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 haven't done SFK in a while but I don't like it much -- it just feels awkward and slow. With the board it seems like I am at least exerting force on the water.
Hey ExRower, don't give up on the SFK yet.
the reason it feels different with the board is body position. the board lifts your upper body causing the hips to sink. this changes the feel of the kicking especially the upstroke since the feet have to travel further to make it back to the surface.
the fact that you don't feel an exertion of force on the water can be offset by picking up the tempo of your kick. alternatively you can change the body position during SFK by raising/lowering your head. looking straight down results in higher hips and a more streamlined position and allows for a tighter kick. this is fastest way for me personally. looking up at the waterline drops the hips and feels more like kicking with a board.
once you get comfortable with SFK it might be fastest. also, holding streamline position for an extended time is a helpful discipline for improving your walls during normal swim. :2cents:
I haven't done SFK in a while but I don't like it much -- it just feels awkward and slow. With the board it seems like I am at least exerting force on the water.
Hey ExRower, don't give up on the SFK yet.
the reason it feels different with the board is body position. the board lifts your upper body causing the hips to sink. this changes the feel of the kicking especially the upstroke since the feet have to travel further to make it back to the surface.
the fact that you don't feel an exertion of force on the water can be offset by picking up the tempo of your kick. alternatively you can change the body position during SFK by raising/lowering your head. looking straight down results in higher hips and a more streamlined position and allows for a tighter kick. this is fastest way for me personally. looking up at the waterline drops the hips and feels more like kicking with a board.
once you get comfortable with SFK it might be fastest. also, holding streamline position for an extended time is a helpful discipline for improving your walls during normal swim. :2cents:
