How do you do the butterfly stroke?

Question

I want to train myself up for swim team. I mastered every stroke except for...butterfly. My butterfly isn't excellent. You know what I mean? I want to work my butterfly up. I wasn't taught very clearly on how to do the pattern and kick.
When do you do the big dolphin kick? And when do you do the little dolphin kick? How do you prevent yourself from going underwater?...etc etc. I'm so confused.

Okay, why do you people have to just say, "don't say stuff like that" or "it's stupid to say..."
You're basically stealing points for nothing. My instructor's telling me this which isn't clear, stuff like that. I was asking EXPERIENCED swimmers for help because I don't have any friends that are so experienced with swimming so I was wondering if anybody can help me with butterfly. Someone who knows the answer clearly and have swam butterfly proficiently. So maybe next time you should stand in people's shoes before you type away.

Thanks people for clearing things up. I'll try practicing again until I get it right. Geesh, I had some really bad swimming teachers in the past.

Answer 1

1. Hold your legs together and extend your arms above your head. (Image 1)

2. Kick your legs up and down once in a whipping motion generating from the hips and bending at the knees, as if you were a dolphin. (Image 2)

3. Pull both of your arms simultaneously and symmetrically through the water beneath your body along with the big kick, helping to propel your body forward and out of the water. (Image 3)

4. Lift your head up and breathe as you quickly pull both arms out of the water and swing them forward. Head and arms reenter the water together in a diving motion. (Image 4)

5. Glide momentarily, performing a smaller follow-up kick.

6. Execute another pull-through motion with your arms, with your legs performing a full kick to propel you up and out again.

Answer 2

Hi,

I like what floody said. However, I usually start with a kick, and then do the stroke. The kick brings my body in a very horisontal position, which is what you need for the speed. If you say you can do it but it's not excellent I'm not going to teachyou the basics (and some people already did the job.) I'd say - keep your torso as horisontal as you can get it. Especially at the end of the arm stroke, when your arms are by your lower abdominals. This is when you come out for the breath, and this is when people tent to stick out of water too vertically, thus loosing the speed.

To perfect the stroke, do the arm stroke exersises and kick exersises separately. You will need a kicking board for that.

Yeah, BTW I went ahead and reported all the point gaming (all this "I don't know" stuff) I can't stand it. Don't know - don't answer. Answer something you know.

Answer 3

Keep a good rhythm with your legs. They will drive you and set the pace for the stroke. Do not vary the speed or interval of your kick.

Execute two kicks per pull: once when your arms enter the water in front of you, once when they exit the water behind you.

Nowadays butterfly is viewed as a straightforward stroke. Try not to undulate with your body so much; you are racing forward not up and down. The butterfly armstroke is most mechanically similar to the freestyle stroke. It helps to think of it that way.

It is also essential to not throw your head back when you breathe. If you lift your head too much, the rest of your torso will follow into a more vertical position. This causes a lot of resistance against your chest and makes the stroke much harder than it needs to be.

Answer 4

this was my stroke for 12 years and still got it
from the dive go into the h2o dolphin kick twice and the last kick start your arms from sides to over the shoulders by then you will be at the surface of the water as your arm going back into the water you should be starting your double dolphin kick. you'll seem awkward for the first couple of laps. but practice and it will just come natural.. also to strengthen your legs. get a kick board
and dolphin also go the length of the pool under water with arms out in front and dolphin kick your legs are the power to glide you across the h2o and the arm s are to pull and resume the kick.. good luck ..deb if you need anymore help email me.ok i truly understand your situation i took my swimming very seriously regional and national material ok..deb

Answer 5

Butterfly is done on your stomach. Dolphin kick continuously and make an hour glass shape with your arms. Hands enter the water above your head and then trace an hourglass shape through the water. Hourglass shape concludes around your lower belly area. Bring arms out of water and above your head again and repeat. All the while you are dolphin kicking. When breathing lift your head out of the water while you are bringing your arms up and over. Very hard to explain. I hope this helps. Getting someone to show you would be better.

Answer 6

I was on my schools swim team and i learned how to do the butterfly stroke very well. Once you drive in, just do the dolphin kicks as many times as you can. The more the better. Then occasionaly stroke with your arms.

Answer 7

OK the best way to learn is to lay down on the ground, and go threw the motions. The kick is a constant kick, you will learn on your own when it feels right to kick. Best training techniques is with a kick board and do just the kick and then do the arms with the pull boy and then put them all together.

Answer 8

As soon as you dive in, kick underwater either flutter or dolphin. Dolphin kick is easier because that's the kick you do when you get to the surface. When you get to the surface your hands should be out in front of you. Pull them down and around. Make sure your elbows come out first them your pinkie. Go pinkie first all the way around and around and around.

You breathe as your elbows are coming out of the water. I like to breathe ever other stroke.

For the kick, I always remember kick your hands into the water and kick them out of the water. The small kick is when your hands go out of the water and the big kick is when your hands go in the water.

Answer 9

It's a really hard stroke. You just have to paractice it A LOT. My coach told me to move my body like I was swimming over and under barrels. To prevent going under water, you just have to kick hard with your legs, and raise your arms and your head up out of the water. I really don't know how to explain. It's so much easier to show someone. Try looking at clips online. Also try

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_stroke

and scroll down a bit to where it talks about how to do it. Good luck!

Answer 10

1. Hold your legs together and extend your arms above your head.

2. Kick your legs up and down once in a whipping motion generating from the hips and bending at the knees, as if you were a dolphin.

3. Pull both of your arms simultaneously and symmetrically through the water beneath your body along with the big kick, helping to propel your body forward and out of the water.

4. Lift your head up and breathe as you quickly pull both arms out of the water and swing them forward. Head and arms reenter the water together in a diving motion.

5. Glide momentarily, performing a smaller follow-up kick.

6. Execute another pull-through motion with your arms, with your legs performing a full kick to propel you up and out again.