Swimming Strokes: Butterfly vs. Breaststroke Speed Comparison

Which is faster breaststroke or butterfly?

The butterfly stroke is unequivocally faster than the breaststroke, consistently demonstrated by competitive swimming records and the inherent biomechanical and hydrodynamic principles governing each stroke's propulsion and drag.

The Direct Answer: Butterfly Dominance

In competitive swimming, the butterfly stroke is significantly faster than the breaststroke. This holds true across all distances where both strokes are contested, from sprints to middle-distance events. The primary reasons lie in the distinct propulsive mechanisms, recovery phases, and hydrodynamic profiles of each stroke.

Understanding Stroke Mechanics and Propulsion

The speed of a swimming stroke is fundamentally determined by the amount of propulsion generated versus the amount of drag encountered.

• Butterfly: This stroke is characterized by simultaneous arm movements and a powerful, undulating dolphin kick.

  • Arm Action: Both arms pull simultaneously through the water in a keyhole pattern, generating immense propulsive force. The recovery phase occurs with the arms swinging forward above the water, minimizing frontal drag.
  • Dolphin Kick: The powerful, synchronized up-and-down motion of both legs, originating from the core and hips, creates a continuous, high-force propulsion. This kick is a major contributor to the stroke's speed.
  • Continuous Propulsion: While there's a slight pause at the end of the recovery, the combination of two powerful kicks per arm cycle (often two kicks per pull) provides a more continuous forward thrust compared to the breaststroke.

• Breaststroke: This stroke involves a distinct pull, kick, and glide sequence.

  • Arm Action: The arms perform a sweeping, sculling motion outward, then inward, before recovering forward under the water. This underwater recovery creates significant frontal drag.
  • Whip Kick (Frog Kick): The legs are drawn up, then thrust backward and outward in a powerful, circular motion. While propulsive, it's generally less powerful and less efficient for pure speed than the dolphin kick.
  • Glide Phase: A defining characteristic of the breaststroke is the momentary glide phase after the pull and kick. While essential for efficiency and rhythm, this brief period of reduced propulsion inherently limits maximum speed.

Hydrodynamics and Drag Considerations

Drag is the resistance a swimmer experiences from the water. Minimizing drag is as crucial as maximizing propulsion for speed.

• Streamlining and Body Position:

  • Butterfly: The undulating motion of the butterfly allows for a relatively streamlined body position through the water, particularly during the powerful downkick and arm pull phases. The arm recovery over the water significantly reduces drag.
  • Breaststroke: The unique recovery phase of the breaststroke, where the arms are brought forward under the water and the legs are drawn up, creates a larger frontal surface area, leading to increased drag. The up-and-down motion can also disrupt streamlining more significantly than the butterfly's undulation.

• Surface Area and Resistance: The act of bringing the arms and legs through the water for recovery in breaststroke inherently increases the overall drag coefficient compared to the butterfly, where the arms recover through the air.

Energy Expenditure and Sustained Speed

The metabolic demands of each stroke also play a role in their sustainable speed.

• Anaerobic vs. Aerobic Demands:

  • Butterfly: The butterfly is an extremely demanding stroke, requiring significant anaerobic power and muscular endurance. Its high power output per stroke comes at a very high energy cost, making it challenging to sustain maximum speed over longer distances.
  • Breaststroke: While still demanding, the breaststroke is generally more energy-efficient for its given speed. The glide phase allows for brief recovery within the stroke cycle, making it more sustainable for longer distances and a preferred stroke for endurance events and triathlon swimming.

• Fatigue Factor: The high energy expenditure of the butterfly leads to faster onset of fatigue, which directly impacts a swimmer's ability to maintain peak speed. While a breaststroker also fatigues, the rate of speed degradation due to fatigue tends to be less pronounced over comparable distances than for a butterfly swimmer.

Competitive Performance Data

Empirical evidence from elite swimming competitions unequivocally supports the butterfly's superior speed.

• World Records and Race Times: Across all distances (50m, 100m, 200m), world records for the butterfly stroke are consistently faster than those for the breaststroke. For example, the world record for the men's 100m butterfly is significantly faster than the men's 100m breaststroke. This gap is even more pronounced over 50m and 200m, demonstrating the butterfly's higher average velocity potential.
• Typical Race Distances: Both strokes are raced competitively over 50m, 100m, and 200m. The only event where breaststroke's unique characteristics are favored is in the individual medley, where its distinct requirements are part of a four-stroke sequence.

Conclusion: The Science of Speed

In the contest of pure speed, the butterfly stroke emerges as the clear victor over the breaststroke. Its powerful, simultaneous propulsion from both arms and the dynamic dolphin kick, combined with a more favorable hydrodynamic profile during recovery, allow it to generate greater velocity. While the breaststroke offers efficiency and a unique set of skills, its inherent glide phase and underwater recovery mechanics make it inherently slower than the high-intensity, high-power output of the butterfly. For anyone looking to maximize speed in the water, the biomechanical advantages of the butterfly stroke are undeniable.