Ok...here's another newbee question....is there some kind of mnemonic to help me coordinate kicks with my stroke..for instance 2 kicks per stroke...4 kicks per stroke, etc...right now I seem to just be "kicking"
An interesting drill to do is to put a fin on one foot and a paddle on the opposite hand and swim. You should feel how your feet and hands connect/time together, or not. Do that for a couple of laps, then swap the fins and paddles to the other side and see how it feels. You will be able to detect if you're off a bit.
We use this drill and also try to coordinate the right hand entry with the downbeat of the left foot and left hand entry with the downbeat of the right foot- emphasizing the downbeat at hand entry seems to help, so it more like a waltz. ONE two three, ONE two three - but opposite feet (downbeat) and hands (entry) coordinated on the beat.
I find this really hard to keep going if I'm not thinking about it and backslide into a customary rhythm.
An interesting drill to do is to put a fin on one foot and a paddle on the opposite hand and swim. You should feel how your feet and hands connect/time together, or not. Do that for a couple of laps, then swap the fins and paddles to the other side and see how it feels. You will be able to detect if you're off a bit.
We use this drill and also try to coordinate the right hand entry with the downbeat of the left foot and left hand entry with the downbeat of the right foot- emphasizing the downbeat at hand entry seems to help, so it more like a waltz. ONE two three, ONE two three - but opposite feet (downbeat) and hands (entry) coordinated on the beat.
I find this really hard to keep going if I'm not thinking about it and backslide into a customary rhythm.
