ridiculous the first time I try :blush:. Total embarrassment I'd predict.
Any tips to get over the fear?
Parents
Former Member
I'm trying to learn right now!
First off, I decided to take it slow. A few years ago, I started learning fly and pulled or strained or pinched something in my neck. That ended that.
I started a couple of weeks ago doing one-arm fly (all right) for three-four lenghts of 25 yards, once or twice a week.
Now I'm doing 3-3-3 drills: three one-armed fly (left), three one-armed fly (right) and three full-out fly. Sometimes I'll start out with the full-out fly, then switch into the other two. Here's a clip of the drill: www.goswim.tv/.../butterfly---3-3-3.html
I'm also getting lots of rest, about 30 seconds rest for each 25 yards. It's much more demanding than the other strokes, especially while you are learning it. And the stroke falls apart when you are tied, to a point where it doesn't make sense to continue. (Some call it 'butterstruggle.')
Even with the rest, the fly work has taken my workouts up a notch.
For dryland exercise, I'm doing rotator cuff exercises. I think the 'prehab' work is particularly important for this stroke because of the potential for shoulder strain.
I don't do any fly with fins. I gave it a try and it threw my timing off. Maybe I'll try again later. I have read others who put the fins on and had terrific results, so for you it is certainly worth a try.
However, I do use fins when I practice dolphin kicks alone.
Right now, I'm doing a little more than a half-length of fly and slowly getting better. It's slow progress, but I'm comfortable with that.
Good luck!
I'm trying to learn right now!
First off, I decided to take it slow. A few years ago, I started learning fly and pulled or strained or pinched something in my neck. That ended that.
I started a couple of weeks ago doing one-arm fly (all right) for three-four lenghts of 25 yards, once or twice a week.
Now I'm doing 3-3-3 drills: three one-armed fly (left), three one-armed fly (right) and three full-out fly. Sometimes I'll start out with the full-out fly, then switch into the other two. Here's a clip of the drill: www.goswim.tv/.../butterfly---3-3-3.html
I'm also getting lots of rest, about 30 seconds rest for each 25 yards. It's much more demanding than the other strokes, especially while you are learning it. And the stroke falls apart when you are tied, to a point where it doesn't make sense to continue. (Some call it 'butterstruggle.')
Even with the rest, the fly work has taken my workouts up a notch.
For dryland exercise, I'm doing rotator cuff exercises. I think the 'prehab' work is particularly important for this stroke because of the potential for shoulder strain.
I don't do any fly with fins. I gave it a try and it threw my timing off. Maybe I'll try again later. I have read others who put the fins on and had terrific results, so for you it is certainly worth a try.
However, I do use fins when I practice dolphin kicks alone.
Right now, I'm doing a little more than a half-length of fly and slowly getting better. It's slow progress, but I'm comfortable with that.
Good luck!
