The Butterfly Lane

I have aquestion regarding stroke recovery. I used to (until like a week and a half ago!) really throw my arms forward quickly, trying to land my hands softly. It occurred to me (while swimming fly with fins) that maybe I was wasting energy doing this. Since then, I have been recovering my arms more slowly, and it seems like I have a little more endurance and a little more power in my pull. I am also about 1/2 second faster on my 25s since doing this. (This might just be a coincidence and a result of training.) So the question(s) is: How aggressively do you thrust arms forward in recovery? Is softer better?

The faster you bring your arms forward, the more momentum you create against your body going forward. This will tend you slow you down. You want to clear the water when your arms are out of course, but other than that you may only want to bring them forward as fast as you must to keep your pace. I recently really emphasized my kick per That Guy's suggestion and knocked off one stroke on my 25 meter moderate pace. If only I had the core strength of a real swimmer. Thanks, That Guy. And this is what I am experiencing. I was definitely slowing myself down by throwing my hands forward too much. It didn't really become apparent until my kick got stronger.

Thanks, That Guy. And this is what I am experiencing. I was definitely slowing myself down by throwing my hands forward too much. It didn't really become apparent until my kick got stronger. The park entrance fee applies to all visitors. If you arrive in your private car, van, pickup truck, or RV, the entrance fee is $20 per car. This is valid for unlimited entries to Yosemite for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car. Otherwise, entrance fees are as follows: $10 per person if arriving on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a non-commercial bus (free for those 15 years old and younger). Commercial tours pay the following rates (a special permit is required): Commercial sedan (up to six seats): $25 (plus $10 per person) Commercial van (7-15 seats): $125 Commercial mini bus (16-25 seats): $200 Commercial motor coach (more than 26 seats): $300 (Note that fees are based on capacity, not on occupancy.) We accept cash, checks, traveler's checks, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). In 2013, entrance fees will be waived on: January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) April 22-26 (National Park Week) August 25 (National Park Service Founders Day) September 28 (National Public Lands Day) November 9-11 (Veterans Day weekend) Other Passes These passes admit the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private car. Purchase these passes at any park entrance station. Yosemite Pass (annual pass): $40 America the Beautiful--National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass: $80 This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees. This replaces the National Parks Pass and Golden Eagle Pass. Annual Pass--Military: Free This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees for all active military personnel and their dependents. (For active duty military personnel and dependents with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173).) Access Pass: Free This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. (You can also get this pass by mail for $10.) Senior Pass: $10 This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older. (You can also get this pass by mail for an additional $10.)

The park entrance fee applies to all visitors. If you arrive in your private car, van, pickup truck, or RV, the entrance fee is $20 per car. This is valid for unlimited entries to Yosemite for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car. Otherwise, entrance fees are as follows: $10 per person if arriving on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a non-commercial bus (free for those 15 years old and younger). Commercial tours pay the following rates (a special permit is required): Commercial sedan (up to six seats): $25 (plus $10 per person) Commercial van (7-15 seats): $125 Commercial mini bus (16-25 seats): $200 Commercial motor coach (more than 26 seats): $300 (Note that fees are based on capacity, not on occupancy.) We accept cash, checks, traveler's checks, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). In 2013, entrance fees will be waived on: January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) April 22-26 (National Park Week) August 25 (National Park Service Founders Day) September 28 (National Public Lands Day) November 9-11 (Veterans Day weekend) Other Passes These passes admit the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private car. Purchase these passes at any park entrance station. Yosemite Pass (annual pass): $40 America the Beautiful--National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass: $80 This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees. This replaces the National Parks Pass and Golden Eagle Pass. Annual Pass--Military: Free This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees for all active military personnel and their dependents. (For active duty military personnel and dependents with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173).) Access Pass: Free This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. (You can also get this pass by mail for $10.) Senior Pass: $10 This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older. (You can also get this pass by mail for an additional $10.) It's a metaphor, right? You think you're going faster by going by car, but really, you're just paying more and you have to wait in a long line. Arriving on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a non-commercial bus is actually cheaper *and* faster. Slow arms on butterfly for the win!

