Stupid Question:
Why is it more difficult to do dolphin kick on your stomach underwater than on your back underwater?
It seems that I can kick easier, faster and longer on my back than I can on my stomach.
Is this a matter of biomechanics or am I just a loser who can't do fly kick very well on his stomach underwater?
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
I took a look at the video, but they don't really explain my question as to why one way feels so much easier than the other way. Fireguard may be onto something though.
I have a theory...... if you look at the kick action in these videos it is predominantly forward in front of the bodyline. That is.... the kick extension is mostly in front of the body and not much hamstring action on the back swing behind the body. If you are trying to drive your body position downward underwater it would seem to be easier to be on you back as this forward leg action of the kick would be more complimentary to driving your body position downward.... all with less effort from the quads.
Now, if you flip over on your stomach and kick, you need to drive the body downward with more hamstring motion and the kick action requires more flex and follow through behind your body. It's seems harder to extend your leg far behind you on the back swing than it is to drive you leg forward in front of you with your quads.
Just a thought.
John Smith
I took a look at the video, but they don't really explain my question as to why one way feels so much easier than the other way. Fireguard may be onto something though.
I have a theory...... if you look at the kick action in these videos it is predominantly forward in front of the bodyline. That is.... the kick extension is mostly in front of the body and not much hamstring action on the back swing behind the body. If you are trying to drive your body position downward underwater it would seem to be easier to be on you back as this forward leg action of the kick would be more complimentary to driving your body position downward.... all with less effort from the quads.
Now, if you flip over on your stomach and kick, you need to drive the body downward with more hamstring motion and the kick action requires more flex and follow through behind your body. It's seems harder to extend your leg far behind you on the back swing than it is to drive you leg forward in front of you with your quads.
Just a thought.
John Smith
