How to Swim the Butterfly Without Being Tired

The butterfly or "fly" is one of the hardest strokes to learn in swimming and one of the hardest to perform well, but it is also one of the fastest strokes available behind freestyle. The catch-22 of fatigue when swimming the butterfly is that the more tired you get, the more your technique breaks down; the more your technique breaks down, the more tired you get. Studies have identified the most vital areas to concentrate on to relieve tiredness during the butterfly.

Instructions

    • 1

      Monitor your technique, in particular your stroke rate. If you swim at a pace of around 1 minute 30 seconds per 100 meters, you should aim for between 50 to 65 strokes per minute.

    • 2

      Accelerate your hands during the upsweep, when your hands start to move upward toward the surface of the water from the lowest point. Flatten your torso during the recovery as your hands exit the water, and keep your hands as low as possible.

    • 3

      Minimize the time spent gliding in the catch phase, when your hands have entered the water but before your hand starts to move downward in the outsweep phase.

    • 4

      Pace yourself. For example, during the first quarter of a race, go only as fast as is comfortable for you.

    • 5

      Practice holding your breath during intensive swimming so that you feel more comfortable breathing when fatigued.