Mistakes in Butterfly Swimming Technique

Genadijus Sokolovas, Ph.D.www.globsport.orginfo@globsport.org

Typical Mistakes in Butterfly Technique

• Underwater Kick• Up-Kick• Head/Body Position• Beginning of the Stroke• Middle of the Stroke• Finish of the Stroke• Kicking Technique

Underwater Kick

• Arms and head position• Generation of underwater kick from arms and

shoulders• Hips movement• Bending knees• Slow transition from down-kick to up-kick and

vice versa

Underwater Kick

Up-Kick

• Emphasizing down-kick• Hips movement• Pointing tows down

Up-Kick

Underwater Kick Videos

Head/Body Position

• Driving stroke from the head• Pressing head down• Head movements• High/low head position• Arching back• Low hips

Head/Body Position

Butterfly Videos

Beginning of the Stroke

• Slow arm entry• Wide arm entry• Late beginning of the stroke• Wide beginning of the stroke• Low elbow position• Lifting the head• Moving hips up

Beginning of the Stroke

Middle of the Stroke

• Pulling from arms only• S-shape pathway• Squeezing hands inside• Drop elbows

Middle of the Stroke

Finish of the Stroke

• Hands close to each other• Shoulders high above the surface – low feet• Jumping high above the surface• Pressing arms down• Rotating hands inside• Finishing stroke with deceleration

Finish of the Stroke

Butterfly Videos

Kicking Technique

• Matching pull and kick emphasis• Weak kick at the end of the pull (exit kick)• Weak kick at the arms entry (entry kick)• Moving knees down during the kick• Large amplitude kick• Too strong down kick

Kicking Technique

Kicking Videos