The butterfly swimming stroke is a difficult one that requires practice and efficiency. Swimming like a professional can be enjoyable and rewarding if a swimmer learns how to swim with correct form. Of course, an average swimmer won’t be breaking world records right away, but he can master the butterfly stroke if he spends the time to accurately learn the best technique.
Many advanced swimmers find the butterfly stroke, often referred to as the fly stroke, to be a difficult and exhausting swimming technique. Fortunately, it can be a rewarding one if it is performed with style and finesse. As with any swimming stroke, the only way to advance butterfly skills is to practice them on a regular basis. It takes a committed attitude and athletic ability to develop the proper technique and formation for the butterfly stroke.
Strong Back and Muscular Shoulders
One of the most significant factors in performing an advanced butterfly stroke is to remember to keep the chest up. If a swimmer strives to keep her chest raised, then it will be much easier for her to get her shoulders and arms completely above the surface of the water. When she rotates her arms, she uses her shoulders as the motor behind the thrust. As the swimmer drives her shoulders in a circular motion, she must bend her back in an arch to force the movement forward. When a swimmer brings her arms back into the water, she tries to make them pierce the water rather than splash the water. Her angle of water entry with her arms should look like the nose of a shark piercing the surface of the water. If a swimmer has some upper body strength, she can use the full force of her shoulder thrust to propel her body forward. This should be a strong and fast rhythmic motion as she brings her arms around to do the cycle again.
Exercise the Dolphin Kick
For every stroke a swimmer does with his arms and shoulders, he should complete two dolphin kicks. Some people call this a mermaid kick because a swimmer’s legs are moving as if they were one giant leg. For most swimmers, it is beneficial to swim as if the knees were tied together. A common butterfly kicking motion is to flutter kick with the calves and knees. This is a huge mistake. A swimmer will move so much faster if he uses the entire bottom half of his body to make sure his legs are completely involved in the dolphin kick. If a swimmer only uses the energy that is produced from kicking below the knees, he will put more strain on his body and won’t propel as fast.
Inhale and Exale Rhythmically
In the butterfly stroke, a swimmer can take a breath every time she completes a cycle, but she can breathe less frequently if her lung capacity can sustain the butterfly stroke. As she arches her back and brings her shoulders above the water, she forces her ahead above the water too. This will provide her with an opportunity to breathe in sync with her movement. In some swim meets and competitions, a swimmer is required to breathe every time she completes the stroke or she could be disqualified. If a swimmer trains with a good mindset, she can quickly become an expert butterfly swimmer.
Kristine Tucker - I am a freelance writer with a degree in political science. Being a suburban mom has allowed me to dish and scoop on all the latest topics ...
