It is very, very difficult to swim fast butterfly without an...
Andrew Sheaff@AndrewKSheaff
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Jan 04, 2026
~1 min read
1
It is very, very difficult to swim fast butterfly without an effective entry kick.
The quality of the kick matters, and the timing of the kick matters just as much.
A great entry kick serves 2 key roles.
The quality of the kick matters, and the timing of the kick matters just as much.
A great entry kick serves 2 key roles.
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First, by kicking down, it lifts the hips up, greatly reducing drag at a time when swimmers are creating a lot during the recovery of the arms.
Less drag means more speed for less effort.
Less drag means more speed for less effort.
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Second, the kick creates propulsion at a time when there is very little propulsion being created between arms strokes.
More propulsion, more speed.
More propulsion, more speed.
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By eliminating drag and creating propulsion, the kick quickly helps swimmers transition from a low speed position to a high speed position, which is critical for creating sustainable speed.