Uses of the Butterfly Kick

The butterfly kick in swimming is also called the dolphin kick. It is the best kick to use if you want to get from one point to another point the quickest way possible because it produces great velocity. It can be a difficult kick to master.

  1. A Relatively New Stroke and Kick

    • The butterfly stroke only dates back to the 1930s. It is not nearly as old as other strokes, such as the freestyle or breaststroke. The advantages of doing the butterfly kick at times other than when doing the butterfly stroke was not realized until the 1990s when Olympian swimmers began during entire laps underwater utilizing this kick.

    Description

    • The butterfly kick is described as an undulation initiated in the upper abdominal area and thoracic spine. When doing the up-kick portion of the kick, the lower paraspinal muscles contract. When this happens, the thoracic and lumbar spine extends, and this rotates the pelvis. The hips are extended. The knees are flexed. The feet are then kicked toward the surface.

      When you are doing the down-kick you do the opposite motion, contracting your abs, resulting in the flexing of the lumbar and thoracic spine, flexing your hips and extending the knees, as you kick downward. This is a very fluid movement, once you learn how to do it correctly.

    Underwater Swimming and Other Uses

    • Obviously, this kick is used when doing the butterfly stroke, but it can also be used when swimming underwater. The butterfly kick can be used at the start of any race or after you have kicked off from the wall when turning and while you are still underwater.

    The Rules

    • Once you break the surface, you have to assume whatever is the appropriate kick for the event you are swimming in. Regarding the breaststroke, you can do a single butterfly kick after the start and at each turn, which must be followed by a breaststroke kick. The dolphin or butterfly kick is allowed during or at the completion of the first arm pull in the breaststroke.