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.
kicking fast is critical
dont intellectualize it
kick is for propulsion and lift
learn to kick faster
learn to kick fast while you sprint
most drills are a waste of time
do what helps you swim faster
Ande, if I may I have a question for you. I see people with different opinions on the value of the kick, some saying it is more to initiate hip rotation, others believing in its propulsive value independant of hip rotation. There are some swimmers (even olympians) who barely even kick or at most have a 2 beat kick. Given that you are encouraging people to time their 25M streamline kicks, you obviously give it a lot of importance. Could you comment on how you believe the kick increases speed, i.e. is it for its intrinsic propulsive value or more to initiate rotation or both? Also, do you put a lot of importance in the timing of the kick relative to the arm stroke.
I have been doing a lot of the kicking you describe with a snorkel, and I'm wondering if my kicking form and coordination of kick with arm stoke will come naturally by just doing these drills.
hey notso
way to go
you keep improving
bet there's more
let's rename you
somewhatfast
ande
anyone out there working on their SDK?
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Today 8/10: 23.48
In streamline, I'm keeping my elbows closer to my ears.
Originally Posted by notsofast forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif
Till now:
3/1: 30.2
3/8: 28.0
3/15: 27.12
3/22: 27.62
3/29: 26.27
4/4: 27.18
5/10: 25.55
7/2: 25.45
7/6: 24.94
7/26: 25.92
8/10: 23.48
This week - 8/12: a non-Olympian 25.24
Won't post the next couple of weeks. Vacation at the Shore for a week, then the next week the local Y is closed for cleaning.
OK look forward to your updates
train then test
we know what's likely to happen if you don't train
ande
Originally Posted by notsofast forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif
Till now:
3/1: 30.2
3/8: 28.0
3/15: 27.12
3/22: 27.62
3/29: 26.27
4/4: 27.18
5/10: 25.55
7/2: 25.45
7/6: 24.94
7/26: 25.92
8/10: 23.48
This week - 8/12: a non-Olympian 25.24
Won't post the next couple of weeks. Vacation at the Shore for a week, then the next week the local Y is closed for cleaning.
There are a lot of us out there with horrible flutter kicks. I had an epiphany while watching a floswimming video of a collegiate kicking set...they were doing
20x100's, alternating fast/recovery, 2:00 min interval.
The fastest kickers were coming in at about a 1:06. This suggests that their kicks are about 12 seconds slower than their 100 free workout pace, and maybe only 8 to 10 seconds slower than their fly or back workout pace.
I thought my flutter kick was good, but I only come in at around a 1:40. This means my kick is a whopping 30 seconds slower than my workout pace.
Looks like my kick is probably the weakest aspect of my swimming and may hinder my speed rather than help. And I didn't think I had a bad kick!
Gonna start doing a lot more of it, both during swims and as kick-only sets. We'll see how it shapes up.
Hi guys,
I'm learning to swim and I have a problem that is really annoying me. Every time I release a breath (doing freestyle), I start to sink and have to put in more effort to get my head high enough out to take another breath.
The longer I keep going the more I seem to go below the water and the harder I have to work to get my head out....my technique suffers...and I have to eventually stop - exhausted!
Please help as I don't know what I doing wrong!
Vin.
congratulations on your epiphany
I hope this helps you become a faster kicker
which should help you become a faster swimmer
test your 25, 50 & 100 kicking speed
Report your results here
then train to significantly improve it
There are a lot of us out there with horrible flutter kicks. I had an epiphany while watching a floswimming video of a collegiate kicking set...they were doing
20x100's, alternating fast/recovery, 2:00 min interval.
The fastest kickers were coming in at about a 1:06. This suggests that their kicks are about 12 seconds slower than their 100 free workout pace, and maybe only 8 to 10 seconds slower than their fly or back workout pace.
I thought my flutter kick was good, but I only come in at around a 1:40. This means my kick is a whopping 30 seconds slower than my workout pace.
Looks like my kick is probably the weakest aspect of my swimming and may hinder my speed rather than help. And I didn't think I had a bad kick!
Gonna start doing a lot more of it, both during swims and as kick-only sets. We'll see how it shapes up.
I haven't been able to do test sets but my kick is a lot better this summer. I am guessing my 50y kick is a minute faster and I can keep up with the slower kickers now. Two things I changed:
* Plain old compression shorts (jammer-length UnderArmour) under my Speedo. My kick doesn't hurt any more, and I get a good feel for the water on my feet. Turbulence is greatly reduced. The difference in speed and comfort was immediately noticeable and dramatic. My coach said my technique was OK. I really needed the "motion control" the shorts provide.
* I started bike riding, about 36 miles/week. It is gradually improving both leg strength and kick speed. Last year I was doing 5 miles/week on a stationary bike.
