The Butterfly Lane

My first post and I want to thank everyone that have previously posted. I have been stalking this board and gaining from it. I am 50, swam in HS and fly has and will be my favorite stroke. For health reasons (dx with diabetes) I restarted swimming, which I have been training solo for a couple of yrs. after not swimming for 30+ yrs. I am not against long distance fly, but when I am old, infirmed and w/c bound I will recall the wonderful vitality of full head-on max-speed of fly. I love that. I haven't been able to practice block starts (I will at some point), but my wall push-off for 50 scy is 30 sec. and 75 is 49. I am working on my endurance for 100, I am at the start of this as it took 2 yrs. to build my endurance for 75 scy. I am working on soft hands as well and having my pull through be more mid-line, along with better non first wall push offs during my fly sets. I am very impressed with the many that have a great work-out. I do 350 to 375 of fly during my work-out (75, 3x 25s, other stuff, and then 4x 50s) and I am gassed (happily). Finally, I had been doing my underwater dolphins on my side, but with the FINA rule change, I have been forgoing that. I have moved on, but wished that rule was not placed.

I also want to add that swimming butterfly can humble you like no other regular activity and do so in seconds--50-55 for me. I respect that. Finally, if you see someone finishing a butterfly set and gasping as if all the oxygen was removed--it is me. I am regularly out of breath, and seemingly no one else is.

There are 3 phases of fly #1 butterfly #2 butter struggle #3 butter UGLY

I also want to add that swimming butterfly can humble you like no other regular activity and do so in seconds--50-55 for me. I respect that. Finally, if you see someone finishing a butterfly set and gasping as if all the oxygen was removed--it is me. I am regularly out of breath, and seemingly no one else is. I usually in practice swim around 1:00 to 1:05. I think the fastest was 53 once. I try to swim some of the fly under a minute. I did about 56 to 57 today on one of the three 50's fly's. I did one Breaststroke around 59 seconds. I think the fastest in practice was 54 or 55. I try to do one of the breaststrokes also under 1:00. I'm need more rest on fly, sometimes when I go under 1:00 a 2:00 rest.

I can do 100 flys more in the 2:15 to 2:18 range in practice. I once did a 2:08, it took a lot out. Its like when I do 2:00 I'm or Breaststroke. in practice it takes it out of me.

One way to try to make fly less exhausting is to try to relax when you can. Right when your hands are landing on the surface (think land on the surface rather than enter), let your back and upper body go limp (relax). This allows your chest to sink and butt to rise (if your back is tight or rigid your chest cannot sink) with your hands high. The air in your lungs should start to lift you back up as you start your pull. Try this out and see if it helps or not. Good luck!

Thanks, ganache. I will try. To be truthful, I have been inpatient, as I have tried versions of that, but I tend to go slower. I need to give it more attention. I appreciate your time.

If you only relax when your hands land and as your chest sinks and start to pull as your lungs push you back up to the surface you should not be going much slower. It should only be for a couple of seconds that you get to relax!

Ganache, thanks. I am a believer, and need to be more proficient--right now doing as you advise--well I feel my kick is a bit off. In the process of relaxing, I have to think about resuming kicking (I need to work on this more to make it feel natural). Well, it is a work in progress, and I am committed to improving.

I have a question: off the walls is it legal or not to do underwater dolphin on your side? I saw in swimswam that FINA was going to change the rules in Sept., but I just checked FINA's website and I copy/pasted the info. below. Anyone know (or care) more than me? SW 8.1 From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and each turn, the body shall be kept on the ***. Under water kicking on the side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time, except at the turn after the touch of the wall where it is permissible to turn in any manner as long as the body is on the *** when leaving the wall.