Learn the butterfly stroke

I have every other stroke down almost perfect. . .except butterfly. I’m a backstroker (for my speciality stroke) but I would like to learn how to PROPERLY do butterfly.

And having a lot of fun too. I can swim one lap of a 50-foot pool no problem now. Goal is to be look good and swimming fly with far less effort by end of summer. Do you think I’ll make it?

I managed to never learn this stroke! I’m competeing in the KC Corporate Challenge again this year. It will be my 3rd year and I had to pass on earning points from this one last year and the year before. In addition, it makes it more difficult to find people for the co-ed medley relays because most can’t do the ‘fly. When I master the ‘fly I’ll be able to participate in every event!

So, tomorrow I call the gym and see if there is anyone there who can spend an hour or two with me to figure out the timing on this stroke. I can do the arms and the legs…just not together!

and optical googles!
i waited and this moment so long and finally made it happen!
WOW
it was only click away and now i just did it. i answered to swimshop’s advertisment promptly. without thinking. it was a great deal! no more postponing. great!

1. pure joy!
2. good for my back
3. my dream
4. improvement of other strokes
5. improvement of body composition

P.S. this remained in domain of dreams for next 4 months…

film me for an instructional video on the butterfly, but at least I can say I’ve done it. On to other things! : )

I haven’t been to my swimming class in a few weeks thanks to a synchronized swimming competition at the pool I go to, Spring Break, and illness. I won’t get to go this weekend either since it’s at the same time as an Easter egg hunt we’re taking the munchkin to. Hopefully I won’t have forgotten everything about the butterfly stroke by the time I get to go back…

It didn’t feel efficient, fast or smooth but I went back and forth for 100 metres.

That’s good enough for this task but I will keep it up as a stroke to use in training to switch things up and/or lighten the mood because it must be really funny to watch ;D

I got a brief introduction to the butterfly during my swimming class last weekend. I haven’t felt that uncoordinated in a long time. lol This is definitely going to take some work. (And maybe a miracle.) : )

I learned a “passable” butterfly when I took the Water Safety Instructor class my second year lifeguarding. Then when I became a Water Safety Instructor Trainer, I had to have a “demonstration” stroke. That means it’s pretty, for about 10-15 yards so my students can see it! I still don’t like to do it, partially for medical reasons.

I think that the hardest thing for me was the timing. I know some very capable swimming instructors who do this stroke with one kick, but it looks so un-natural!

My advice: first of all, warm up and stretch your shoulders and back (well, everywhere really), this stroke is harder on the upper body than the other strokes. Fly is hard to start from a dead stop, if you’re not start off a block or diving in, get your momentum first.

For a warm up (or to work on timing, or gain momentum off a wall or other dead start), do a few body lengths with one arm at a time (aka freestyle arms with dolphin kick). Left/kick, kick, right/kick, kick, left/kick, kick. Breathe on the side like you would in freestyle. Once you get this rhythm and momentum going, then do left, right, both and when you’re comfortable with that do the full stroke. (I mean this both in learning and in your workouts, assuming you don’t have a coach telling you otherwise.)