Hi,
I'm a butterfly beginner and currently having problem with my hips sinking too much when my arms start with the recovery. I posted some videos at my blog (http://blog.grkovic.com/?p=30) Hips sink so much that first downkick barely lifts them above them the water. Sometimes, they don't even come out.
If anybody would have any suggestions, I would appreciate it a lot.
Thanks.
- Predrag.
Parents
Former Member
It seems to me that you found a big clue to what your issue is when you noticed (in your blog) that your hips don't sink when you don't kick.
If you compare your stroke to Phelps during the phase where you suddenly drop you will see that he is pressing down on the water with his thighs while drawing his feet forward along the surface of the water, followed by kicking his feet back, while you are pressing upward on the water with your feet and lower leg. Between gravity and your feet pushing upward and the fact that you are already too vertical at that point all forces are aligned for a big drop.
You might try starting with no kick, adding a little more chest press, and then very slowly easing in a little kick being careful not to kick predominately from the knees. When you dolphin kick on your back it is easier to get the feel of starting the kick at your hips with your knees coming up a bit (as you are on your back) with your feet drawing forward and toes pointing down instead of your feet moving down, and then both your thigh and feet returning to straight simultaneously as if you are thrusting some water back at the wall you are swimming away from. The key point here is to avoid what you are doing now which is pressing your knees down (when you are on your front) followed by the downstroke of the feet without the knees coming back up, which is leaving your feet way too deep and hence your attitude too vertical.
Learning to swim with your body rather than your limbs is the idea behind body dolphins - but learn to do these with fins (long or short) before you try without.
Note: this advise may be worth what you paid for it! Just another perspective.
It seems to me that you found a big clue to what your issue is when you noticed (in your blog) that your hips don't sink when you don't kick.
If you compare your stroke to Phelps during the phase where you suddenly drop you will see that he is pressing down on the water with his thighs while drawing his feet forward along the surface of the water, followed by kicking his feet back, while you are pressing upward on the water with your feet and lower leg. Between gravity and your feet pushing upward and the fact that you are already too vertical at that point all forces are aligned for a big drop.
You might try starting with no kick, adding a little more chest press, and then very slowly easing in a little kick being careful not to kick predominately from the knees. When you dolphin kick on your back it is easier to get the feel of starting the kick at your hips with your knees coming up a bit (as you are on your back) with your feet drawing forward and toes pointing down instead of your feet moving down, and then both your thigh and feet returning to straight simultaneously as if you are thrusting some water back at the wall you are swimming away from. The key point here is to avoid what you are doing now which is pressing your knees down (when you are on your front) followed by the downstroke of the feet without the knees coming back up, which is leaving your feet way too deep and hence your attitude too vertical.
Learning to swim with your body rather than your limbs is the idea behind body dolphins - but learn to do these with fins (long or short) before you try without.
Note: this advise may be worth what you paid for it! Just another perspective.
