I have always used a 6-beat flutter kick when swimming freestyle - nothing else feels "natural."
I have noticed that when I do sets of 100s, my times are actually faster when I do then with a pull buoy than when I swim - by about 5 secs. - and I can maintain the same time for 6-8 100s.
It would appear my kick is actually slowing me down and I don't know what to do to fix it.
I was a fairly good swimming 25 years ago and coaches back then told me my technique was great. Even now the non-competitive lap swimmers who watch me swim also comment how nice and smooth and rhythmic my stroke looks and "sounds" lap after lap. (My point is I'm not "thrashing around the pool" or making beginner swimmer's errors).
Also, no one I swim with competes and I don't belong to a swim club, so no coach to consult.
Here's what I'm thinking: When I use a pull buoy, my hips are higher causing less drag. I'm thinking that I need to keep my nose pointed straight down to raise my hips.
All suggestions/advice/drills are welcome! Please help.
Parents
Former Member
Hi Susan
Sorry to hear that you are struggling with the freestyle kick a little bit at the moment, may I offer you some advice?
It does sound like body position (which may be related to an ineffcient leg kick) could be part of the problem. I see this a lot with some of the swimmers I coach...trying to kick really hard / fast and yet not seeming to go anywhere quick. May I draw your attention to these 3 articles which I have already composed on this subject:
1. Whether you should be aiming for more propulsion or less drag with your kicking at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
2. A nice little drill which involves the pull buoy called "Sea Anchors" at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
3. A discussion on the use of pull buoys and why it will be helping you so much at the moment at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
These articles have been written primarily for triathletes but I'm hoping that you should be able to get some useful advice from them.
Best of luck with it all, and at the end of the day "keeping it simple" like George says is always the way to go!
Thanks
Paul
Hi Susan
Sorry to hear that you are struggling with the freestyle kick a little bit at the moment, may I offer you some advice?
It does sound like body position (which may be related to an ineffcient leg kick) could be part of the problem. I see this a lot with some of the swimmers I coach...trying to kick really hard / fast and yet not seeming to go anywhere quick. May I draw your attention to these 3 articles which I have already composed on this subject:
1. Whether you should be aiming for more propulsion or less drag with your kicking at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
2. A nice little drill which involves the pull buoy called "Sea Anchors" at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
3. A discussion on the use of pull buoys and why it will be helping you so much at the moment at www.tritalk.co.uk/.../viewtopic.php
These articles have been written primarily for triathletes but I'm hoping that you should be able to get some useful advice from them.
Best of luck with it all, and at the end of the day "keeping it simple" like George says is always the way to go!
Thanks
Paul
