Does anyone else here NOT kick when they swim freestyle?
When I was 19, a coach told me that a lot of "real" freestylers don't kick, which was a surprise to me because every other coach I'd had would yell at me to kick during my events. I grew up thinking I was the odd one out, but maybe someone on here knows what I'm talking about...
Parents
Former Member
When I was a kid, Iwas told that kicking was used for balance. When I got my WSI in the late 70s, I was told that kicking was for balance. The East Germans showed us tht legs also provide forward movement. And at the least help save our shoulders. Look at some of the videos of Grant Hacket. sometimes he has a terrible kick. There is no rythm(sp) nor is his kicking ballanced. He also has had terrible shoulder pain. The body has to be kept in line.
the persojn who said that eh/she can predict time by how fast withpaddles & a bouy dpoesn't realize that with this equipment the body stays aligned and rotation happens. I woudl bet that it doesn't with regular swimming.
Everyone should do some type of kick. If you don't your legs are generally dragging. If you aren't kicking, you are ensuring that you are not rotating your shoulders and hips equally. The real momentum of swimming comes from hip rotation. I like to think of swimming as plantng your hand in front of you. then propelling your body over your hand. It is very much like poll vaulting.
When I was a kid, Iwas told that kicking was used for balance. When I got my WSI in the late 70s, I was told that kicking was for balance. The East Germans showed us tht legs also provide forward movement. And at the least help save our shoulders. Look at some of the videos of Grant Hacket. sometimes he has a terrible kick. There is no rythm(sp) nor is his kicking ballanced. He also has had terrible shoulder pain. The body has to be kept in line.
the persojn who said that eh/she can predict time by how fast withpaddles & a bouy dpoesn't realize that with this equipment the body stays aligned and rotation happens. I woudl bet that it doesn't with regular swimming.
Everyone should do some type of kick. If you don't your legs are generally dragging. If you aren't kicking, you are ensuring that you are not rotating your shoulders and hips equally. The real momentum of swimming comes from hip rotation. I like to think of swimming as plantng your hand in front of you. then propelling your body over your hand. It is very much like poll vaulting.
