Hello, I'm new here.
I'm 59 and getting back into swimming. I've always had a poor kick. Right now some times are as follows - 25 yd pool, start in water.
100 free 1:20,
100 free, pull only with pull buoy 1:25
50 yd kick with kick board 2:30
I've read on improving my kick and I know several things to work on like ankle flexibility. I'm not really looking for advice (although I'll happily accept it), just an idea if this is really as bad as I think or if it is more common that I think. Do those times look like a REALLY BAD kick? Is it common to get almost no help from your kick?
Thanks,
bw
Parents
Former Member
Kick with equal power UP and DOWN. Many bad kickers only kick powerfully in one of these directions.
Now that is a good piece of advice! That really helped me improve my SDK tremendously. I need to focus more on that with my flutter kick, though.
Some more advice from Ande:
Kick from the hip, not the knees.
and,
Keep the legs long and toes pointed. (Don't overstrain, though. They should be naturally pointed in a relaxed way).
If the top of you foot and shin are at 90 degrees you need to work on ankle flexibility. Improving ankle flexibility takes a long time. ( I have been working on it for over a year now but I would say that it has only been recently that I have noticed significant benefits).
Kick with equal power UP and DOWN. Many bad kickers only kick powerfully in one of these directions.
Now that is a good piece of advice! That really helped me improve my SDK tremendously. I need to focus more on that with my flutter kick, though.
Some more advice from Ande:
Kick from the hip, not the knees.
and,
Keep the legs long and toes pointed. (Don't overstrain, though. They should be naturally pointed in a relaxed way).
If the top of you foot and shin are at 90 degrees you need to work on ankle flexibility. Improving ankle flexibility takes a long time. ( I have been working on it for over a year now but I would say that it has only been recently that I have noticed significant benefits).
