Freestyle kick

The classic breaststroker.:D I really suggest that you keep your kick small and as streamlined as possible. Breaststrokers generally struggle with the other kicks because of ankle flexion. You still need some kick but it needs to be very small. I don't really recommend doing a lot of kick any way if you have bad knees. You want to continue swimming for as long as you can so try to reduce things that can flare up old injuries. Cheers Dave

i come from a running background but took up swimming about 12 years ago. i still run but i also swim 3x week or so and do masters workouts. i've improved in every stroke but i still can't kick freestyle! doing kicking sets, i'm the one who is only 1/2 way down the lane when everyone else is already on the wall. i have to use zoomers just to not get left completely in the dust by people who i can outswim. is it even possible to improve my kick or is it a body structure issue that i can't change? if it's 'improvalbe' what are some suggestions? thanks a bunch.

Same here slowfish.

So much discussion over kicking! Does this mean that if you suck at kicking fresstyle with a board then your stroke is terribly suffering or do you think that your stroke mechanics can make up for this weakness? Are there world-class swimmers who are known to be lousy kickers? This goes back to my original question of how do you improve your kick?

Thanks Gull80! I've been using zoomers for years and without them, i don't think i ever could have learned fly kick but now i can do it with and without zoomers after consistently practicing. Free kick seems to tire me out even more than fly kick so i've kind of avoided it at all costs :o thinking 'why bother, it won't do me any good'...but based on your experience, i think i'm going to need t do with free kick like i did with fly kick - start building in sets of free kick with fins into every workout. :eek:! did your freestyle times improve when your kicking times improved?

Ankle 'floppyness' and flexibility are very important too. &ctime=065349 so it guess having big feet would also be a good thing? if you have floppy, big feet then it's like wearing fins!

Many coaches (Maglischo among them) believe that the primary function of a nonpropulsive kick is to provide balance. Not sure than this truly reflects Maglischo's take on the role flutter kick in free style. I'd say that based on some study results, flutter kick is now believed to be fairly propulsive, at least in 50-100-200 and to some extent 400. That's more than half of the pool free style events.

Not sure than this truly reflects Maglischo's take on the role flutter kick in free style. I'd say that based on some study results, flutter kick is now believed to be fairly propulsive, at least in 50-100-200 and to some extent 400. That's more than half of the pool free style events. I said that was his take on the role of a nonpropulsive kick. Reread my post. totalswimm is arguing that the kick is neither for propulsion nor balance but rather for rotation.

Perhaps people are different and the kick performs different functions for each of them. Some people might use the kick to compensate for a weaker pull while other might use the kick for balance. Others might find adequate balance without their kick and have a pull that reduces the need for a propulsive kick. As is with most things regarding people there is no cookie cutter, one size fits all answer or solution.

I said that was his take on the role of a nonpropulsive kick. Reread my post. totalswimm is arguing that the kick is neither for propulsion nor balance but rather for rotation. Truly sorry gull80. Apologies. totalswimm is wrong of course, or his take doesn't apply to sprinters This is one thing that I still find puzzling though. How come the "drag" aspect isn't mentionned? Oh wait... that's probably what people refer as "balance" I guess. Being in balance would mean that the body stays well at the surface right? Then hey ! I agree with you 100% gull80. One shouldn't need the kick for rotation. But an efficient kick (could be light but efficient) will have an impact on body position on the water.