Originally posted by Paul Smith
Here's the deal folks...forget about weights...if you REALLY want to make a significant break through in your swimming relative to competition stop swimming for 4-8 weeks and go to kick only workouts...as you ease back into swimming you will have the opportunity to "learn" how to integrate a new and powerful element to your stroke...something that 90% of the swimmers I see competing do not do well....
This really caught my attention. I seem to have been hearing this a lot lately: people coming back after a shoulder op, doing kick only workouts and then having their best seasons ever.
I don't doubt the authenticity of it either. I am just interested on what is actually going on. Why should this be the case?
Has anyone ever scientifically measured the amount the kick contributes to forward propulsion? I mean ratio wise, compared to the arms, what would it be? 80% arms : 20% legs?
What about the swimmers who are great kickers in workouts but can't translate it into faster swimming?
How do we actually integrate the kick into our swimming so that it becomes a new and powerful element to our stroke as Paul suggests?
Would it be fair to say that a big part of the improvement these (post op/ focus on kicking )swimmers achieve can be attributed to the strengthened core which is a result of the additional kicking. In other words more credit given to the strengthened core than increased forward propulsion.
I don't know. I just throw out these ideas for discussion.
Syd
Thanks. But no promises for next year, Ian.
Can someone explain the rationale behind kicking high in freestyle? I can see that the fastest swimmers use this technique, but I was wondering why it's better.
Agreed, no promises. If I don't poke fun, Swimspud will. Your SCM 100m looks like a good target.
High kicking? Might work for unlimited energy 20 somethings in a 50/100. Although kicking like hell in a 50 is essential, I find going high out of the water with the kick an energy waster and not efficient for the aged (like myself). I don't feel the kick is helping driving me forward and is just 'splashing'.
I too, am curious to know what others feel about it. Maybe I'm missing something.
Ian
on kicking gears
I meant different gears in doing a six beat kick
there's the 100% all out 6 beat kick and shades beneath it
Ande, I agree with you but I've always thought of my kicking with a valve analogy rather than gears. The tempo of the kick is always a quick 6 beat. As you open the valve the amplitude and force increase. There are no specific gears, just adjustments from a trickle to a raging flow.
Can someone explain the rationale behind kicking high in freestyle? I can see that the fastest swimmers use this technique, but I was wondering why it's better.
Fort, I'm not sure anyone has a good explaination for the massive kick working so well in sprinting. I've got a video with Frank Busch, coach of Arizona, saying he used to coach a much narrower kick but all his great sprinters had this massive "thunder kick" as he called it. He decided they did natually what worked so he kept his mouth shut.
Also, a couple of months ago in Swimming World Glenn Mills had a great photo on the opening page showing the huge amplitude of the sprint kick.
I'm not sure why it works, but it is certainly what all the great sprinters are doing these days.
One other important part of this discussion specific to turns is the transition...or "cork screw" movement that is needed to correctly position the body for a smooth/powerful breakout.
I am far faster on my side than stomach of back...if I nail my turn (in a 50 or 100) I'll typically go 5-7 SDKs on my side and then "cork screw" (smoothly without effecting momentum or the water surface) with 2-3 more kicks before my breakout.
I think I mentioned this before, last fall I watched Nick Brunelli "cruise" a 44+ 100 free and he was literally flat on his back pushing off the wall and did not transition till his feet were right at the flags...I've played with this since that time and really like it, keeping below the wave in the 50/100 is the primary reason.
Syd beat me to suggest this. We had a coach that got us to do successive swim 50's, first with a 2 beat kick, then 4 beat, then 6 beat and finally an "overkick" 50.
He gave them in the warm up set. I'm not really sure what the value might be but it was a big eye-opener for me (a 6 beat 'sprinter') - I found it tough to be smooth with the two beat, but at each level, you are forced to make adjustments to your stroke to feel comfortable.
It certainly made you think and find the best integration at each level of kick. The "overkick" option is the only one I still do, however (it helps get those arms going).
Ian.
I've done some overkicking. Need to that and more fartlek kicking in the next couple months.
Why would a sprinter want to work on 2 or 4 beat kicking? I can see ande's point about changing 6 beat gears.
Good post, Paul. I'm working on the same thing in freestyle. I think I should take more advantage of my side SDKs on the turns. Are you kicking on your side off backstroke turns too?
Ande, I agree with you but I've always thought of my kicking with a valve analogy rather than gears. The tempo of the kick is always a quick 6 beat. As you open the valve the amplitude and force increase. There are no specific gears, just adjustments from a trickle to a raging flow.
Fort, I'm not sure anyone has a good explaination for the massive kick working so well in sprinting. I've got a video with Frank Busch, coach of Arizona, saying he used to coach a much narrower kick but all his great sprinters had this massive "thunder kick" as he called it. He decided they did natually what worked so he kept his mouth shut.
Also, a couple of months ago in Swimming World Glenn Mills had a great photo on the opening page showing the huge amplitude of the sprint kick.
I'm not sure why it works, but it is certainly what all the great sprinters are doing these days.
DING DING DING!!! Richard Abrahams... The GRANDFATHER of Masters swimming... 24.9 SCM for 50 free at the young age of 60...
Three times the age of many respectable swimmers, Rich has earned the title for sure, yes sir, you ARE my HERO!
I've been exuberant over athletic performances in the past, but this my friends causes me to pause in dumbfounded wonderment.
DING DING DING!!! Richard Abrahams... The GRANDFATHER of Masters swimming... 24.9 SCM for 50 free at the young age of 60...
Three times the age of many respectable swimmers, Rich has earned the title for sure, yes sir, you ARE my HERO!
I've been exuberant over athletic performances in the past, but this my friends causes me to pause in dumbfounded wonderment.
That is an awesome time, but perhaps all of your :notworthy: could be reserved for private messages. It's just a little over the top at times.
:wave:
Are you kicking on your side off backstroke turns too?
Fort....usually....a slight angle not a full 90 degrees.
Something I think needs to be emphasized in these types of discussions (and I know Ande & Rich have said the same) is to feel free to experiment.
FAR to many of us roll into the pool and get caught up in making our yardage vs. slowing down and relearning how to "play"! The rule are there are no rules...only theories and each has to be tested and adapted to ones own skill level.
Example; as is the case with most teams the two i primarilly train with do very little kicking. So when I want to work on my kick I'll typically move to a slower lane and focus just on that....its also a nice way to meet some folks you probably never train with!
