Great butterflyers have a powerful kick that creates speed. A big...
Andrew Sheaff@AndrewKSheaff
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Apr 22, 2026
~1 min read
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Great butterflyers have a powerful kick that creates speed.
A big kick on a kickboard is helpful, but the real goal is creating speed through the kick while swimming full stroke.
Here is one way to put real demand on the legs while still swimming butterfly.
A big kick on a kickboard is helpful, but the real goal is creating speed through the kick while swimming full stroke.
Here is one way to put real demand on the legs while still swimming butterfly.
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Have swimmers go 4 Kicks + 1 Pull, taking two extra kicks at the front of the stroke.
They’re still swimming butterfly, but there’s extra pressure on the kick.
It’s not enough to just do the drill, it’s critical to train it.
They’re still swimming butterfly, but there’s extra pressure on the kick.
It’s not enough to just do the drill, it’s critical to train it.
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Build it into kick sets, build it into swim sets, do both in the same set.
Have swimmers go fast, give them stroke counts.
Add resistance in the form of DragSox or parachutes to build strength and skill.
The opportunities are endless.
Have swimmers go fast, give them stroke counts.
Add resistance in the form of DragSox or parachutes to build strength and skill.
The opportunities are endless.
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In every case, swimmers have to use the legs to create speed in a way that’s specific to butterfly.
Follow @andrewksheaff for more on the key skills in swimming, and how to improve them.
Follow @andrewksheaff for more on the key skills in swimming, and how to improve them.
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If coaches and swimmers don’t know the overall goals of the team, and the developmental goals specific to their groups, they’re much less likely to achieve them.
What’s the simplest way to make sure those goals are communicated clearly?
Write them down. Make them real.
What’s the simplest way to make sure those goals are communicated clearly?
Write them down. Make them real.
