Question: Underwater dolphin kick

My simple & stupid idea is that it is easier on your back because you can see the surface of the water and spend less energy making sure you stay underwater. As Craig notes, underwater dolphins can be difficult because most of us naturally float to the surface. Thus, we have to orient ourselves going slightly down to stay underwater. I also try to dolphin on my side after freestyle turns, and I find it just as awkward as dophining underwater on my front. On my back, however, I can see immediately whether I am drifting towards the surface, and apply just enough down force to maintain depth. This lets me think about applying force forward. I suppose you could do the same thing looking at the bottom of the pool, but in my experience most pools slope downwards towards a deeper end at some point. Also, in deep competition pools, that bottom is a loonnngggg way away. Matt

Bouy, T, which one depends on who is talking, Terry explains press the bouy not the T, others say press the T. Pressing the 'T'. Imagine keeping your shoulders and chest pressed into the water. This point will move across your chest from armpit to armpit. I say get the chest into the water let it make you float.

interesting topic, thanks all! i'll throw out my totally experience-based idea... my first thought when reading the original post was that i personally seem to have absolutely no control over exhaling air automatically when i push off on my back; however, on my stomach i have to totally force the exhale at all times (this is actually a problem for me, and has led to some of the most amazing crash'n'burn 200M+ races ever witnessed). i'm an extreme example, but it seems like you could be fighting buoyancy if you aren't doing quite the same nice steady exhale on the front/side which seems to come pretty naturally on the back. i'll have to think about it more tomorrow, how i exhale on front/side kicking specifically. i know i kept popping up like a cork on side dolphin kick this am. anyone more aware than me seem to feel a different exhale pattern on front/back? sandie

Interesting subject: I too struggle with this, yet I feel better on my stomach then my back, and I swim backstroke races traditionally. I just thought after 45 years I wasn't as flexible, therefore unable to duplicate what the youngsters do. I do have some scoliosis and broke my right clavicle years ago, so I wasn't naturally as streamlined as I'd like to be anyway. On the stomach: I find I need to concentrate pressing my breastplate slightly downward and open to attain a better streamline. Also concentrating on pinching my ears back with my biceps. My kicks are small and rapid and primarily from my knees to my toes. On my back: here I have the skeletal structure problem; unable to adequately streamline with my arms above my head and a bit of an arched back, hence a quick turn, two to three quick kicks off the wall and I'm up and stroking. No possbility of dq'ing--going farther then 15 meters. As far as doing underwater 25s I do 2 types: I like to start off on my stomach for 3 kicks, rotate to my side for three, and then finish on my back; and then what I feel is the best, is just a long glide and then streamline freestyle kicking.

I've noticed when I do underwater no-breathers I have a much harder time staying submerged when kicking on my stomach as opposed to on my back. It seems like my body wants to cork up to the surface more when I'm on my stomach.

I think that for me it is harder to do the dolphin kick underwater becasue I float so well. I can float in about 8 inches of water. I have to work so hard to keep under the water surface that i cn't focus on kicking. thisisn't a problem off of the wall though because I have the extra force form my legs pushing. I've tried the 360 rotation kick drill, & it is even harder for me to roll onto my stomach. Generally I do dolphin on my sides and on my back. I'll do 50yds onl side then 50 yds on right . It really works my stomach and seems to me to be more simular to how the kick feels when I'm dooing the stroke.

My theory, totally unsupported by any data so it should be welcome here, is as follows: It is easier to press the T on your stomach than on your back. When we swim free we press the T to maintain high body position. This works against us, to some extent, when fly kicking on the stomach since we want to stay underwater. With less press on the T on the back its easier to stay submerge and stay concentrated on the full body motion.

Have a look at these 2 videos re flip turns and underwater kick coachesinfo.com/.../ a little more on the kick dolphin kick cis.squirming.net/.../

I always assumed that back dolphin is easier for the same reason backstroke kick is easier than freestyle. The angle of the feet is reversed, so the downward motion is propulsive even if your ankles are not flexible.

Very interesting subject, I think everyone is different when it come to kicking underwtare either on your back or on your front. I have to say i do find holding my breath for long distances underwater considerably harder to do whilst on my back. I can dolphin kick on my front for nearly 40m without taking a breath, but struggle to get 20m on my back, maybe it because of my lung capacity. I will agree the biomechanics of the kick on the back is easier. Going back to a pint made a whiel ago..i completed a dissertation on dolphin kicking and it it true that when kickig on your back and side the water that you quadriceps kick forward will disperse on the surface or the pool if kicking on your side, But if on your front on a particularly shallow pool the water will rebound of the botom of the pool. Does anyone else find dolphin kicking easier on your front on your lungs?