I am a good butterflyer but believe that my kick is holding me back. I finished in the top 5 for both my fly events in the Spring Nationals but felt that I could have done better (or it may just be a lack of talent--but I can't fix that). Today I started to work with the Finis Shooter Monofin with the intention of improving my kick and taking some pressure off of my shoulders. What a disaster that was! I was barely able to keep the monofin below the surface and after 25 yds. I was exhaustapated! After working with it for about 30 min I came to understand that the only way I could propel myself forward was by ceasing any knee movement and kicking only through my gut and letting my lower legs move at the end of the oscilation. So my question is have I always kicked incrorrectly or do I just not know how to use the monofin? Not sure what I am hoping the answer is!
I'm very interested to see what our forumite experts have to say about this.
For now I just want to add a comment. It appears to me that different swimmers have been successful with rather different kicks. I believe that Mary T. used a kick with not much bending of the knees. There isn't good underwater footage, but you can see it a little here:
Mary T. Meagher - YouTube
and perhaps a little better here, especially near the finish:
1984 Olympic Women's 200m Butterfly final - Mary T. Meagher - YouTube
Phelps, on the other hand, has a very pronounced flex in his knees. You can see it here:
Michael Phelps - Butterfly 01 - YouTube
(I think this has been referred to as "shin kicking")
U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Ande's Swimming Tips: Swimming Faster Faster
I'm very interested to see what our forumite experts have to say about this.
For now I just want to add a comment. It appears to me that different swimmers have been successful with rather different kicks. I believe that Mary T. used a kick with not much bending of the knees. There isn't good underwater footage, but you can see it a little here:
Mary T. Meagher - YouTube
and perhaps a little better here, especially near the finish:
1984 Olympic Women's 200m Butterfly final - Mary T. Meagher - YouTube
Phelps, on the other hand, has a very pronounced flex in his knees. You can see it here:
Michael Phelps - Butterfly 01 - YouTube
(I think this has been referred to as "shin kicking")
U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Ande's Swimming Tips: Swimming Faster Faster
