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Learning Butterfly (or blundering butterfly?!) - SwimClub.co.uk Forums

In my lesson today, my teacher has started to teach me Butterfly....I've never swam this stroke before. I can't believe how hard it is though!

Ouch! The main problem seems to be getting the rhythm correct and the legs/arms both moving automatically.

One or the other seems to go horribly wrong with me so far, am I being too impatient? I also feel totally unatural/uncomfy keeping my knees together and the feet in the 'V' shape, etc, even with fins on. Would it be a good idea to practice both arm and leg movements independently of each other until I feel comfortable and then try and match them together, or is this a bad idea generally? I was surprised too, how much energy and effort it takes to keep the legs/body moving in the 'dolphin' movement. I think it's going to take me a long time to even swim basic butterfly. Help - any tips?! Thanks everyone.

Quote: : In my lesson today , my teacher has started to teach me Butterfly.... am I being too impatient?

Yes!!! Try doing fly kick on your back.

Feels like a length of sit-ups, very tough, but could be worth trying.

Hands above your head and press your hips up and down so you undulate.

Give it a go, ache lots, give it another go, don't worry that you don't get anywhere with it and seem to stay still - at least you'll still be able to breathe.

A nice way also to do fly kicking is on your side, one arm (the lower one) pointing forwards and the other backwards.

You can actually be breathing all the time, or lower your head in.

Quote: : In my lesson today, my teacher has started to teach me Butterfly....I've never swam this stroke before. I can't believe how hard it is though!

Ouch! ...am I being too impatient?

Yes, you are being too impatient, I reckon I'm still improving my butterfly after 30 years of swimming it.

Perhaps Stevie K will chime in with how much time and effort it has taken him to improve his butterfly. Quote: : I was surprised too, how much energy and effort it takes to keep the legs/body moving in the 'dolphin' movement. I think it's going to take me a long time to even swim basic butterfly.

I think there is quite a fitness barrier to being able to swim butterfly comfortably.

A good swimmer can swim "easy fly" but part of the reason why they can do that is because they have well-conditioned muscles for performing that movement, as well as having efficient technique.

It takes time to develop the fitness in the muscles, and as your fitness improves, you'll become better able to swim with the technique you want to.

Fitness and technique will improve hand in hand with each other as you keep practising. Quick technique tips: - Kick timing: kick on hand entry, and kick on hand exit. - Focus on propelling yourself forwards, it's easy to overdo the up and down movement.

I can do about 2-3 50M lengths of it with fins on, but hardly at all without. Thats great they are teaching it though, I want to learn so may well also ask at John Charles - can you PM me with the name of your teacher there (if he/she is good that is!). Can you have lessons at any time? Cheers

Quote: : can you PM me with the name of your teacher there (if he/she is good that is!).

Thanks everyone, that's really handy info and advice - I shall take it on board. missjackiechan - did you get my last PM the other week OK?

I did, but I cant remember what you said!...must be my age. Sorry.

Quote: : I did, but I cant remember what you said!...must be my age.

No worries, I'll resend it to you.

I dont like too much fly with fins.

Its far too nice, and a horrable letdown when they are off. Yes NVF is right, i did have a tough time learning butterfly.

I have the utmost respect for anybody who can do it. The first length i did i thought i was going to have a heart attack. I have some taped from last year where i nearly didnt make it to the wall in a 50 long course race.

There was no undulation in my stroke.

I was using all power and no technique.

Its to hard to force your head up to breath without undulation. I did about a 3 second pb on 50 fly in the space of a couple of months, and you could really see the undulation start to happen where it became more natural. But you have to do a lot of fly.

I recommend 100 meters minimum every time you swim, even if they are with long rests inbetweem, just to get the muscles used to that kind of exersion and rythem. Then you need to get used to integrating fly into sets without stopping. This also took me ages, and still does sap my strength quicker than the people who have been doing it longer. good luck with it.

Thanks Stevie. Been trying to get the leg/body movement right yesterday, without the arms - it feels like I get nowhere, LOL.

It also feels uncomfortable as my knees 'knock' together causing discomfort. Am I correct in thinking, if I regularly practice the lower half (e.g.

Without arms) with float outstretched in front of me, I risk straining/hurting my back? Thanks.

Quote: : Am I correct in thinking, if I regularly practice the lower half (e.g.

Without arms) with float outstretched in front of me, I risk straining/hurting my back? Thanks.

You are correct. My Coach wont let me do this for that reason.

Its either on my back with a float (as previously described) or arms outstreched without a float.

That is hard work!

Quote: : You are correct.

My Coach wont let me do this for that reason.

Its either on my back with a float (as previously described) or arms outstreched without a float.

That is hard work!

Thanks ETR. I'm just practising the leg kick on my front at the mo, without float & with fins, etc (hands outstretched in 'arrow' shape) and I seem to be better at it when I move a little faster (better rhythm, etc). Next on the agenda, to put the arms with the legs, that's where it all falls apart, badly !

Mathew May I suggest the next step is a drill.

Two kicks to one arm only.

Switch arms every two strokes.

That should help your body to memorise the action.




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