BUTTERFROG EXTREME (THE OLD SCHOOL BUTTERFLY STROKE)

Ever wondered what happens when you combine the two most powerful strokes in swimming? The result is "Butterfrog," an old-school hybrid stroke that merges the arms of butterfly with the kick of breaststroke.

While you won't see it in the Olympics, this unique stroke is a fantastic drill for mastering the timing of butterfly and adding some fun variety to your training. This lesson will show you how it works, and even introduce you to its opposite: the "Breastfly" drill.

Dive Into: The Butterfrog and Breastfly Drills

• What is the Butterfrog Stroke?
• How to Swim the Butterfrog
  • 🎥 Watch: Butterfrog in Action
  • 🎥 Watch: Slow-Motion Technique
• The Opposite: The "Breastfly" Drill
  • 🎥 Watch: The Breastfly Drill
• Why Bother Learning These Drills?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Butterfrog Stroke?

The Butterfrog is a combination of butterfly (also called dolphin) and breaststroke, which are both called short-axis strokes. They both work from a pivot point in the hips and create an undulating motion forward.

The major distinction between the two strokes is the arm recovery. Butterfly recovers above the water, and breaststroke recovers right at the surface. The true butterfly uses an undulating dolphin kick, and breaststroke uses a frog-like kick.

Since the two swimming strokes are quite similar, it is not as hard to combine them. The resulting stroke uses butterfly arms with a breaststroke kick. While it is still considered legal to use in competitions, the speed of the stroke is very slow and not recommended for racing.

How to Swim the Butterfrog

Rhythm and timing are the most difficult aspects of short-axis strokes, and a good undulating motion is critical.

🎥 Watch: Butterfrog in Action

Watch carefully how the legs complement the arms in this video.

🎥 Watch: Slow-Motion Technique

And here is another video that shows you how to slow the Butterfrog down, so you can work on the technique.

The Opposite: The "Breastfly" Drill

How about trying it the opposite way? Breaststroke arms and butterfly legs.

This is actually a very common breaststroke drill which teaches you a nice body undulation and lets you strengthen your arms, especially if performed with paddles.

🎥 Watch: The Breastfly Drill

See the video below on how to do the Breastfly drill:

Why Bother Learning These Drills?

In summary, if you do struggle with butterfly, the Butterfrog stroke can be a great substitute to teach the correct arm motions. Most of all, these hybrid strokes can be a great break from the everyday monotonous practice. So give it a go!