Hi all,
It's so funny--sometimes I see people at the pool who really go at it with the kickboard...and then other people wouldn't touch one if their life depended upon it.
I'll admit, I don't use one--mainly becuase I'm impatient, feel like I'm not going anywhere, and am a purist to a fault sometimes.
But, if you think that it's worthwhile, I would incoporate it, all for the sake of improvement.
The great questions are:
Will training with a kickboard make me a better, faster, super awesome swimmer?
And, if you train with one--why? Or, why not?
Thanks everybody (you know you're my outlet!)
JoAnne -aka, Jerrycat ;)
Parents
Former Member
I use a kickboard regularly and think it is beneficial for me. I do not experience any of the back or shoulder pain mentioned. Having said that, I think hand paddles are evil, but that is because I experience shoulder pain and I primarily see paddles used by others to go faster because their kick is no good.
I cant say much about the technique effects kickboards have on my stroke. When I kick I really try to pop my center of gravity (torso) up by making it feel like I am rolling over a barrell instead of floating on a board. I don't think the little kicking I do affects my stroke technique as much as the conditioning helps me.
I cheat a whole lot less with a board than when I kick without a board, and I limit my kicking to 400-500 yards of fast, hard kicking (and occasional "rest" 50's) that isolates my leg muscles and works them hard.
One other thing I have started doing occasionally (when someone leaves fins out) is to swim fly and back with fins for a while (like 16x50 alternating fly, back) then take them off and do some more 50's. I find it gives my legs a workout and helps me swim more legal fly. And its fun to go real fast.
Steve
I use a kickboard regularly and think it is beneficial for me. I do not experience any of the back or shoulder pain mentioned. Having said that, I think hand paddles are evil, but that is because I experience shoulder pain and I primarily see paddles used by others to go faster because their kick is no good.
I cant say much about the technique effects kickboards have on my stroke. When I kick I really try to pop my center of gravity (torso) up by making it feel like I am rolling over a barrell instead of floating on a board. I don't think the little kicking I do affects my stroke technique as much as the conditioning helps me.
I cheat a whole lot less with a board than when I kick without a board, and I limit my kicking to 400-500 yards of fast, hard kicking (and occasional "rest" 50's) that isolates my leg muscles and works them hard.
One other thing I have started doing occasionally (when someone leaves fins out) is to swim fly and back with fins for a while (like 16x50 alternating fly, back) then take them off and do some more 50's. I find it gives my legs a workout and helps me swim more legal fly. And its fun to go real fast.
Steve
