How to Practice Butterfly Kicks Without a Kickboard

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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The butterfly is a difficult stroke to master and the kick is an important part of the stroke. You can practice butterfly kicks without a kickboard since the stroke is a continual, dolphin-like motion from head to toe. Practicing butterfly or dolphin kicks without the arm movements will familiarize you with the timing of the stroke.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Push off the wall in a streamline position. Your arms must be above your head with your fingers together and one hand on top of the other.
Step 2

Begin a butterfly kick, or dolphin kick, by slightly dipping your fingers down toward the bottom of the pool, and then pointing them back up toward the top of the water again. If you are in a streamlined position, your body follows the motion of your arms and head all the way down to your feet.
Step 3

Perform 3 or 4 butterfly kicks with your head down in the water.
Step 4

Bring both arms out of the water, by your sides, on a down kick. Lift your head to take a breath and complete a single butterfly pull.
Step 5

Re-align your body in a streamlined position and perform another 3 or 4 butterfly kicks before taking another breath.

Tips & Warnings

Your feet must stay together during a butterfly kick.
Unlike other strokes, the butterfly kick is part of a continuous motion of the body. It starts when your hands and head enter the water. Lead with your hips, not your knees, to get a good strong kick.
You may also perform a breaststroke pull instead of a butterfly pull to take a breath. Raise your head from the water, pull your hands back toward your chest with your elbows out to the sides and return to a streamlined position by pushing your arms back out in front of you.
To practice butterfly kicks on your back, flip your body over in a streamlined position and begin the butterfly movement in the same way.

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