BUTTERFLY

Butterfly stroke is the most powerful but exhausting stroke compared to other swimming strokes. The body should be in a supine position, involving the dolphin kick with a windmill-like movement of both arms in harmony. The swimmers must keep their shoulders in line with the surface of the water, and make arm and leg movements together. Butterfly needs both stamina and technique, but the body movements are not difficult because you will have done many of them before in other strokes.

The butterfly stroke evolved from experiments with the breaststroke. This technique may have been invented by the German E. Rademacher in 1926, and improved upon by American Henry Meyer and accepted in competition in 1933. When swimming competitively, the swimmer must not swim underwater. The only time a swimmer can swim underwater is the first stroke after the start and each turn.

Stroke Guidance

STEP ONE

Both of your arms work at the same time and keep moving throughout the stroke. Put your hands in the water in front of your shoulders and pull them towards your feet.

STEP TWO

When your hands reach your thighs, lift them out of the water and throw them back to the start. You should keep your head in the water all the time, except when you need to breathe in.

If you lift your head up at other times it will be almost impossible to get your arms over the water. The easiest way to breathe in is to push your chin forwards so that your mouth comes out of the water. It is best to do this when your arms are almost at your thighs.

Butterfly