Butterfly - 3-3-3 Thumb Drag

Most swimmers strive for a low, sweeping arm recovery in butterfly. But sometimes it's hard to know if you've actually ACHIEVED this type of recovery. Here's a drill with a built-in - correct detector -your thumbs.

Why Do It
A low, sweeping arm recovery can make butterfly feel easy-well, ALMOST easy. The idea is to keep your arms relaxed, and to lift them the bare minimum above the surface of the water. This keeps the recovery quick, relaxed (that's why it's called the recovery, after all), and highly efficient. A low recovery also helps you undulate just over and just under the waterline.

How To Do It:
1. Start with 3 strokes of fly with your left arm, dragging the thumb through the water on each recovery.

2. Then take 3 strokes of fly with your right arm, again trailing the thumb through the water.

3. Finish with 3 strokes of whole-stroke fly, sweeping the arms over the water and trailing the thumbs just across the surface.

How To Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
1. Keep your elbows locked but your arms relaxed.

2. Lead with the TOPS of your hands. Make sure your are trailing the THUMBS through the water and not the palms of your hand or your pinky fingers.