My instructor wants me to use a kickboard to improve my kicking. I forget to keep kicking in the freestyle.
When I use it, it seems to hurt my back which I guess is because my head is up to breathe.
Are there other alternatives to using a kickboard to improve (or remember) to kick?
TIA
The best way to build leg muscles is to do loooooooooooong kicking sets. 10x200s kick descend 1-5, or 40x50s kick every other one hard. Your kick will save you in the end of your races. Just look at all the great swimmers out there, they all have a great steady kick and amazing finishing kick.
Hmmm, "Mike S," Athens GA - could that be R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe hiding behind that 400IM name? That'd be awesome! (I'm a huge R.E.M. fan and couldn't contain myself - sorry!)
Anyways, Mike, I agree with you. I spent the falls of 2004 and 2005 doing a LOT of kicking, as I had a broken wrist. I had some really great swims at the following nationals', and even received a comment about "my f'ing motorboat" on the last 100 of my 500 in Ft Lauderdale in 2005. I did most of it without a board, doing a lot of side kicking, working on SDK off the walls, full 25s underwater SDK, and even ~35-40y underwater fast SDK. I now work a lot on 4-position kick, using the center-mount snorkel for side kicks.
The best way to build leg muscles is to do loooooooooooong kicking sets. 10x200s kick descend 1-5, or 40x50s kick every other one hard. Your kick will save you in the end of your races. Just look at all the great swimmers out there, they all have a great steady kick and amazing finishing kick.
Hmmm, "Mike S," Athens GA - could that be R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe hiding behind that 400IM name? That'd be awesome! (I'm a huge R.E.M. fan and couldn't contain myself - sorry!)
Anyways, Mike, I agree with you. I spent the falls of 2004 and 2005 doing a LOT of kicking, as I had a broken wrist. I had some really great swims at the following nationals', and even received a comment about "my f'ing motorboat" on the last 100 of my 500 in Ft Lauderdale in 2005. I did most of it without a board, doing a lot of side kicking, working on SDK off the walls, full 25s underwater SDK, and even ~35-40y underwater fast SDK. I now work a lot on 4-position kick, using the center-mount snorkel for side kicks.
