What this swimming skill is
This is where butterfly comes together into one flowing stroke. The wave, the two kicks, the arms and the breath all happen in rhythm. A few good strokes is a real achievement, and much better than a long swim that falls apart.
It is the last step in the butterfly journey. From here, many swimmers learn butterfly turns, or try a medley, a swim that uses all four main strokes in turn.
Why it matters
A big achievement.
Swimming butterfly is a proud moment for many children, teens and adults.
Strength and fitness.
Butterfly works the whole body and builds real swimming fitness.
New goals.
It opens the door to medley swimming, swim teams and new challenges.
Who it is for
Children, teens and adults work on this once the kicks, arms and breath have been practised on their own. Children on swim teams often aim for it, and many enjoy the challenge. If you are learning as an adult, butterfly can be a great new goal after the other strokes. At every age, short swims with good form matter more than distance.
The whole stroke together
The goal
Your child swims 5 metres of butterfly with the arms and kicks in time. They build up to 25 metres, keeping the rhythm and the breath.
Why it matters
Keeping everything in time is what turns butterfly from hard work into a flowing stroke. Building distance slowly keeps the stroke good as it gets longer.
What happens in lessons
A few good strokes.
Your instructor starts with very short swims, so every stroke feels right.
Mixing in one arm at a time.
Your child switches between easier one-arm strokes and full strokes, which keeps the rhythm clear.
Building the distance.
Bit by bit, the swims get longer, with good rests in between.
Celebrating each step.
Your instructor marks each new distance, so your child can see how far they have come.
How you can help between lessons
- On land, practise the rhythm slowly with the arms and a small body wave. Say 'kick the hands in, kick the hands out' together.
Common questions
- Why does my child only swim a few strokes of butterfly?
- That is the right way to learn it. Short swims with good timing build the rhythm. Pushing for distance too early tends to build habits that are harder to change later.
- Is butterfly the hardest stroke?
- For most people it is the most demanding, mainly because of the timing. Once the rhythm is there, it becomes smoother than it looks.
- Can butterfly be learned in a home pool?
- Yes. Butterfly is built from short, good quality swims, and a home pool suits that well. In a smaller pool, 25 metres simply means more than one length, with a turn at the wall.
- What comes after butterfly?
- Many swimmers go on to butterfly turns and medley swimming. Others keep it as a fun challenge. Your instructor plans the next steps with you.
