Hi, new to the board, back in the pool about 4 months.
Worked up to doing Mo Chambers workouts, but always substituting for fly in the IM's because I just never learned it.
I've always been a lousy kicker, but I bought a pair of Zoomers and quit using the board, which has helped a bunch. I do dolphins front and side and flutter on my back. I just started to dolphin kick off the flip (without the fins), which has really helped reduce stroke count (10 catchup; 13 -- 14 normally; 15 + is a failed lap). I'm 6'2" and dropped from 200+ when I started down to 190 - 195, which feels great.
Today I tried doing the fly legs in the IM's wearing the Zoomers, and I think there's some hope. Can a 44 year old lousy kicker learn to fly? Is it OK to learn with fins? Are there bad habits to watch out for when learning with or without the fins? Or should I forget about fly and just concentrate on the other three strokes?
I'm having a lot of fun swimming again, love the workouts and chat here, and am not afraid of looking like a complete dweeb.
Thanks for all the great feedback, I've been reading the posts each day before hitting the pool and trying to remember them as I work on the stroke. Here are results so far, and a question:
The fins were helpful at first in feeling the rhthym and keeping forward momentum, but quickly turned into a crutch and, as suggested, slowed down the kick, so I quit using them. But I can recommend them if you are having trouble, as I was, in even getting going at the outset. I used the short red Zoomers.
Without the guidance of a coach or at least the videos, I didn't attempt the drills, but just concentrated on trying to swim the stroke consistently. I did get some feedback from a woman in the next lane, who pointed out I was raising my chin too high. That helped me lead with my head and get the swimming downhill feeling going, at least until I get tired. I noticed I tend to start kicking with my knees as I get tired, too. And a guard reminded me that I don't need to breathe every stroke, but can keep my head down for a cycle.
A couple more questions. What kind of stroke count should I be looking for in a 25 m length? Looking at the videos, it appears that a quick turnover rate is more important in fly than a whole lot of glide, so that means a relatively high stroke count? I'm going 10 -- 12 right now (although I'm staying underwater off the walls and dolphining for all I'm worth to cut down on the amount of time I actually have to swim the stroke :)) And the rules say I don't need to breathe every stroke, right?
Thanks for all the tips.
Thanks for all the great feedback, I've been reading the posts each day before hitting the pool and trying to remember them as I work on the stroke. Here are results so far, and a question:
The fins were helpful at first in feeling the rhthym and keeping forward momentum, but quickly turned into a crutch and, as suggested, slowed down the kick, so I quit using them. But I can recommend them if you are having trouble, as I was, in even getting going at the outset. I used the short red Zoomers.
Without the guidance of a coach or at least the videos, I didn't attempt the drills, but just concentrated on trying to swim the stroke consistently. I did get some feedback from a woman in the next lane, who pointed out I was raising my chin too high. That helped me lead with my head and get the swimming downhill feeling going, at least until I get tired. I noticed I tend to start kicking with my knees as I get tired, too. And a guard reminded me that I don't need to breathe every stroke, but can keep my head down for a cycle.
A couple more questions. What kind of stroke count should I be looking for in a 25 m length? Looking at the videos, it appears that a quick turnover rate is more important in fly than a whole lot of glide, so that means a relatively high stroke count? I'm going 10 -- 12 right now (although I'm staying underwater off the walls and dolphining for all I'm worth to cut down on the amount of time I actually have to swim the stroke :)) And the rules say I don't need to breathe every stroke, right?
Thanks for all the tips.
