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!
Former Member
Tried for the 50 yesterday, but couldn't make the 2nd length. Had to stop the drills b/c I'm getting bad cramps in the legs, which means I'm tensing them unnecessarily and kicking too much from the knee rather than the hip.
It's difficult to focus on my stroke, tho, b/c I'm so focused on maintaining the rhythm so I can keep swimming. Catch 22.
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:
love that story! i can relate to this thread. this past 3 months or so (after completely croaking at the 50 fly in a meet) i've been obsessed with eliminating the drown-fest known as the last 25 yards. i started out just trying to do 50 flys more often but i just kept falling apart.
so, i quit trying the whole 50. instead, i started doing lots of fly kicking and drilling until i could do right arm/left arm/both arm fly for 75. it's starting to pay off. it's getting a bit easier each time i try.
Now i'm going work to get to 100 right arm/left arm/both arm. Once i get there, i'll try the 50 again.
Today I did 6 lengths at practice, along with some dolphin kicking.
My big barrier is getting the timing right from the top of the stroke. I'll bet anything that this was also my problem as a kid, tho of course I don't remember exactly why I couldn't establish a rhythm back then.
I want to begin the stroke with a down kick, but that's wrong b/c the down kick has to come at the power position of the pull with the breath. Just can't seem to begin it right on an upkick on the catch. :(
Which means I haven't been able to do Jim & Mo's one stroke / 2 kicks drill.
But I'll keep working on it.
It's freezing out, gonna be a low of 15, and there's already a 13lb ball of fur crawling onto my lap. Tomorrow I will wake up wearing cats again. I'm just one big ol' heating pad, I reckon.
Up to 6 lengths now, but still not able to really focus on form yet, although my first length today felt surprisingly effortless.
But just the first one. ;)
Today I did 8 mixed 50s fly/crawl (sometimes fly/back).
I'm starting to get a feel for how it works from the top of the stroke.
My plan is to work up to 4 mixed 100s fly/crawl/fly/crawl, and then to 4 mixed 100s of 50/50 fly/crawl.
Good for you ! Next is the Butternut prize, that is for doing 500 or more fly ? !
My nuts won't turn to butter, will they? :afraid:
:lolup:
Grats!!!! You've got the hadest part down.
Keep up the hard work!!
I've found swimming breastroke arms + dolphin kick with fins to be excellent for learning the body undulation for fly.
Sounds like a good drill. I've recently adjusted my breaststroke to the wave pattern and corrected some timing errors, and I did notice that the arm/breath timing was the same as fly. I'll give it a shot.
So, Sharpsburger. It's been quite some time since you posted regarding swimming butterfly. I'd really like to know how you're doing now that you've been into it for several months.
I myself finally earned the right to wear a "complete swimmer" t-shirt just a couple of weeks ago and I'm finding your posts to be helpful. I'm now at the 25 fly/25 free stage (did two of these after my morning workout today, preceded by a 50 of dolphin kicking), and find that each time I give it a whirl it's getting easier.
I find this so strange, because I also had lots of trouble trying to learn this stroke when I was in high school back in the early '70s. I gave it up completely until I attended SwimFest on June 5, when everything just seemed to click. I think having great coaching and so much encouragement really helped. Plus, being older helps as well. I'm not so concerned about what people think while I'm flailing in the water. :D
