I have two questions.
1)When someone refers to 2 beat or 6 beat for a kick, is that per stroke or is that per two strokes (left arm, then right arm)?
2)It may just be me, but it seems impossible to count my kicks if I am trying to keep track of how many are in one stroke. It's like when people can pat their head while rubbing their stomach in circles...Is there another way to count the "beats" or do you have to be some citizen of waterworld?
I agree with Craig, I think the notion that distance swimmers should use a 2-beat kick while sprinters use a 6-beat is going to fade away. And while you won’t see many sprinters using 2-beat kicks, you will continue to see more distance folks sticking with or going back to 6-beat kicks.
I, for one, have always been a 6-beat guy, even in my marathon swims. For me a steady relaxed efficient 6-beat kick was never overly taxing on my cardio-vascular systems. The number of kicks is less important than the efficiency and effectiveness of your kick.
But, if you are a 6-beat kicker interested in trying to develop a 2-beat kick, here are a couple of suggestions:
Drill 1 – (You may need a pull buoy to keep your legs up.) Swim 1/2 a length with NO kick (drag your legs), then for the second half every time your right hand enters the water add a big kick down with your left leg. On the way back do the second half with left hand entry right leg kick. This will most definitely feel weird at first (it can look a little odd as well). After a few of these, try doing the second half length with right hand entry/left kick followed by left hand/right foot. I find it helps to concentrate on a big down kick, a deep catch, and steady turnover. Once you get the knack of starting this half way down the pool, try it right from the push-off.
Drill 2 – (Only try this if you can already do a passable dolphin kick and you may want to try this one with fins.) Using your normal arm stroke, replace the flutter kick with dolphin kick, with a down kick with each arm entry. Two kicks per cycle.
I agree with Craig, I think the notion that distance swimmers should use a 2-beat kick while sprinters use a 6-beat is going to fade away. And while you won’t see many sprinters using 2-beat kicks, you will continue to see more distance folks sticking with or going back to 6-beat kicks.
I, for one, have always been a 6-beat guy, even in my marathon swims. For me a steady relaxed efficient 6-beat kick was never overly taxing on my cardio-vascular systems. The number of kicks is less important than the efficiency and effectiveness of your kick.
But, if you are a 6-beat kicker interested in trying to develop a 2-beat kick, here are a couple of suggestions:
Drill 1 – (You may need a pull buoy to keep your legs up.) Swim 1/2 a length with NO kick (drag your legs), then for the second half every time your right hand enters the water add a big kick down with your left leg. On the way back do the second half with left hand entry right leg kick. This will most definitely feel weird at first (it can look a little odd as well). After a few of these, try doing the second half length with right hand entry/left kick followed by left hand/right foot. I find it helps to concentrate on a big down kick, a deep catch, and steady turnover. Once you get the knack of starting this half way down the pool, try it right from the push-off.
Drill 2 – (Only try this if you can already do a passable dolphin kick and you may want to try this one with fins.) Using your normal arm stroke, replace the flutter kick with dolphin kick, with a down kick with each arm entry. Two kicks per cycle.
