In Swimming, What Is the Butterfly Stroke?
One of several different strokes used in swimming, particularly competitive swimming, the butterfly stroke is a variant of the breaststroke and is one of the more powerful strokes to observe and quite physically demanding. The butterfly stroke is essentially a synchronous movement of both the arms and the legs. Swimming coaches break down this stroke into three separate parts – the push, the pull, and the recovery. During the butterfly stroke, the arms move simultaneously and the legs engage in the dolphin kick. Breathing is another important component of the butterfly stroke, as there is only a small window for catching a breath. During the butterfly stroke, the arms are constantly moving together. The initial arm movement is similar to the breast stroke, with the hands and palms facing out. The arms then move into a Y position in front of the body to “catch” the water and set up the pull. The push comes when the palms are turned facing backwards as the arms move underneath. The arms
