Butterfrog

I have been trying to figure out a way to incorporate a whip kick with dolphin kick. Maybe at turns or if I go vertical. It is a hard transition for me but I would think there is somewhere that a whip/frog kick could fit into the stroke without using it the whole race. Anyone ever experimented? If you are serious about trying this, then I suggest: 1. Read the rules CAREFULLY; 2. It's one thing to read it; you have to actually practice it to understand it; 3. Have one of the officials, not your buddy or lanemate, watch you to see if it's legal. No point misinterpreting it and then getting DQ'd. The officials that volunteer at the NT swim meets are very nice and I asked one to actually watch me during warm up and explain changing kick within a length and on/off the turns. It is a bit tricky. 4. Develop your whip kick style. I used this at a time when I was in poor condition, but wanted to see if I could just finish it. I found it works best to have a really narrow kick and don't bend your knees to bring the feet up as far as in your regular breastroke. You also have to adjust your timeing to fly arms vs. your *** arm cycle. I wasn't going for speed, just for vertical-ness and to finish legally, so the emphasis was on getting as little drag but as much lift as possible. Think "6 inch baby kicks" and in the recovery portion "lift" your legs "up and out" of the way to avoid up/down drag and side/side drag. If I remember correctly, the key words are something like "mirror image" leg movement, or at least that's what I think about rather than an actual *** kick. I have swum this event both ways. Butterfrog at 2:31 was no less satisfying (squeeked in for a top ten time!) than going 2:15's in my early masters, or 2:06 in college. Times are absolute and unambiguous; interpretation is up to you. South Central Zones, SCY 2008. Last 100 butterfrog. North Texas officials? They are the nicest people and really dedicated. They would be HAPPY if swimmers asked them questions - particulary before their swims!! Uh, not right before, ask them during warm ups or in a quiet moment before the meets starts. I asked Paula Kelley. She swims on DAMM but officiates plenty of our meets as well as swimming the meets herself. She's very friendly and would be happy to explain the rules. Another is the guy who does everything - I think it's Tom Osterber or something like that. Not to be confused with the forumite with a similar name. I think he would actually love to have people ask him about the finer points of legal swimming. And last, regarding the debate - I have no position. Whatever the volunteers on the rules committee decide is ok with me! And thanks for doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us!

I have been trying to figure out a way to incorporate a whip kick with dolphin kick. Maybe at turns or if I go vertical. It is a hard transition for me but I would think there is somewhere that a whip/frog kick could fit into the stroke without using it the whole race. Anyone ever experimented? If you are serious about trying this, then I suggest: 1. Read the rules CAREFULLY; 2. It's one thing to read it; you have to actually practice it to understand it; 3. Have one of the officials, not your buddy or lanemate, watch you to see if it's legal. No point misinterpreting it and then getting DQ'd. The officials that volunteer at the NT swim meets are very nice and I asked one to actually watch me during warm up and explain changing kick within a length and on/off the turns. It is a bit tricky. 4. Develop your whip kick style. I used this at a time when I was in poor condition, but wanted to see if I could just finish it. I found it works best to have a really narrow kick and don't bend your knees to bring the feet up as far as in your regular breastroke. You also have to adjust your timeing to fly arms vs. your *** arm cycle. I wasn't going for speed, just for vertical-ness and to finish legally, so the emphasis was on getting as little drag but as much lift as possible. Think "6 inch baby kicks" and in the recovery portion "lift" your legs "up and out" of the way to avoid up/down drag and side/side drag. If I remember correctly, the key words are something like "mirror image" leg movement, or at least that's what I think about rather than an actual *** kick. I have swum this event both ways. Butterfrog at 2:31 was no less satisfying (squeeked in for a top ten time!) than going 2:15's in my early masters, or 2:06 in college. Times are absolute and unambiguous; interpretation is up to you. South Central Zones, SCY 2008. Last 100 butterfrog. North Texas officials? They are the nicest people and really dedicated. They would be HAPPY if swimmers asked them questions - particulary before their swims!! Uh, not right before, ask them during warm ups or in a quiet moment before the meets starts. I asked Paula Kelley. She swims on DAMM but officiates plenty of our meets as well as swimming the meets herself. She's very friendly and would be happy to explain the rules. Another is the guy who does everything - I think it's Tom Osterber or something like that. Not to be confused with the forumite with a similar name. I think he would actually love to have people ask him about the finer points of legal swimming. And last, regarding the debate - I have no position. Whatever the volunteers on the rules committee decide is ok with me! And thanks for doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us!