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.
here's an update to the
"Help my KICK is Horrible" Program
Everyone can improve their kicking abilty & speed.
"Anything you DO & measure, IMPROVES."
Begin with beliefs & self image.
Some swimmers believe they are slow kickers, they believe their kick is "horrible." Their evidence is "they can't kick fast." Other swimmers kick faster. Their times are slow. Usually they have no clue what their times are. When their coach assigns a kick set, the "bad kickers" move to the back of the lane, then proceed to plod through the set.
The true tragedy is, slow kickers have a weak kick when they swim. Swimmers who are faster kickers are at an advantage. It doesn't have to be that way. You can improve your kicking speed and ablity. I used to be one of the slowest kickers on the team then I became one of the fastest kickers on the team.
Begin by TESTING YOURSELF:
Time yourself for fast 25's, 50's & 100's :
1) kick without a board from a dive,
2) kick with a board from a push, and
3) swim.
Do the following set at least 3 times a week:
4 x (1 25 kick FAST; 3 x 25 swim easy on :45 or 1:00, followed by for time)
on the fast kicks:
YOU'VE really GOT TO GO FOR IT.
Make it a LIFE or DEATH MATTER.
Pay attention to your times and work on improving them from one week to the next.
Learn how to kick fast properly:
1) Move your feet fast and
2) Catch and feel water with your shins, calves, & feet when you kick
Improve your kicking technique, have someone watch you kick and offer you technique suggestions on how to kick faster.
Work to improve your toe point, your foot & ankle flexibility.
stretch your ankles & feet
the more flexible your feet are
the faster you can kick
once you improve your kicking speed
start working on speed endurance by doing fast 50's, 75's and 100's
ALSO integrate your kick when you swim fast.
Every world class sprinter has an awesome kick.
Almost all world class sprinters have an AWESOME SDK
Sprint KICKING improvement program
improve the kicking and swimming results for poor kickers
Testing
please test all out 25's, 50's & 100's:
1) flutter kick with a board
2) streamline flutter kick with no board
3) freestyle
put plenty of rest between each like a very easy 75 or 125
then get out of the pool and rest at least 2 minutes
Report your Results here
Training
1) do 12 x 25 kick
1 as fast as possible for time
3 easy recovery concentrating on distance per kick
rest 30 seconds on the wall after each easy one
2) do 12 x 25 swim
1 as fast as possible for time blasting your legs
3 easy recovery
3) stretch your feet / ankles to improve your toe point
4) do leg weight lifting exercises to improve your legs strength, power and speed. Do: leg press, leg extensions, leg curls, & jumps
5) Try a 6 week kick improvement program
Train hard 3 times a week for 5 weeks then
Test for time on Friday or Saturday then
REST during week 6
Take it easy, just do 1 fast 25 kick each day then test your 25 kicking times on the last work out of the week
Report your results, here
This will help you become a faster kicker.
Good luck.
Ande
here's an update to the
"Help my KICK is Horrible" Program
Everyone can improve their kicking abilty & speed.
"Anything you DO & measure, IMPROVES."
Begin with beliefs & self image.
Some swimmers believe they are slow kickers, they believe their kick is "horrible." Their evidence is "they can't kick fast." Other swimmers kick faster. Their times are slow. Usually they have no clue what their times are. When their coach assigns a kick set, the "bad kickers" move to the back of the lane, then proceed to plod through the set.
The true tragedy is, slow kickers have a weak kick when they swim. Swimmers who are faster kickers are at an advantage. It doesn't have to be that way. You can improve your kicking speed and ablity. I used to be one of the slowest kickers on the team then I became one of the fastest kickers on the team.
Begin by TESTING YOURSELF:
Time yourself for fast 25's, 50's & 100's :
1) kick without a board from a dive,
2) kick with a board from a push, and
3) swim.
Do the following set at least 3 times a week:
4 x (1 25 kick FAST; 3 x 25 swim easy on :45 or 1:00, followed by for time)
on the fast kicks:
YOU'VE really GOT TO GO FOR IT.
Make it a LIFE or DEATH MATTER.
Pay attention to your times and work on improving them from one week to the next.
Learn how to kick fast properly:
1) Move your feet fast and
2) Catch and feel water with your shins, calves, & feet when you kick
Improve your kicking technique, have someone watch you kick and offer you technique suggestions on how to kick faster.
Work to improve your toe point, your foot & ankle flexibility.
stretch your ankles & feet
the more flexible your feet are
the faster you can kick
once you improve your kicking speed
start working on speed endurance by doing fast 50's, 75's and 100's
ALSO integrate your kick when you swim fast.
Every world class sprinter has an awesome kick.
Almost all world class sprinters have an AWESOME SDK
Sprint KICKING improvement program
improve the kicking and swimming results for poor kickers
Testing
please test all out 25's, 50's & 100's:
1) flutter kick with a board
2) streamline flutter kick with no board
3) freestyle
put plenty of rest between each like a very easy 75 or 125
then get out of the pool and rest at least 2 minutes
Report your Results here
Training
1) do 12 x 25 kick
1 as fast as possible for time
3 easy recovery concentrating on distance per kick
rest 30 seconds on the wall after each easy one
2) do 12 x 25 swim
1 as fast as possible for time blasting your legs
3 easy recovery
3) stretch your feet / ankles to improve your toe point
4) do leg weight lifting exercises to improve your legs strength, power and speed. Do: leg press, leg extensions, leg curls, & jumps
5) Try a 6 week kick improvement program
Train hard 3 times a week for 5 weeks then
Test for time on Friday or Saturday then
REST during week 6
Take it easy, just do 1 fast 25 kick each day then test your 25 kicking times on the last work out of the week
Report your results, here
This will help you become a faster kicker.
Good luck.
Ande
