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
Hey, first thanks so much for all your input on this issue. I'm a 54 yr old guy out of competitive swimming since age 22....been a general fitness guy and powerlifter/Olympic weightlifter for many years who'd really like to return.
Also a horrible flutter kicker but good (honorable mention All-State) sprinter back in the day who just figured kickers are born not made and didn't do much about it. But this thread has piqued my interest.
Ande, 3 questions!:
One: if form determine's function...what are the limiting factors determining kick power that have some kids kicking circles around others ...each with little training??!
Second: you have folks on your program with impressive kicking improvements....could we get some kind of data indicating how well these kicking times translated into swim times ?????!
Third: I have a new pair of 'positive drive' fins...is there any
value to using them to 'recruit and condition the freestyle kicking muscles exactly as the
finless kick would' as they espouse?!
Thanks so much
Hey, first thanks so much for all your input on this issue. I'm a 54 yr old guy out of competitive swimming since age 22....been a general fitness guy and powerlifter/Olympic weightlifter for many years who'd really like to return.
Also a horrible flutter kicker but good (honorable mention All-State) sprinter back in the day who just figured kickers are born not made and didn't do much about it. But this thread has piqued my interest.
Ande, 3 questions!:
One: if form determine's function...what are the limiting factors determining kick power that have some kids kicking circles around others ...each with little training??!
Second: you have folks on your program with impressive kicking improvements....could we get some kind of data indicating how well these kicking times translated into swim times ?????!
Third: I have a new pair of 'positive drive' fins...is there any
value to using them to 'recruit and condition the freestyle kicking muscles exactly as the
finless kick would' as they espouse?!
Thanks so much
