Which leg to kick??

Former Member
Former Member
When swimming freestyle using 2-beat kicks, which leg do you kick, in relation to the hands? The one on the same side as the stretched hand or the opposite side?
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Opposite. Opposite the hand that is going to be stretched forward, not the one already stretched and going to pull and catch, correct? In other words, the leg that is in lower position? (Thanks)
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Thanks for the links to previous discussions and the video clip! I just realized that I had kicked the correct way in the beginning but for the past month changed to the wrong leg thinking I had been wrong. No wonder I haven't improved my SPL. :eek:
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    This topic has been discussed many times previously on this forum. Here's one: forums.usms.org/showthread.php :applaud::applaud:
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Thanks for the links to previous discussions and the video clip! I just realized that I had kicked the correct way in the beginning but for the past month changed to the wrong leg thinking I had been wrong. No wonder I haven't improved my SPL. :eek: Actually, I would say as George says, "Keep it simple!" and let it come naturally, your kicking (two-beat) will be in unison with your stroke. Just like walking, right arm, left leg and v.v. It comes naturally.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Actually, I would say as George says, "Keep it simple!" and let it come naturally, your kicking (two-beat) will be in unison with your stroke. Just like walking, right arm, left leg and v.v. It comes naturally. Good point! I spent an hour today trying to correct my kicks thinking all the time "now I should kick this leg", it was awful and I swam worse than using the wrong kicks, especially the first kick. Almost directionless. Better to think of it like walking and let it come naturally.:D
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I just want to thank everyone again here for your replies to my post! After correcting myself back to the "right" kicks, today I reached my minimal SPL of 23 (25m pool)--before this, my min SPL had been 25~26. And it was an easy swim, not tired at all. I also want to thank Terry Laughlin (if he's around in this forum) for his TI book and the TI technique. I learned most things about freestyle from TI. :applaud: (I should mention that I don't kick from the wall very far so 23 spl is not bad for me ;))