You know the Butterfly Stroke? I have a problem!?

Question

Ok, i learned that in butterfly, that i am supposed to breath once every time i take two pulls. When my hands leave the water and will go past my hips, i am supposed to breath than. When i am doing the butterfly stroke, i have problems holding my breath long enough for the two pulls.

When i am in a race, after 25m i am fine but for the rest of the race, i am forced to breath every stroke. Can anyone give me any suggestions based on how i can hold my breath for a long period of time while i cam doing the butterfly stroke.

Answer 1

when your at practice do breath control sets to build up your lungs so it wont be as hard for you

Answer 2

well fly is hardeest and most demanding stroke.  experience and practice will make you a lot better

the first 25 or so, dont worry so much about breathing. get into a rhythm or flow, breathing every 2 or 3. if you cant do 2 or 3 strokes w/ 1 breath just do what you can.  dont go fast your first 25 or 50.  just work on flow. then kick it up when you get near the end..

like the other guy said, slowly let your air out during your stroke. helps w/ the CO2 and u also dont waste time breathing out above the water when you should be breathing as much in as you can. so leak air out under and blow out b4 ur head gets out of the water and gulp in air. breathe when your hands get out of the water and your head should go under again right b4 your arms do.

watching some tapes of olympic swimmers can hlep too since ppl learn better from examples.

Answer 3

In the short term, you may consider changing your breathing pattern.  Shoot, Michael Phelps breathes every stroke!  I find when I'm doing a 100 fly, I'll breath one stroke - one breath - two strokes - one breath, and alternate like that.

It might also help to try breathing sooner in the stroke. If you're trying to breathe as your hands go past your hips, you're throwing your body balance way off kilter, and it takes more energy to breathe, then MORE energy to get going again.  Your hands enter the water, then as you're doing the power part of the stroke, underwater, breath as your hands push down from the surface. Hands push your torso up - take your breath, duck your head (chin to chest), and finish your stroke.

Finally, it may not be a breath control thing so much as a strength issue.  As you get stronger, it'll take you less effort to do each stroke - so just keep practicing and practicing!

Answer 4

I am also a swimmer and Butterfly is my favorite stroke. When you breathe in instead of holding your breath breathe out slowly. it releases CO2 and helps you breathe.

Answer 5

Find a breathing pattern you can maintain throughout the entire race.  If you can't do 2s then do 2 breaths in a row and then keep your head down on the third (2 up/1 down).  When you can maintain that breathing pattern through the race try the 2s and when that breaks down go to 2up/1down.  If your breathing is efficient you can breathe every stroke.  Like the other guy said, Phelps breathes every stroke except the ones off his wall.  Keep your chin low when you breathe and take the breath in your body dolphin motion of the stroke so you're not forcing yourself up to take a breath.

Answer 6

hi, i think you should try to control your breath during training ,do some training that help you to improve your breath,do pyramid training that train will help you so much to improve your breath i think it,s no problem to breath every stroke but, if you breathing every stroke you should do that fast and trying to focus on your hip movement that will help you for more clear breath and fainally start the first butterfly stroke with no breath break out with no breath as phelps and don,t give up i hope good luck for all swimmer.

Answer 7

it just takes practice.. when ur in practice try doing laps when breathing every 4th storke so in the race every other will be a peice of cake.. good luck!!!