What this swimming skill is
In butterfly, the body moves like a gentle wave travelling from the chest to the hips and on to the feet. It is a smooth roll, not a big bend in the middle. Children often picture a dolphin or a mermaid, which is close to how it feels.
Your child usually starts this once they are comfortable with front crawl, the stroke where the arms take turns over the water. A dolphin kick, where both legs kick together, comes first too. After the wave come the two butterfly kicks, the arms and the breath.
See it in action
How To Swim: Butterfly Stroke Drill (2/2)
The salmon dive, a playful way to feel the wave that runs through the body in butterfly.
From the AquaMobile YouTube channel
Why it matters
The heart of butterfly.
A good wave makes butterfly smoother and much less tiring than it looks.
Fun and freedom.
Moving like a dolphin is playful, and many children love the feeling.
Better swimming all round.
The same wave helps with swimming underwater after pushing off the wall.
Who it is for
Children, teens and adults usually start butterfly once they are comfortable with front crawl and a dolphin kick. Children often pick up the wave quickly through dolphin and mermaid games. If you are learning as an adult, smaller, slower waves help you loosen up. Butterfly asks a lot of the shoulders and back, so tell your instructor about any past injuries before starting.
From chest to hips
The goal
Your child makes a smooth wave from the chest through the hips, first with support and then on their own. The knees stay fairly relaxed rather than doing all the work.
Why it matters
A wave that starts in the chest and hips gives butterfly its power and flow. It makes everything that comes next easier.
What happens in lessons
Watching and copying.
Your instructor shows the wave standing in the water, and your child copies it slowly.
Waves with support.
Your child holds the wall, a float or your instructor's hands and practises small, gentle waves.
Dolphin games.
Your child swims like a dolphin just under the surface, which makes practice feel like play.
Letting go.
Once the wave flows, your child tries it on their own for short stretches, with your instructor right beside them.
How you can help between lessons
- On land, stand side-on to a mirror and make a small, slow wave: chest forward, hips back, then hips forward.
Common questions
- Is this the same as the dolphin kick?
- Very close. The dolphin kick is the end of the wave, where it flicks through the feet. This skill looks at where the wave starts, so the kick has more power behind it.
- My child already swims like a mermaid. Do they need this?
- They are off to a great start. Your instructor checks that the wave starts from the chest and builds from there.
- Why does butterfly look so tiring?
- Butterfly without a good rhythm is tiring. With a relaxed wave and good timing, it is much smoother. That is why lessons spend time on the wave before adding the arms.
- Can adults learn butterfly?
- Yes, and many adults enjoy it as a new challenge. It is demanding on the shoulders and lower back, so your instructor builds it up gradually.
