(6) Recovery Phase

The recovery phase is fundamentally a quick transition back to the initial position and first phase of the butterfly stroke. The arms should be behind the body from the last phase of the stroke. The arms should now circumduct proportionally forward, the right arm will move in a counter-clockwise direction while the left is moving in a clockwise direction. The arms will then capture the thumbs facing forward in the water until the arms are vertical the to the swimmers body. From this the arms will continue to move to the front of the body with the lateral flexion of the swimmers shoulder.

The forearms should be slightly tensed and flexed in order to keep the elbow just above the arm and the water. Once the arms move forward they rotate again while the thumbs are facing downward towards the water. When the arms circumduct forward, the head and the trunk flex downward by making them parallel in the water. The hips then follow as it is slightly flexed and the knees will also flex as well so that the legs can get ready for the first kicking action (Shown in diagram 1).  

Diagram 1: This diagram shows the position of the swimmers arms in the water once it has completed every stage/phase of the Butterfly stroke. The final arm movement at the bottom of the diagram shows the recovery phase of the stroke.