How to Perfect Your Butterfly Stroke
The butterfly stroke can be one of the most difficult swimming techniques. Even advanced swimmers find the stroke, often referred to as the fly stroke, to be a difficult and exhausting. Fortunately, you can master the butterfly stroke if you spend the time to accurately learn the best technique.
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Instructions
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Keep your chest up. If you strive to keep your chest raised, it will be much easier to get your shoulders and arms completely above the surface of the water. When you rotate your arms, use your shoulders as the motor behind the thrust. As you drive your shoulders in a circular motion, bend your back in an arch to force your movement forward. When you bring your arms back into the water, try to make them pierce, rather than splash, the water. Your angle of water entry with your arms should look like the nose of a shark piercing the surface of the water. Use the full force of your shoulder thrust to propel your body forward. This should be a strong and fast, rhythmic motion as you bring your arms around to do the cycle again.
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Dolphin kick like you're Flipper. For every stroke you do with your arms and shoulders, you should complete two dolphin kicks. Some people call this a mermaid kick because your legs are moving as if they are tied together to make one giant leg. A common butterfly kicking motion is to flutter kick with the calves and knees. This is a huge mistake; the dolphin kick utilizes the entire bottom half of your body and moves you much faster. Additionally, if you only kick below the knees you put more strain on your body.
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Take a breath every time you complete a cycle. As you arch your back and bring your shoulders above the water, force your ahead above too. That provides you an opportunity to breathe in sync with your movement. In some swim meets and competitions, you are required to breathe every time you complete the stroke or you will be disqualified.
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References
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