I did a 50 fly in my first swim meet in 20+ years with minimal training so I thought I would have no problem doing a 100 three months later. Since then I have trained harder and improved significantly in the freestyle with speed and endurance yet I still die after 50 yards of butterfly. 95% of my training is free as the fly takes everything out of me. At the end of a 2000 yard workout I might do one 50. That might not sound like much to you all but I can do a set of like 15 x 100 which is well beyond what i have been capable in years.
Once a week I might do 10X25 fly or I might just see how far I can go. I always die after the 2nd turn. Complete breakdown. Yet I could do a 50 months ago without any concern at all of just completing the distance.
My stroke may be fundamentally flawed. Maybe I just got by as a youth on raw power. The only form I have is all out until the momentum is lost and then it is complete breakdown withing 3 strokes. I don't know if there is some kind of hesitation stroke I can use to get through, but at this point I think I need sets and strategies to build up to it on the stroke I have.
Parents
Former Member
I am reasonably quick in a 50 fly, but far slower in a 100. A few years ago I could swim a 27-high 50 but when I raced a 100 I finished with a painful and ugly 1:12. I have not raced a 100 fly since.
But I think I could now just because I can feel that a 50 is much easier in practice. I can actually swim a clean 100 fly in practice although I rarely do. Last week I swam a very unusual 2x400IM set and the fly was not awful.
I would try some broken 100s to help you determine what kind of pace to follow. Normally broken swims are done at or close to race pace. Instead I would try a slower pace. Swim 4x25 fly with 5 secs rest between each 25. The short rest should help you commit to swim each 25 as cleanly as you can. I think the goal should be to swim the last 25 without being miserable. Maybe do the broken 100s 2-3 times with a rest freestyle swim between each one.
I am reasonably quick in a 50 fly, but far slower in a 100. A few years ago I could swim a 27-high 50 but when I raced a 100 I finished with a painful and ugly 1:12. I have not raced a 100 fly since.
But I think I could now just because I can feel that a 50 is much easier in practice. I can actually swim a clean 100 fly in practice although I rarely do. Last week I swam a very unusual 2x400IM set and the fly was not awful.
I would try some broken 100s to help you determine what kind of pace to follow. Normally broken swims are done at or close to race pace. Instead I would try a slower pace. Swim 4x25 fly with 5 secs rest between each 25. The short rest should help you commit to swim each 25 as cleanly as you can. I think the goal should be to swim the last 25 without being miserable. Maybe do the broken 100s 2-3 times with a rest freestyle swim between each one.
