Does anyone know if submerged dolphin kicks are always better than submerged freestyle (or backstroke) kicks?
I find fly kicks very tiring and slow for my particular body. It seems I can go as fast if not faster off the walls kicking free or back underwater--and these take much less energy.
If SDK is the obviously preferred approach, can anybody provide actual evidence--swimming science studies, for instance--that compare the same person's speed doing both? Similarly, is there some physical cause for why split-leg kicking should be intrinsically slower than legs-together kicking?
Obviously, you have to do SDK on fly and *** pullouts (if you are going to do any kick at all.) But for free and back, you still have a choice, and I'd like to know if the SDK choice is always (or almost always) a better one.
I am wondering if it is sufficient to conclude that because most of the world's fastest swimmers do this, it necessarily means it's an optimal technique. Dara Torres, for her part, does not use SDK in her sprints. Is this just a case of old dogs having trouble with new tricks? Or could it be that SDKs work great for some--but not so great for other body types?
I wonder what percentage of masters successfully use (or even try to use) SDK? I know it's touted as a fad, but I frankly don't see that many masters using it in meets. Most age groupers don't do it effectively, as quicksilver notes. Maybe it is principally the province of the elite non-master?
Jim: I think the back, tummy, or side SDK is an individual thing and is not necessarily an opposite pattern issue for everyone. I think I'm fastest on my stomach, but most others seem to like SDKs on their back. As for fins, that's individual too. I like dolphin kicking with fins or MF best as well. In fact, I think it's much better to use the MF than fins if you want to improve your core strength and SDK. But fins make me pretty speedy with flutter kick as well. (However, I don't use fins for kicking (except for the MF) because it makes my ankles too loose.)
I wonder what percentage of masters successfully use (or even try to use) SDK? I know it's touted as a fad, but I frankly don't see that many masters using it in meets. Most age groupers don't do it effectively, as quicksilver notes. Maybe it is principally the province of the elite non-master?
Jim: I think the back, tummy, or side SDK is an individual thing and is not necessarily an opposite pattern issue for everyone. I think I'm fastest on my stomach, but most others seem to like SDKs on their back. As for fins, that's individual too. I like dolphin kicking with fins or MF best as well. In fact, I think it's much better to use the MF than fins if you want to improve your core strength and SDK. But fins make me pretty speedy with flutter kick as well. (However, I don't use fins for kicking (except for the MF) because it makes my ankles too loose.)
