The Butterfly Lane

Elaine, I watched the side video. I could not access the front view video. I might suggest building up faster momentum earlier in your arm pull so that you have more hand speed near the bottom of the pull where it is most effective. Personally I wouldn't worry about how close the hands are at entry or the bowwave. You might try to doing some all-out fast-as-you can sprints for 25 yards, windmilling with your arm stroke to get a new sensation of where your power is and where it can be. Doing some sprinting really helped my learning process this last year. For the kick, I find that a strong downward kick of the lower legs is more important than the hip undulation. Again the downward momentum helps set up the hip undulation. Then when you can put the two together, it gets exciting fast. Then you can end the hip undulation with that sense of sliding downhill with your chest with speed as you set up the arm pull. That is a really fun sensation. If you do some sprinting for 25 yards, you will be forced to make your your first downward kick more forceful. Your second kick may likely be smaller and faster in a sprint for 25 yards. Swim as fast as you can for 25 yards and the truth shall be revealed for your particular strengths and weaknesses. Try doing this ten times in a session. The first two sprints may only be at 80% to be sure you aren't hurting something. It will exhaust you, but if you keep at it for a few weeks, it will make you stronger faster than long-distances. Then the long distances become easier. You will be surprised at how much stronger you get in only a few weeks if you add some fast sprint sessions. It really forces the body to adapt and presents new sensations on flowing through the water. OK, I'll shut up now.

Elaine, I watched the side video. I could not access the front view video. I might suggest building up faster momentum earlier in your arm pull so that you have more hand speed near the bottom of the pull where it is most effective. Personally I wouldn't worry about how close the hands are at entry or the bowwave. You might try to doing some all-out fast-as-you can sprints for 25 yards, windmilling with your arm stroke to get a new sensation of where your power is and where it can be. Doing some sprinting really helped my learning process this last year. For the kick, I find that a strong downward kick of the lower legs is more important than the hip undulation. Again the downward momentum helps set up the hip undulation. Then when you can put the two together, it gets exciting fast. Then you can end the hip undulation with that sense of sliding downhill with your chest with speed as you set up the arm pull. That is a really fun sensation. If you do some sprinting for 25 yards, you will be forced to make your your first downward kick more forceful. Your second kick may likely be smaller and faster in a sprint for 25 yards. Swim as fast as you can for 25 yards and the truth shall be revealed for your particular strengths and weaknesses. Try doing this ten times in a session. The first two sprints may only be at 80% to be sure you aren't hurting something. It will exhaust you, but if you keep at it for a few weeks, it will make you stronger faster than long-distances. Then the long distances become easier. You will be surprised at how much stronger you get in only a few weeks if you add some fast sprint sessions. It really forces the body to adapt and presents new sensations on flowing through the water. OK, I'll shut up now.