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.
Parents
Former Member
Does fast kicking with a board help though? I'm a fast flutter kicker with a board, but not when I swim freestyle, especially for more than a 50. How do you integrate the kick with the stroke? Over kicking drills? Or just plain swimming freestyle and being aware of your kick? If it's only the latter, I think I'll pass for now.
Once I started doing flutter kick sprints, my stroke felt different. This week I've been kicking with my ankles a little higher, taking fewer strokes per length, and using a straight-arm recovery. These things feel like they are related. Like, I'm more aware my kick and the need for high ankles in fast kicking, and in order to keep my stroke rate up while doing that I have to windmill.
Does fast kicking with a board help though? I'm a fast flutter kicker with a board, but not when I swim freestyle, especially for more than a 50. How do you integrate the kick with the stroke? Over kicking drills? Or just plain swimming freestyle and being aware of your kick? If it's only the latter, I think I'll pass for now.
Once I started doing flutter kick sprints, my stroke felt different. This week I've been kicking with my ankles a little higher, taking fewer strokes per length, and using a straight-arm recovery. These things feel like they are related. Like, I'm more aware my kick and the need for high ankles in fast kicking, and in order to keep my stroke rate up while doing that I have to windmill.
