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
I still am in favour of a 6 beat kick. I like easy swimming with easy kicking for a start. Once you have the arms and leg action well coordinated then you add power to the arms and legs. In distance swimming the legs act as balancers. If you over work the legs while swimming distance you will certainly not feel great. I would suggest you not have the feet come out of the water while kicking. I prefer the shoulder movement controlling the leg action and not let the leg action control the shoulder movement.
If I were to practice legs only I would do more kickicking on the back then on the front and not ever use a kickboard.
I still am in favour of a 6 beat kick. I like easy swimming with easy kicking for a start. Once you have the arms and leg action well coordinated then you add power to the arms and legs. In distance swimming the legs act as balancers. If you over work the legs while swimming distance you will certainly not feel great. I would suggest you not have the feet come out of the water while kicking. I prefer the shoulder movement controlling the leg action and not let the leg action control the shoulder movement.
If I were to practice legs only I would do more kickicking on the back then on the front and not ever use a kickboard.
