Personally, I think kickboards are evil, evil, evil. When I was swimming 20 years ago in high school I didn't see the point, and now that I'm 38 I still don't see the point.
Happily though, I've read in several books and seen on a few video tapes that many coaches have come around to my line of thinking, "Kickboards put you in an unnatural heads-up position, emphasize the least effective part of the stroke (the kick), and keep you from rotating."
Since I see people swim with kickboards every day I know many people disagree with me. But, there's no way they're going to change my mind. Instead - let's vote!
Parents
Former Member
Kickboards, like any other pool toy, are great, when used in moderation and under a coach's direction. I personally love kicking without a board; it's really helped me with my backstroke flipturn. Having said that, I know a lot of beginner swimmers that simply don't have the strength or cardio to kick, say freestyle kick without a board, because they would have difficulty with the sculling and breath control.
Kickboards, like any other pool toy, are great, when used in moderation and under a coach's direction. I personally love kicking without a board; it's really helped me with my backstroke flipturn. Having said that, I know a lot of beginner swimmers that simply don't have the strength or cardio to kick, say freestyle kick without a board, because they would have difficulty with the sculling and breath control.