It's a metaphor, right? You think you're going faster by going by car, but really, you're just paying more and you have to wait in a long line. Arriving on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a non-commercial bus is actually cheaper *and* faster. Slow arms on butterfly for the win! Each year, 15 to 20 visitor rescues are directly associated with unprepared victims finding themselves in the water either on purpose (swimming, boating, rafting) or accidentally (falling while hiking, crossing streams, scrambling on rocks). As a matter of fact, water-related accidents are the second most common cause of death in the park! (Motor vehicle accidents are the first.) Thousands of people visit Yosemite every year to enjoy the beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and creeks. Enjoy your visit safely by learning about potential risks and following simple safety tips. Many accidents happen in places where hazards are not obvious. Keep in mind that one misstep on a rock, even above a seemingly calm pool, may result in inability to escape from a hazard downstream. Often, people do not experience fear when standing next to water in the same way that they would if they were standing on the edge of a precipitous cliff. However, intentional or unintentional entrance into the water can be as dangerous as falling off a cliff. What are the hazards? Be aware that mountain water is extremely cold, despite hot air temperatures. Strong swimmers may quickly become too weak from hypothermia to swim. Even professional swiftwater rescuers wearing layers of insulation sometimes struggle to stay warm! Even a slow current will take you where you may not want to go. Remember, "slow" is a relative term in the mountains... you probably won't be able to swim to shore or away from a hazard faster than the current is taking you towards it. Watch for water hazards, like submerged tree branches, abandoned cables, or narrow gaps between rocks, which can trap you or part of you underwater, causing hypothermia and even death. The pressure from even a "slow" current can be enough to immobilize you against an obstacle and keep you submerged. How do I survive? Follow posted signs. If a sign says "NO SWIMMING," don't swim or wade! Hazards are often invisible on the surface and calm water may hide dangerous conditions. Areas are closed to swimming and wading in places (like Emerald Pool, above Vernal Fall) where multiple incidents occur each year. Confidence in a familiar environment leads to danger in an unfamiliar one. For example, a strong ocean swimmer with no knowledge of swiftwater hazards might assume that their swimming skill is all they need. It’s not! If you fall in, use the defensive position: on your back, feet pointing downstream and on the surface (can you see your toes?). If boating, wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE): A life-jacket (personal floatation device or PFD) appropriate to the activity is the absolute minimum. Other equipment may include helmet, wetsuit, whistle, and knife.

The faster you bring your arms forward, the more momentum you create against your body going forward. This will tend you slow you down. You want to clear the water when your arms are out of course, but other than that you may only want to bring them forward as fast as you must to keep your pace. I recently really emphasized my kick per That Guy's suggestion and knocked off one stroke on my 25 meter moderate pace. If only I had the core strength of a real swimmer.

*REAL* men swim the 200 fly. smart men watch it.

I've been swimming most of my life, and butterfly is my favorite stroke. However, I am one of those people who equate the 200 fly with the Boston Marathon. :applaud: I applaud you! I competed it for the first and last time my freshman year in college. The worst part was both swims were on the same day. I told my coach that after that, I was fine being a sprint specialist. :)

I'm excited to report that I did a 500 fly this weekend at a meet and came in at 6:48. I later went a :58 in the 100 fly. :banana:

I watched some Misty Hyman, Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps vidoes today. I have been thinking about working up to a double kick on my 1,000 fly. I had thought the first kick should be my strongest with a small quick second kick. But I see Misty's second kick starting and ending deeper than her first one, Ian's second seems to be stronger and ending deeper too, and Michael's kicks seem to be equal. But then, he can really straighten his feet so much that he can make a deeper kick effective. Anybody thought about this and what works best for them? That Guy? For distance fly, I try to make all my kicks equal for consistency over the long haul. For 50, 100, and 200 distances, I don't focus on that so I wouldn't be surprised if video review revealed something like my second kick being smaller than the first. By the way, That Guy I will be in Yosemite in mid-May trying to swim up some cracks. Thank you for the warning! :bolt: