How to Swim the Butterfly Stroke

Ever wonder how swimmers do the butterfly stroke? They whip their legs together and stroke with both arms simultaneously and symmetrically to dive and glide like a dolphin in the water. Here are a few steps to get you swimming like a pro.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Swimming Goggles
• Swimsuits
• Fins
• Swimming Ear Plugs
• Swimming Trunks
• Swimming Caps
• Swimming Nose Clip

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.

Tips & Warnings

• The butterfly kick is actually two kicks. One kick is a big kick, with knees bending and kicking out while the body leaps and dives forward. Then, during the glide, the whole body whips the legs into a second, smaller kick.
• Done properly, the butterfly stroke is a smooth, gliding stroke, but you may find it very difficult and tiring when learning.
• Practice the kick without the stroke to get a feel for using your whole body. Extend your arms and undulate your body through the water.
• Try practicing the kick with fins on to get the feeling of a powerful and fluid kick.
• If you have any condition that would impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[etnewton]

on 2/23/2009 this article hasn't helped me at all. this is the hardest stroke i have ever tried and coach wants me to have it mastered by next week. sectionals are next week and i need help coach is going to beat me if i dont make it to regionals.

[harvy]

on 8/26/2008 paano ba talage gawin ang butterfly in video

[acalvo]

on 6/24/2008 I suggest watching and analyzing videos (try youtube.com) from professional athletes performing the stroke in order to understand rhythm and fluidity of the stroke. It helps to practice the butterfly stroke slowly at first, focusing on technique and thrust. Eventually, you can focus on speed. Also, during the recovery of the arms, try to keep the arms extended and locked (don't bend them or thrust them into the water, just place them over the water in the end of the recovery)

[charleym]

on 11/17/2007 Learn in stages. First, learn dolphin kick; use a kick board and don't even think about your hands. When you can make good forward progress with your kick, extend your dolphin
kick to using the entire body. Do it underwater, keep arms
extended in front. Imagine being a snake; make your body move in
a wave from front to back. Imagine moving a pocket of water from front back, as if it were a ball. Make sure you're using your head, chest, back and hips in addition to your legs. When you can get at least halfway across the 25m pool like this, you're ready to get on the surface and add the arm stroke.

[Swimteacher]

on 4/6/2007 To get the proper underwater stroke, pull your hands in a hourglass shape. This will help you catch more water making lifting your body out of the water less difficult. The more your hips rise out of the water after the recovery, the easier the stroke becomes.