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 ;)
Former Member
I like using kickboards and even if they are not a 100 percent good for me, so what. As for not using goggles I'm one of the few that don't use them in a meet. I don't want themfall off. I'm still able to see to make turns and how to touch in a finish.
It is quite easy to stop goggles falling off on diving into the water. They fall off because water pressure pushes them off mainly due to the head being at the wrong angle.
There are two steps to take to stop this happening:
1 - Make sure that your head is within your arms, in a tight streamline position before you hit the water. Eyes are looking down not forward.
2 - Close elbows together to have the inside of your arms squeezed against the side of your head.
If you do " 1 " and the goggles still come off then make sure to do " 2 " as well. I see some swimmers diving with their hands together but you could drive a truck thru the gap between their elbows, the water surges thru this gap and off come your goggles.
I have taught this to my swimmers and it works.
Oh, the straps need to be not too loose as well !
I find kickboards bad for butterfly and flutter kicking for all the previous reasons. I do use them for breaststroke kicking and feel they help this kick. However, I might recommend holding the board sideways. A sideways board creates a bit more resistance in the water for me to kick against (I have a decent breaststroke kick and sometimes need this for training), and a wider board to hold onto spreads my arms further apart, helping to minimize pinching at my shoulders.
I as well find that using a board gives me much shoulder pain, I will try the board sideways with my *** kick. I rearly use a board for flutter, fly or back kick one for the pain but also I never feel like I am kicking properly. I will do the flutter and fly under water and surface a couple of times per 25m. My kick is my strong point in both fly and ***.
I have just read these articles too .I didn't realise that this was so important.I am now going to try and increase my "angle of foot".As for where you would get a Rack i don't know but i think a bit of "make it yourself "may save some money!!!!(wood for a base,old jeans cut up for a strap,all fixed together with some screws or glue,hey i may patent this idea..)
sorry, i meant to post this reply to a different thread,the one on the article of feet and improving angle for faster swimming,think my computer has started to take over.....must......find....unplug......the......powe..........................................r............................................................................
I just tuned into this thread. I used to use kickboards as an integral part of my workout. After experiencing debilitating tendonitis I had to give up the kickboard for awhile. Then I started using Zoomers and would do my whole kick set - 400 IM - with Zoomers and no board. Now sometimes I will use the board to do the breaststroke portion and maybe the flutter.
When coaching I put in kick sets without boards, which means when the swimmers are getting prepared for their workout by getting a kickboard I have to go retrieve them and tell them, "No boards tonight!" They are so addicted.
In the middle of the workout I have them do vertical kicks, something like 4 x :20 on :30. Watching the new Richard Quick video series he advocates about :10 seconds of hard, fast kicking.
Back in 1993 when the National LC meet was in Minneapolis I entered an exhibition 50m kick race. Most everyone used a kickboard. Tim Garton won that race with a time of about :32, more than a couple body lengths ahead of everyone! It was an awesome performance for which I had a front row - I mean, back row - view of. Does anyone remember that?
Just my two cents worth of personal experience...
I spread my kicking around, some with the kickbopard, some sideways, some on my back.
Too much kickboard seems to strain my lower back muscles, and they spaz out. Ouch!
My favorite way to kick is a flutter kick on my back. It seems to work more leg muscles than the flat or a sideways kick.
I either read it somewhere, or the coach told us that when swimming on out backs, most swimmers tend to use their leg myscles on the up, and the down motion, while when we do the regular freestyle or a kickboard kick, we tend to push only in one direction.
My fastest kick is the dolphin kick on my back.
In general, kicking is the weak part of my stroke. I have strong legs, but ankles need a lot more stretching.
