Butterfly

Last, but not least (ok, maybe it is the least), we have the butterfly. Very very very (and so on) few people will ever enjoy doing the butterfly. It is by far and away the stroke that requires the most energy. It can be a very fast stroke, but you have to have an incredibly strong upper body and lots of time to practice before you can think about finishing a butterfly race, let alone go fast.

The butterfly is the only symmetrical stroke. Your arms and legs are always doing the same thing and you're never on your side. Your arms simply go around in circles pulling water backwards then recovering forwards out of the water. The legs are always together and beat up and down. Two kicks for every full arm pull. You breathe simply by lifting your head, usually every other stroke.

It is a beautiful looking stroke though. Very fluid. Very intense.

Make sure you aren't swimming uphill during this stroke. You'll hate life. Tuck your head down far and use your momentum. Another thing to think about is the kick does not start at the feet. It doesn't start at the knees. It doesn't even start at the hips. It's a full body kick. It starts at the shoulders and makes one large power wave through your body and ends at your feet. It gives you rhythm and power. Watch the pros. Their whole body torques.

In the past 2008 summer Olympics arguably the greatest race in the history of swimming occurred. Its was the 100 butterfly and unless you've been living under a rock (a enormous rock at that) you know what I'm talking about. He's a video for a refresher.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4862941565753538745

Phelps out-touches Serbia's Milorad Cavic to win the race by the slimmest of margins.

There's so much to look at in this race, but lets focus on the finish, because that's obviously the climax. When you finish any stroke (especially butterfly and breaststroke) it's very important to gauge your distance from the wall so you don't end up being a half of a stroke from the wall. Ideally you want to make your list 4ish strokes just a tiny bit longer (or take 5 and make them a little shorter instead) so you can hit the wall in perfect stride with the stroke.

Rarely do any of the pros make such a blaring error in judgment, but both Phelps and Cavic found themselves in rookie looking situations. 1.5 strokes from the wall. Cavic guessed it would be best to glide in for the remaining 2 meters or so, while Phelps decided to take tiny stroke to finish into the wall. Even though Phelps won, neither one of them had guessed right or wrong. They were both in bad positions. The reason Phelps won is not because he took the extra stroke. It's not that he had more heart than Cavic (though he may). The reason Cavic lost is because he didn't kick into the wall. He just relaxed and glided in. He swam 99 meters perfect, but he swam the last meter like a beginner. It might be because he lead the whole race and had no idea the race was so close. I don't know. I just know if he did one more kick at the finish, he'd have won by 10 hundredths instead of losing by 1.