Kickboard and kicking question

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

swimmieAvsFan — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:44:03 GMT

Sorry, can you explain a little bit more on this one? What is a 4 position kick? 4 position kick just means that you kick part of the repeat on your belly, part on your back, part on your right side, and part on your left side. for example, if you want to do a set of 100s, you would do 25 on your belly, 25 on your right side, 25 on your left side, and 25 on your back. the order doesn't matter, nor does it matter what you do with your arms. our team typically does the belly and back kicking with arms extended in a streamline and the side kicking with the corresponding arm extended out in front and the other arm at the side. all with no kickboard. hope that helps!

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:35:47 GMT

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. What do all these numbers mean? Also, what is SDK?

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:47:01 GMT

I guess we were posting at the same time. When kicking I like the 4 way kick. eg both arms in front, kick face down 12 kicks, kick 12 kicks facing right wall, roll on back kick 12 kicks, then 12 kicks facing left wall.

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:05:42 GMT

Forget the kick board - For kicking drills I like - swim 1, kick 1, - swim 2, kick 2, - swim 3, - kick 2, swim 2, kick 1, swim 1. do these by time 15 lengths take time do these 2 or three times a week. Do these in 25m pool not 50m pool.

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:05:20 GMT

I now work a lot on 4-position kick, using the center-mount snorkel for side kicks. Sorry, can you explain a little bit more on this one? What is a 4 position kick?

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

FlyQueen — Wed, 30 May 2007 01:44:52 GMT

I never use a kick board. It's bad for wonky shoulders. I usually do kick sets on back either flutter or dolphin. I also do those 4 position kicks but I mix it up more than every 25. I'll do 9 kicks right side, 9 kicks back, 9 kicks left side, 9 kicks stomach THEN 9 kicks left, 9 back 9 right. Do it that way too so you are working on rotation both ways. In kicking also make sure you aren't bending your knees alot (unless you are swimming breaststroke).

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

aquaFeisty — Wed, 30 May 2007 01:34:49 GMT

I don't use a board - too tough on my wimpy shoulders. When I flutter kick, I do streamlined dolphin (SDK) till I reach the surface and/or run out of air. Then I kick on my left side to the wall. Then SDK to the surface and kick on my right side back. I'm much faster SDK'ing than flutter kicking and much faster kicking on my left side than on my right.** **though this isn't saying much... I'm still a pretty slow kicker no matter how I do it.

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:13:39 GMT

If you must use a kickboard, keep it way out front of your arms/hands so you can put your face in the water every so often to exhale. If you are "mounted" on the board, that puts great stress on your neck, shoulders, etc. I don't use one primarily because of this problem. I kick without one which actually better emulates kicking and swimming. But try it and see if it helps. And absolutely do not use a kickboard when kicking backstroke!!! I see so many folks with a kickboard behind their head when kicking back, totally incorrect body position. donna

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Former Member — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:46:34 GMT

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Muppet — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:44:09 GMT

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.

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Allen Stark — Tue, 29 May 2007 06:22:17 GMT

I use a center-mount snorkle for my kicking sets.I can't maintain proper body position with a kick board.

RE: Kickboard and kicking question

Rob Copeland — Tue, 29 May 2007 06:07:34 GMT

Well there is always kicking without a board; on your front, picking up your head to breath, on your side underwater arm extended up and top arm down by your side, on your back streamlined both arms up. And there is always deep water vertical kicking. Another option with the board is to have your head lower and turned to the side as you do when you breathe. You can also try pressing the front of the board down a bit so instead of the board being nose up have I nose down, this should get you in a better body position.