Swimming: Stroke Development Butterfly

When you're swimming full stroke Butterfly, ensure your head drops down on the water surface as your arms are taken over the water. There is always two kicks to every one arm pull with the second leg kick helping send your arms clear of the water.

To improve your Butterfly technique, swim one full stroke then two strokes with your right arm and two strokes with your left arm and repeat. You will be able to swim further distances as there will be less fatigue through the shoulders and will develop good rhythm and timing.

Timing
Develop good balance of the stroke through the Kick, Pull, Kick & Recover phases of the stroke with the breath taken during the pull. Good balance and rhythm will help you swim greater distances. Develop the optimum power production within each stroke for a given speed bym identifying your individual stroke count and stroke rate. The relationship of stroke length should be identified with the above and varies with each individual and event requirements. Develop optimum feel for the water by the amount of resultant and propulsive force that you apply for a given speed and find true efficiency.

Floating on your front, face in the water, stretch your body as long as possible.
Undulate your body from head to toes, remembering to:

• Bend and straighten your knees
• Keep legs and feet close together -feet just below the water's surface
• Keep both hands in line with your shoulders as they enter the water
• Keep your arms straight as you pull them down next to your hips
• Continue the rotating motion by bringing the arms out of water
• Take a breath towards the end of the pstroke
• As you push your arms forward put your face in the water and breathe out