I am slow, and when I mean slow, I mean slow. I can do a 26 sec 50 with fins, but without I come in just under 1:20! I think a big part of it is just taking the fins off and doing a lot of kick sets to learn to feel the water better with my feet. I have a good breaststroke kick so I don't think my problem is an overly weak pair of legs, although they could be in better shape. Also, myankles are fairly flexible as I can point my toes and make my feet bend backwards past an even position with my shins. However, I do think that I need to loosen up my ankles when I kick. I feel like I get more out of my kick for those brief moments when I allow my ankles to snap back and forth with my kick. I think I actually need to relax more to kick faster as weird as that sounds.
I suppose the answer to my question is that I simply need to take of the fins and do kick set after kick set until I learn to feel the water better with my feet and become more efficient.
Thanks for your reply Ande. I still have one of those Sony Hi-8 Handycams (haven't even entered the digital age yet let alone own an underwater camera)! I shall try and see if I can borrow one. In the meantime I am studying videos of others doing it well and trying to emulate them.
I have another question though: I have, what I think, is a two beat cross over kick. It might go up to a four beat when I sprint but as I am so busy sprinting I have never been able to count it. Now, when I do the sets you prescribe or kick with a board my feet obediently kick side by side, but the minute I resume swimming they start crossing over again. I have tried swimming with my feet kicking side by side but it is exhausting and my bum sinks and my rhythm goes to pieces. It seems to me that my legs are crossing over in order to stay afloat. Perhaps if I increased the frequency of my kick this would obviate the need to crossover. I don't know enough about this and am really just guessing.
My question: is a cross over kick a bad thing? Should I try and get rid of it. I have been doing your kicking sets religiously and there has been improvement ( I am now 3 seconds faster for a 25m - okay, I am still an achingly slow 22.90 but that is still 3 secs faster than my starting point) but I can't seem to translate this into extra speed when it matters most: swimming. Quite frankly, I think it is the cross over thing that is hindering it.
Thanks for the new faster, faster tips. They are excellent. Also, congratulations on your song!
Syd
thanks for reporting this
you asked
What would you say is the single most important aspect to mastering the SDK?
Or is it just lots of practice until you find your own way?
I would need to watch you to see what you are actually doing and offer you specific corrections. Probably your technique or timing isn't quite right.
correct that and you'd probably make a quantum leap on your 25 time
When I was in college I preferred to dolphin kick with my hands by my side and SDK felt funny. I wish I would have perfected my SDK back then.
Also do a 25 free sprint so we can compare your 25 free time to your 25 kicking times
please report that time.
make a video of your kick and put it up on youtube
Thanks for your reply Ande. I still have one of those Sony Hi-8 Handycams (haven't even entered the digital age yet let alone own an underwater camera)! I shall try and see if I can borrow one. In the meantime I am studying videos of others doing it well and trying to emulate them.
I have another question though: I have, what I think, is a two beat cross over kick. It might go up to a four beat when I sprint but as I am so busy sprinting I have never been able to count it. Now, when I do the sets you prescribe or kick with a board my feet obediently kick side by side, but the minute I resume swimming they start crossing over again. I have tried swimming with my feet kicking side by side but it is exhausting and my bum sinks and my rhythm goes to pieces. It seems to me that my legs are crossing over in order to stay afloat. Perhaps if I increased the frequency of my kick this would obviate the need to crossover. I don't know enough about this and am really just guessing.
My question: is a cross over kick a bad thing? Should I try and get rid of it. I have been doing your kicking sets religiously and there has been improvement ( I am now 3 seconds faster for a 25m - okay, I am still an achingly slow 22.90 but that is still 3 secs faster than my starting point) but I can't seem to translate this into extra speed when it matters most: swimming. Quite frankly, I think it is the cross over thing that is hindering it.
Thanks for the new faster, faster tips. They are excellent. Also, congratulations on your song!
Syd
thanks for reporting this
you asked
What would you say is the single most important aspect to mastering the SDK?
Or is it just lots of practice until you find your own way?
I would need to watch you to see what you are actually doing and offer you specific corrections. Probably your technique or timing isn't quite right.
correct that and you'd probably make a quantum leap on your 25 time
When I was in college I preferred to dolphin kick with my hands by my side and SDK felt funny. I wish I would have perfected my SDK back then.
Also do a 25 free sprint so we can compare your 25 free time to your 25 kicking times
please report that time.
make a video of your kick and put it up on youtube
