The Butterfly Lane

Kept that stroke together really nicely considering you were worried about the altitude! To be honest, I think you just need more "oomph," especially from your mid/lower body. The stroke pattern looks good, the timing looks good, you're doing underwaters, you're just not driving much with your legs - that includes off the start and turns too. Perhaps the answer is to work on your strength a bit. I would say, two things from a purely technique standpoint, first off, I think you need a bit more bend in your legs on the second kick to keep your feet from coming so far out of the water; secondly, gotta keep that front arm in the water on your turns - the mnemonic I was taught was "elbow your brother, call your mother" for the leading/trailing arms on open turns. Should be more of a vertical rotation - like a reverse flip turn - than a horizontal one. Yeah, my first turn was more like my typical turn; however, when I got desperate for air, I allowed my arm to come out so I could catch more of a breath on those two other turns. :blush: Guilty as charged! I was much better at elbowing my brother and calling my mother in my breaststroke races! (He deserved it after all those childhood years of him beating up on me! :bitching:) As for bending my knees more on the second kick, I have improved over this past year, but not enough. My legs used to come out of the water at the top of my calves! I previously had much more of an up and down movement in my fly. Our forum moderator probably remembers that. :afraid: Strength. Yoga, Theraband, pushups, and planks have made parts of me stronger; however, you are right. I need more strength in my legs, especially quads and hamstrings. I will add that to my routine, because you're right; I'm lacking oomph! :weightlifter: I'm 57; however, I have seen plenty of gals older than me who are a lot stronger. Penny Noyes is 65 and a stud-ette! Thanks for the feedback JP; I especially appreciate the way you softened the blow with, "Kept that stroke together really nicely..." :wiggle:

Kept that stroke together really nicely considering you were worried about the altitude! To be honest, I think you just need more "oomph," especially from your mid/lower body. The stroke pattern looks good, the timing looks good, you're doing underwaters, you're just not driving much with your legs - that includes off the start and turns too. Perhaps the answer is to work on your strength a bit. I would say, two things from a purely technique standpoint, first off, I think you need a bit more bend in your legs on the second kick to keep your feet from coming so far out of the water; secondly, gotta keep that front arm in the water on your turns - the mnemonic I was taught was "elbow your brother, call your mother" for the leading/trailing arms on open turns. Should be more of a vertical rotation - like a reverse flip turn - than a horizontal one. Yeah, my first turn was more like my typical turn; however, when I got desperate for air, I allowed my arm to come out so I could catch more of a breath on those two other turns. :blush: Guilty as charged! I was much better at elbowing my brother and calling my mother in my breaststroke races! (He deserved it after all those childhood years of him beating up on me! :bitching:) As for bending my knees more on the second kick, I have improved over this past year, but not enough. My legs used to come out of the water at the top of my calves! I previously had much more of an up and down movement in my fly. Our forum moderator probably remembers that. :afraid: Strength. Yoga, Theraband, pushups, and planks have made parts of me stronger; however, you are right. I need more strength in my legs, especially quads and hamstrings. I will add that to my routine, because you're right; I'm lacking oomph! :weightlifter: I'm 57; however, I have seen plenty of gals older than me who are a lot stronger. Penny Noyes is 65 and a stud-ette! Thanks for the feedback JP; I especially appreciate the way you softened the blow with, "Kept that stroke together really nicely..." :wiggle: