After becoming extremely frustrated with the relatively weak power of my kick (read: sometimes it doesn't move me at all without strokes), I did some reading.
A lot of folks say "drive from the hips, drive from the hips!" But then I watch "good" swimmers -- even olympians -- moving through the water by bending their knees.
Sure, their upper legs move too, but it looks like 75% knees.
How does that qualify as "driving from the hips"?
Now, one article I read said something that made a lot of sense to me: the extent to which you have to use your knees and calves depends on the flexibility of your ankles. If your ankles naturally flex out that way, you can keep your legs straight. If they don't, you might have to bend at the knees to compensate and get the best ankle-angle.
What IS the best ankle angle? Is the ideal kick one with the toes/foot pointed directly back, or is it more like sculling where the foot should be angled relative to its up-down motion? What is the principle here?
Parents
Former Member
I am so sorry you are getting so frustrated about kicking! Don't get discouraged, everyone will give you advice, but you really have to find what works for you and keep trying different things until you find it.
Some extra work you could do::
You must focus on pointing your toes when kicking, a flat foot will not drive you through the water.
On dryland, lay on your back and put your hands under your butt. Point your toes and start flutter kicking. This will hurt and make you sore at first! But strengthen up your abs, get your toes, feet, and legs used to the motion. You could start by doing 3 rounds of 1 minute kicking and build to more.
In the water, vertical kicking is a good way to learn to stay afloat. Get in deep water, don't tread, and put your arms up so that you must kick to hold your elbows out of the water, like imagine someone points a gun at you and says "hands up!" That's the position. This is hard, but again, forces you to focus on power. You can do this with breatstroke kick, fly, and flutter. Again, do something like 5 rounds of 1 minute. Where maybe the last 30 seconds is hard kicking. When you get really good you can hold weights and that's a good work out. :D
You could also invest in some fins, that will make you feel faster so you're not feeling like you're going nowhere.
I hope at least some of that can help you. Don't get discouraged, you'll get it!
I am so sorry you are getting so frustrated about kicking! Don't get discouraged, everyone will give you advice, but you really have to find what works for you and keep trying different things until you find it.
Some extra work you could do::
You must focus on pointing your toes when kicking, a flat foot will not drive you through the water.
On dryland, lay on your back and put your hands under your butt. Point your toes and start flutter kicking. This will hurt and make you sore at first! But strengthen up your abs, get your toes, feet, and legs used to the motion. You could start by doing 3 rounds of 1 minute kicking and build to more.
In the water, vertical kicking is a good way to learn to stay afloat. Get in deep water, don't tread, and put your arms up so that you must kick to hold your elbows out of the water, like imagine someone points a gun at you and says "hands up!" That's the position. This is hard, but again, forces you to focus on power. You can do this with breatstroke kick, fly, and flutter. Again, do something like 5 rounds of 1 minute. Where maybe the last 30 seconds is hard kicking. When you get really good you can hold weights and that's a good work out. :D
You could also invest in some fins, that will make you feel faster so you're not feeling like you're going nowhere.
I hope at least some of that can help you. Don't get discouraged, you'll get it!
