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?
Former Member
Dennis Baker wrote an article on this subject for our newsletter. In a nutshell what he says is while SDK generates a huge amount of power off the wall, it takes a tremendous amount of time in practice and a lot of strength training to perfect it. He says that the more we age, the less viable this type of turn is. His recommendation is not to waste time and energy trying this in a race, your time is best served perfecting a nice tight and clean turn
I know I should go and get a time trial of SDKs and flutter kick for the start of a 50 meter short or long course free. But I never remember to do that, when at the pool. I use the SDKs for as long as I can for my 50 fly because it seems logical and as I get waisted pretty soon doing the whole fly thing, I kind enjoy the respite under water, although as I run out of breath or CO2 builds up I come up for air and start doing the regular fly. My doubts are like Jim's, specially for shorter distances. Basically the 50 free either short or long course. I guess the answer would be to swim 25s timing each way, with SDKs and without, but I like to hear what other masters would say. Just the other day I put on a nose clip and lo and behold, I managed to last longer under water at the turn. Because I didn't have to worry about blowing air out my nose so as not to drown! Might try and use it at a meet, where that extra time under water with either flutter or other would be better. I have a master friend who is a lot faster than I, and swims longer distances and uses open turns. He told me he couldn't afford the loss of breath he felt doing the flip turn. This guy is an experienced swimmer, formerly a youth swimmer, so I don't know what gives...billy fanstone...
As Dennis wrote...just because the pros do it...doesn't mean it's for everyone.
As a part time parent coach, I have had my doubts about our younger age groupers doing them.
Often times they get blown away in a sprint race by the other kids who get up and swim while they're still farting around under the surface.
Until it (your SDK) gets faster than your swimming...why use it in a race?
Many freestylers still favor flutter kicks of fury in short course pools.
However...sooner or later when the rhythm is mastered...then it (SDK) becomes the 5th stroke. This is most evident in backstroke racing...where the dolphin kick seems to work very naturally. I don't agree that it's not worthwhile for a masters swimmer to try developing this new skill. Yes it takes up air...but consistent training will make it easier over time.
I tried something new this morning that made me think of this discussion. My lanemate was going to do 50's with a band around her ankles. I said I was interested, so she loaned me her band (just an old inner tube tied in a knot) and she used an old pair of goggles as her band. We did 8x50 SCM on the 1:00.
It took me a while to figure out how to get swimming downhill; the first few were legs down, head held proudly high flail fests. But after a while, I started to learn how to deal with not kicking at all. Then I started adding a few SDK's off the walls to help get me moving. Then I realized I was sort of dolphining as I swam to help keep my hips up. I could feel my core engaged. It was a lot of work, and I was fairly gassed despite the interval. I liked feeling muscle groups which aren't normally engaged weigh in and tell me they had been working.
I hadn't done this drill before, and I see where it could help me develop a better (read: somewhat effective, as opposed to worse than useless) dolphin kick. I think I'll try it every now and again and see if it has any effect.
YMMV.
This talk of teaching SDK's to old dogs (me--don't think my SDK's on my back are fast at all unless I have fins on) I thought I'd ask about the dolphin kick now allowed on the breaststroke pull-out.
Anyone else have trouble putting it in there and having it feel natural? I did so much breaststroke for so many years that sticking a dolphin kick in my pull-out totally breaks my rhythm and concentration. I don't swim enough now to break out of my old ways, I guess. I'm sure if I did it well I could be faster but right now all it seems to do is distract me. Anyone else in the same boat?
Amy,try this:just before you start the pullout let your legs rise and arch your back slightly.Then as you are doing the pullout kick your legs down.It should feel like your body ripples in time to the movement of your hands in the pullout.Thanks, I'll give it a try. I think knowing exactly where to put it has been part of my problem. Too bad I wasn't like some of the guy breaststroke swimmers on my USS team. My coach was always yelling at them to stop dolphin kicking on their pull-outs! They'd know how to do it well!
Jason Lezak STILL holds the American record in the 100 free, doing no SDKs on the start and turns.
Provided he makes the Olympic Trials final, you will see that he is the only person not doing the dolphin kick. Good for him for sticking with what works for him and not succumbing to peer pressure. Of course, Jason has no peer!
Amy,try this:just before you start the pullout let your legs rise and arch your back slightly.Then as you are doing the pullout kick your legs down.It should feel like your body ripples in time to the movement of your hands in the pullout.
