Just came back from the pool. Confused and frustrated about this six beat thing.
Here is what I am doing now: left leg kick down/right leg up(my right arm begins to stroke), left leg up/right leg down, left down/right up, left up/right down, left down/right up with my right arm enters the water. Is this a six beat kick or a 4 beat kick?
Another thing is about the integration of kicks and pulls. When I just kick, without any arm movement, it seems OK. I can get propulsion and feel that I kick from the hip, toes pointed and heels out of water. But everthing just does not work properly when I try to integrate the kick with the arm stroke. I no longer feel that I kick from my hip. And do not feel the kicks have produced any propulsion.
Any comment? Thanks in advance. And Merry Chrismas!(but I do not celebrate it.;)
Tree,
What you described above is a 4-beat kick. What this means is that in addition to left leg kicking down with the right arm beginning to stroke, you also have your left leg kicking down with the left arm beginning to stroke. This has a tendency to make your stroke off balance, which is why most people do a 2 beat or 6 beat kick.
Terry and Donna are providing excellent advice. Pay more attention to breathing, balance, drag reduction, efficient stroke and the kick will follow. Working on a smooth kick during kick sets and drills is good, however focusing on 2 vs.4 vs. 6-beat kick may detract from other improvements.
Tree,
What you described above is a 4-beat kick. What this means is that in addition to left leg kicking down with the right arm beginning to stroke, you also have your left leg kicking down with the left arm beginning to stroke. This has a tendency to make your stroke off balance, which is why most people do a 2 beat or 6 beat kick.
Terry and Donna are providing excellent advice. Pay more attention to breathing, balance, drag reduction, efficient stroke and the kick will follow. Working on a smooth kick during kick sets and drills is good, however focusing on 2 vs.4 vs. 6-beat kick may detract from other improvements.
