The Butterfly Lane

Yeah, I know, this is an old thread; however, Ande started the "Lane" threads up for this purpose. This is the place to talk stroke and ask for advice. I know what I am doing wrong with my fly stroke; however, I can't figure out how to fix it. After recovering my arms, they are entering the water and diving down right along with my chest. I try to keep them higher in the water, but I am obviously failing. My flexibility is good; I am doing yoga and a lot of stretching, so it's not that I don't have the flexibility. Past surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and a past dislocated clavicle (collar bone) at the sternoclavicular joint (where the collar bone meets the sternum) do make me a bit protective of my shoulders to avoid a reinjury, though. Perhaps I will never be able to master fly for those reasons, but I would like to at least try to improve my technique as much as possible. Swimming fly with my current stroke, I can swim forever; distance is not the issue, but speed is. Although I only want to race 200 fly, I would like to improve my pokey time. Are there any drills you have found that work to improve my problem? Any suggestions? My husband shoots video of my for feedback, but even when I think I have improved, I watch the video and see the same problem.. Thanks for your help, Forumites! www.youtube.com/watch

Yeah, I know, this is an old thread; however, Ande started the "Lane" threads up for this purpose. This is the place to talk stroke and ask for advice. I know what I am doing wrong with my fly stroke; however, I can't figure out how to fix it. After recovering my arms, they are entering the water and diving down right along with my chest. I try to keep them higher in the water, but I am obviously failing. My flexibility is good; I am doing yoga and a lot of stretching, so it's not that I don't have the flexibility. Past surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and a past dislocated clavicle (collar bone) at the sternoclavicular joint (where the collar bone meets the sternum) do make me a bit protective of my shoulders to avoid a reinjury, though. Perhaps I will never be able to master fly for those reasons, but I would like to at least try to improve my technique as much as possible. Swimming fly with my current stroke, I can swim forever; distance is not the issue, but speed is. Although I only want to race 200 fly, I would like to improve my pokey time. Are there any drills you have found that work to improve my problem? Any suggestions? My husband shoots video of my for feedback, but even when I think I have improved, I watch the video and see the same problem.. Thanks for your help, Forumites! www.youtube.com/watch