How Long Does It Take To Learn The Butterfly?
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Swimming is a personal thing, and it takes individuals different lengths of time to learn anything, including new techniques. The butterfly is the newest of the four major stroke types used in Olympic standard competitions.
In most cases, the swim coach or trainer will teach a swimmer the breaststroke and butterfly together, and an average adult should be able to use either technique effectively within five to seven days.
Not a master, mind you, just become able to swim with effectiveness.
The best plan of action would be to get the kids into the pool when they are young and allow them to learn techniques that will be useful into the adult years of their lives.
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How Hard is it to Learn the Butterfly Stroke?
This will majorly depend on the individual learning it and the age at which they started swimming at.
Meaning a younger child will have the ability to pick up what is being taught quickly and will be able to learn swimming techniques in the future more easily than if they had now been taught as early as they were.
The motions of the stroke are rather elegant and require a certain amount of timing to get all the movements to work as one cohesive swimming stroke.
Most will consider this hard to learn when compared to the easy movements of the breaststroke, but it can become an invaluable technique for staying in shape or exploring open water.
What is the Average amount of Time to Learn Butterfly?
There will be different timelines of learning, as mentioned earlier in the article, in which different people will be at various comprehensive levels.
For instance, an adult learner that has never been in the pool before will require a certain amount of teaching and training before they will have the ability to learn different swimming techniques.
That being said, in general, according to a few sources, the average time it takes a person to learn the butterfly will be about seven daily classes.
But, of course, common sense tells us that not everyone can dedicate a week to classes, so they will need to be scheduled apart more than likely.
How Can You Speed it up?
For a person to learn more efficiently, they will need to have been started at a young age or be born with a savant’s talent. Otherwise, it will take as long as it takes for a person to be comfortable in the water and learn how to move in the liquid.
If you are to become a parent or already are, the best thing you can do is get your kids acquainted with the water early. Play with them in your hotels’ pools or the local community pool. Make it a fun experience to help them develop a fondness for swimming.
Which Exercises Can Help You?
As far as sports go, swimming is one that requires higher levels of cardio and fitness, but it also can be used as a form of exercise to stay fit with little impact on the joints.
Anything that improves cardio will be an exercise worth doing to help, having the physical confidence of being in shape can help a swimmer mentally trust their bodies to learn.
Another will be utilizing the weight room, getting together with a trainer at the local gym, and talking with them about weightlifting options to help your performance in the pool. For certain, work on the lats and shoulders to get an edge on pulling yourself through the water.
Tips and Tricks for Learning Butterfly
Here is a list of three tips to consider when learning the butterfly:
- Focus on your timing – this stroke is all about timing, from catching your breath at the right times to performing the actions in sequence as if dancing.
- Minimize unnecessary movement – for the most part, the movements required to perform the actions needed for the butterfly are simple and will not require much movement outside the kicks and arm pulls.
- Consider lifting weights – Most beginner swimmers will struggle with fatigue and soreness in the early stages of learning. This can be avoided with regular weightlifting, which will result in stronger strokes in the water.
Final Thoughts on How long does it take to learn the Butterfly
Learning to swim is an invaluable skill, and it is highly recommended to get your children to learn as much as they are able. This will make future lessons easier, plus it might spark a lifelong passion that takes them to the Olympic stage.
You never know and should at least allow them the opportunity to find out. Swimming is a healthy way to stay fit, plus it allows for a world of outdoor recreational activities to participate in.