OK gang.
The "kicking" bullies have rounded on me even though I had a fantastic swim this weekend. They are telling me I need to kick, my coach said don't over do it b/c it disrupts the stroke...
I can kick, I maybe didn't intergrate it in my 100FR to their approval but I am not convinced that kicking alone is the way to go.
I think working 100's with kick focus is a better way rather than yards and yards at "meh" pace.
What % of your yards do you kick per week, and how much of that is with fins?
Here are a few things you could try:
1) Lose the kickboard. Yeah, it's sacrilege, but it forces a rigid-body style of kicking that is disconnected from the stroke. It probably works for people who already know how to integrate their kick, but not for those of us who were never taught how.
While much of this discussion included comments on fins, very few talked about kickboards. I abhore them for the reason Ripple gives above -- it's a different kind of kicking than when you swim. For my kicking, I'm without a board and generally do:
* single side or rotating side to side for free and back kicking ... try to simulate the rotation and different angles you kick at during your swim
* dolphin kick almost always on my back or side ... as much of it underwater as possible
* breaststroke kick on my back, arms down at my sides. I'm a really crappy breaststroker and I find that this position helps me best focus on getting my legs up and out in the best position possible.
I never use fins, but I also never use paddles or buoys. I guess I need to get on board with the toys, but I've found going old school with just my suit and goggles (I don't like caps either) allows me to focus as much as possible on swimming in a body position and with the "equipment" that I will have when competing.
Here are a few things you could try:
1) Lose the kickboard. Yeah, it's sacrilege, but it forces a rigid-body style of kicking that is disconnected from the stroke. It probably works for people who already know how to integrate their kick, but not for those of us who were never taught how.
While much of this discussion included comments on fins, very few talked about kickboards. I abhore them for the reason Ripple gives above -- it's a different kind of kicking than when you swim. For my kicking, I'm without a board and generally do:
* single side or rotating side to side for free and back kicking ... try to simulate the rotation and different angles you kick at during your swim
* dolphin kick almost always on my back or side ... as much of it underwater as possible
* breaststroke kick on my back, arms down at my sides. I'm a really crappy breaststroker and I find that this position helps me best focus on getting my legs up and out in the best position possible.
I never use fins, but I also never use paddles or buoys. I guess I need to get on board with the toys, but I've found going old school with just my suit and goggles (I don't like caps either) allows me to focus as much as possible on swimming in a body position and with the "equipment" that I will have when competing.
