Butterfly
Here are the basics for swimming Butterfly.
Instead of rotation, we have undulation (up and down movement, like a wave).
Eyes should stay looking at the bottom of the pool (head/neck should remain inline with spine).
Every stroke cycle gets one pull, one breath, and two kicks.
I tell my swimmers to kick up out of the water and kick back down into the water.
Timing is as follows: start pull and kick, take breath, bring arms out of the water and around, kick as head goes back into the water.
Butter fly is all about rhythm.
Butterfly Kick Specifics
Butterfly kick is a whole body motion that starts with the chest.
Keep feet together, imagine what a dolphin tale looks like.
Push down with chest, hips go up. Next, roll/push chest forward/up and hips will go down. Let the motion go from chest all the way to feet.
Butterfly (arms) specifics
Arms start infront of body.
Sweep hands (at the same time) down, with fingers pointing to the floor and keeping high elbows.
Then push hands (and water) back toward feet.
Hands come out of the water palm up. Bring them around (making a semi circle coming from legs to back infront of body), keeping arms parallel to water's surface, and place hands in water shoulder width apart.
Breathing
When hands start to pull, body should come out of water slightly and that's where a breath should be taken.