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
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.
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.
But don't do long sets with your back hurting! Try using smaller boards, or kicking on your back in streamline. That way you get plenty of oxygen and can get a good flutter kick going in the right position. Also slip on some fins or zoomers to help keep your body aligned.
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
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.
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).
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?
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.
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.
