Hey, I just did a lap of butterfly!
Ok, 4 lengths, but let's split the difference and call it a lap. ;)
Back when I used to compete, I never did figure out the butterly. It was my only slow stroke. Just never got the rhythm down.
So when I started training again in September, I stuck to the other 3 strokes. Tried fly and didn't remember it at all. Couldn't do it. Not even a single stroke.
Anyway, I'm reading Mastering Swimming and there's a section in there on how to learn fly, starting with pulsing, then pulsing with kicking, then pulsing and kicking with sculling, then adding the complete pull.
In one week, I learned it. Today I did my first full length!
The trick was to find the point where the breath starts. Once I realized that I had to come up when I was both in the power phase of the pull and on a down kick, the rest worked itself out because I had done the exercises that Montgomery and Chambers described, so my body was doing what it should be doing once I found that sweet spot where my pull and kick were coordinated, and it was automatic from there.
Of course, I was splashing like a puppy in a bathtub, and I got tired pretty quick, and got a little cramp in my leg, so I know I need to do some major work on my form before I can incorporate fly into my regular workout, but hey, now I can do the stroke!
Thanks, Jim and Mo!
Congratulations! That's a huge achievement...not many people can do even one length let alone 4!
Bask in the glory of butterfly - you are in rare company!
I can feel your excitement. I'm just experienced the same thing or so.
Barring 2 years when I was very young I've no swim experienced. I start over 2 years ago, all of myself I've rebuild from the ground all the strokes, first 2 years with a coach, what a wastle of time!, yes funny with other peoples but all my progress was due only at my passion. This year I train alone, what a difference!, I've improve more in last 3 months that the 2 years before. Fly was more a survivor experienced. this season I've started over, I have improved my core so my hip is higher, I've spent weeks to improve my ondulation and dolphin kick, and single arm fly.
After 3 months, last week I've tried to swim a complete fly. Well, totally a new experience. Now I swim with the body, my hip is at the surface, I feel the propulsion of dolphin kick, my hands can enter "soft" because my body is aligned and It's no needed to throw ahead and fast the arms to raise the hip with big splash, after the first lap, i was nearly fresh so wow let's me to do it again, again, and again. an impossible thing few months ago, swim 100m fly broken in 25s with a short rest, still alive.
The new feeling is great, I can feel the rythm, there's a lot of works to do, I must fix the breath, relax more, better first stroke, but great I'm happy.
Congratulations!! You now qualify for one of those "complete" swimmer t-shirts! Great job!!
I tell you what... I'll get one of those when I compete in all 4 strokes. :D
Remember, the head will lead the body. Be sure your face enters before your arms and let your chest "drop in", to me this is a key tip.
Thanks. Jim and Mo raise that point, as well. I'll be sure to pay attention to it. I've got to get my head down from where it was yesterday -- that's bound to make the stroke easier.
Congratulations! That's a huge achievement...not many people can do even one length let alone 4!
Bask in the glory of butterfly - you are in rare company!
Thanks, y'all. I appreciate the encouragement.
In the back of my mind I'm thinking about this guy, Ronnie Sharp, who was on my team as a kid (he was older). Short, stocky, red-headed fellow, could negative split a 500 fly.
I doubt I'll ever do anything like that, but I'm setting my goal to at least compete in the 50 some day.
It does stretch/work some muscles that the other strokes don't. I can tell that today.
In fly , do not forget to glide after the pull & arm recovery !
That's the one point that Jim and Mo stress the strongest, gliding after recovery. They bring it up several times.
We'll see how it goes at tomorrow's workout.
To be honest, yesterday my only thought was "OMG, I'm actually doing this!" ;) That, and trying to get an overall feel for the rhythm of it.
They recommend a drill for beginner butterflyers, doing one stroke on 2 kicks, then no stroke with arms out front for 2 kicks. That's to short-circuit the temptation to do the pull like backstroke where there's no glide at the top of the stroke.
So tomorrow I think I'll go back and review the pulse and scull exercise, then swim a lap or two with the full stroke to remind myself how it feels, then do that drill for a few lengths.
The first hundred is the most difficult to get.
The second one come easily :)
Congratulations!!
Congratulations to you! Hitting the timing right while swimming butterfly is one of the great joys in life.
SE, I don't agree about the second hundred, though. I've tried, and it is not a pretty thing. :)
When I was younger I had a teammate that was naturally gifted at the butterfly. I'm NOT and was amazed when I witnessed this true story...
After finishing warmup my swim group started to whine about wanting an easy practice. My coach usually just told us to shut up and swim, but this particular day he challenged anyone in the pool to swim a mile butterfly (1650 yards) without stopping and we could go home. I think about 4 people tried to do it... only 1 person finished. She literally just cruised through the entire 1650... no problem... great form... not out of breath at all. Finished, got out of the pool with a big smile, and waved goodbye to everyone as she headed into the locker room. She was a badass! :applaud: :cheerleader:
