Do you use a six-beat kick?

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:32:45 GMT

I am starting to fear that this is what I do, too. I have to really be pushing it to do a six-beat kick. And yet, I have no problem doing it when I wear fins. Hmm. Wow, that's really interesting about the fins. I find that the fins only make the issue worse and I almost never swim with fins. If I swim with fins, they slow down my kick rate and I have to either slow down my stroke rate or swim with a half-beat kick, if such a thing exists! (Also, fins exacerbate my leg cramping.) PT

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

philoswimmer — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:05:07 GMT

Wow, that's really interesting about the fins. I find that the fins only make the issue worse and I almost never swim with fins. If I swim with fins, they slow down my kick rate and I have to either slow down my stroke rate or swim with a half-beat kick, if such a thing exists! (Also, fins exacerbate my leg cramping.) PT I should have specified -- for sprinting, I'm generally using short or medium length fins, and so I can keep up a fast kick tempo. My guess as to what is happening is this: I have trouble focusing on both arms and legs at the same time (yes, I am that uncoordinated). So, most of the time when I'm swimming freestyle I focus on my arms, because that is where I get most of my propulsion. But when I put fins on, I get a lot more propulsion from my legs, so then it's my arms that are coasting a bit. I'm not saying this is a good thing, mind you. I'm trying to incorporate more kick into my regular (non-fin) stroke, but I'm just not managing it well.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:12:38 GMT

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

philoswimmer — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:13:57 GMT

I voted "only when sprinting" but even that needs to be amended...only when sprinting and not breathing. If I put my head down (figuratively, mostly) and stop breathing, then I can really bring in a strong 6 beat kick. Whenever I breath, either side, I have a kerthump-thump kick! PT I am starting to fear that this is what I do, too. I have to really be pushing it to do a six-beat kick. And yet, I have no problem doing it when I wear fins. Hmm.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Debugger — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 05:46:06 GMT

According to the poll so far, when not sprinting, almost 70% don't use 6 beat kicks. However, what I see in the pools is different: most people use 6 beat (I didn't count their beats, but it's obvious more than 4 beats and definitely not 2 beats), whether sprinting or not. It might depend on distance and intensity. I may use 6 beat kick for 800m as well if I swim in relaxed, easy manner. Sure that I don't kick as hard in that case.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:14:34 GMT

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:20:21 GMT

I use a 2-beat kick anytime I'm not sprinting. I know, bad habits of the typical distance swimmer. As for the technique, my kicks are structured exactly like they are for my 6-beat, but with small pauses between. I don't have a scissor kick, but I also don't bend my knees more than normal. I do 6-beat for backstroke as well.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:29:17 GMT

Same as some others on here, I use a 6 beat for everything 200 or less. On my 500's I use a 6 beat the first and last 75 yards, and a two beat in the middle 350.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:10:37 GMT

I have no idea. I get confused when I try to count my kicks because my feet work independantly from my arms :angel: I am glad I am not the only one. I was about to quit the sport when I couldn't figure out this fundamental question. But you are a much better swimmer than me so I guess I won't worry about it. Near as I can tell, when swimming aerobically I have a 2 beat kick followed by 2 non-kicks. Like a 1, .8, .2, .1 kick or something. When I sprint I kick harder and faster but I have no idea of the count.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:06:52 GMT

Those who do 2 beat kick, do you whip kick bending your knees while kicking, or keep the legs straight like big scissors? Anyone does 2 beat in backstroke?

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:25:04 GMT

Laurie Manaudou also won gold using her famous 2 beat kick.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

__steve__ — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:54:47 GMT

I believe Jonty Skinners 100M WR of 49:44 was accomplished with a 2- beat pattern

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:14:52 GMT

This. How do people actually count especially when swimming fast? Then again, when I used to swim I was one of the fastest in any pull set but one of the slowest swimmers so clearly what I used to do is wrong. I've tried to figure it out from video of my races even... i haven't been able to find any rhyme , reason, or pattern to my kick. It just kinda... is. In practice i have a single beat crossover kick :)

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:42:47 GMT

I have no idea. I get confused when I try to count my kicks because my feet work independantly from my arms :angel: This. How do people actually count especially when swimming fast? Then again, when I used to swim I was one of the fastest in any pull set but one of the slowest swimmers so clearly what I used to do is wrong.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

orca1946 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:57:57 GMT

From my distance back ground, a 4 beat works with my arms just fine. I only had 7 fast twitch fibers & now , getting older, I only have 3 !!!!!!:cane:

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

philoswimmer — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:51:35 GMT

I re-read what I wrote and noticed I should have clarified a little more. Thank you, written communication improvement is an on going thing. So long as I'm not doing a drill: 2-beat kick always used for anything slower than () a 100. But (this is where I failed to clarify:)), if it's faster than my 200 AND slower than my 100 (currently very slow BTW:blush:) I use either the 2 or 6 beat kick depending on the situation. Examples: 6- beat negative split. 2- beat during first 150 of a 200 for fear of entering zone of spontanious autoignition of body parts. The only way I can actually maintain a 4-beat rhythm is by kicking twice with each leg, like a double kick. Actually seems to work well perhaps I should try it more often, hmm. 2-beat kick for 200 and slower. 6-beat kick for 100 and faster. Yes, that makes more sense!

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Redbird Alum — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:19:57 GMT

I think the poll should have had an option for 6-beat all the time I am thinking about it... some other beat the rest of the time. "Marching to the beat of a different drummer..."

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

__steve__ — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:30:15 GMT

Sorry, still trying to understand. You said, "2 beat for 100 pace and slower, 6 beat for 200 pace and faster." So, you go 2-beat for 100 pace, 125 pace, 150 pace... etcI re-read what I wrote and noticed I should have clarified a little more. Thank you, written communication improvement is an on going thing. So long as I'm not doing a drill: 2-beat kick always used for anything slower than () a 100. But (this is where I failed to clarify:)), if it's faster than my 200 AND slower than my 100 (currently very slow BTW:blush:) I use either the 2 or 6 beat kick depending on the situation. Examples: 6- beat negative split. 2- beat during first 150 of a 200 for fear of entering zone of spontanious autoignition of body parts. From my distance back ground, a 4 beat works with my arms just fine. The only way I can actually maintain a 4-beat rhythm is by kicking twice with each leg, like a double kick. Actually seems to work well perhaps I should try it more often, hmm.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

__steve__ — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:10:32 GMT

Could someone explain how a 4-beat kick works. I don't understand how you get symmetry to the stoke if you are not doing an odd number of kicks per side.The only way I can pull a true 4 - beat kick is by kicking 2X in succession each leg. Like a double 2 - beat :). An easy way to confirm your kick pattern is with video review.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:38:54 GMT

I think the poll should have had an option for 6-beat all the time I am thinking about it... some other beat the rest of the time. :applaud: Yes that's me! I think I use 2-beat mostly, and a 6-beat when I pick up the speed. However I only know I do 6-beat when I really concentrate and count, which is not very often :blush:

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

taruky — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:37:27 GMT

Could someone explain how a 4-beat kick works. I don't understand how you get symmetry to the stoke if you are not doing an odd number of kicks per side.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Former Member — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:53:45 GMT

I have no idea. I get confused when I try to count my kicks because my feet work independantly from my arms :angel:

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

philoswimmer — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:50:25 GMT

Yes, other than drilling, anything between 200 and 100 pace will be either 2 or 6 depending on needs Guess I better vote -6 for sprinting Sorry, still trying to understand. You said, "2 beat for 100 pace and slower, 6 beat for 200 pace and faster." So, you go 2-beat for 100 pace, 125 pace, 150 pace... etc. (I'm assuming longer distances = slower). Then you go 6-beat for 200 pace, 175 pace, 150 pace etc. (assuming shorter distances = faster). That's not making sense to me logically. The more common thing to say would be that you go 2-beat for 200 pace and slower, 6-beat for 100 pace and faster. Unless there is something I am still not getting.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

Kurt Dickson — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 07:48:50 GMT

kicking does not give me a lot of bang for the buck; not sure if that's just me being lazy or if some people are better able to maintain a 6 beat without going anaerobic. My legs are always first to go even in postal swims where I'm just dragging them.

RE: Do you use a six-beat kick?

__steve__ — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 07:38:58 GMT

Yes, other than drilling, anything between 200 and 100 pace will be either 2 or 6 depending on needs Guess I better vote -6 for sprinting