Swimming Butterfly - Breathing Technique

Breathing Technique

While swimming butterfly the inhale occurs when the upper body is a the top of the wave in the body undulation, the head has been lifted out of the water and the arms are recovering to the front.

In the butterfly stroke the inhale can be done at each cycle of the body undulation, each second undulation, each third and so on. Inhaling more often avoids oxygen shortage but is more demanding as the head and chest must be lifted out of the water more often.

The best breathing pattern is really a trade-off and a matter of personal choice.

Exhaling is always done in the water, exactly like in the other swimming strokes.

Breathing Tips

  • Breathing isn't so much an issue as in the freestyle stroke, as the head doesn't need to turn to the side. But again, a good timing is essential.
  • When you lift the head out of the water to breathe, you should not look straight at the pool end. You should rather look down and slightly to the front, as this is easier on the neck.
  • However, there are butterfly swimmers that turn the head and inhale to the side, as it allows them to keep the head lower. The hips then don't drop so much and it is easier to keep a smooth body undulation. However, this might strain the neck.

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