I am tapering for my big meet 4/10-11 and I'm thinking about my next training cycle. Since my free and fly are already my stronger strokes, and I had a good time drop in breaststroke which I attribute largely to weight training concentrating on shoulders and chest, I'm wondering if there are specific lifts that would benefit backstroke, which is my weakest stroke by far, in fact my 50 *** was nearly as fast as my 50 back at my most recent meet. If I could improve my backstroke I might actually get a decent time in an IM event.
The only thing that happens when I try to kick harder is I make more waves and go slower.
Q gives good advice. Check out Ande's flutter kicking thread. It won't be fun at first, but if you're pretty diligent about it, you will improve. I think the typical masters swimmer lament -- "I hate kicking" -- really holds people back from even trying to make progress. That, and the fact that kicking is not a quickie project.
I have a teammate who is a very fast swimmer, but a terrible kicker. His foot and leg are literally almost in an L shape when he's swimming -- at least that's what we tell him. lol If this is your issue, then ankle flexibility is key. Check out what JMiller does for ankle flexibility on the "Fun & Fast" thread.
The only thing that happens when I try to kick harder is I make more waves and go slower.
Q gives good advice. Check out Ande's flutter kicking thread. It won't be fun at first, but if you're pretty diligent about it, you will improve. I think the typical masters swimmer lament -- "I hate kicking" -- really holds people back from even trying to make progress. That, and the fact that kicking is not a quickie project.
I have a teammate who is a very fast swimmer, but a terrible kicker. His foot and leg are literally almost in an L shape when he's swimming -- at least that's what we tell him. lol If this is your issue, then ankle flexibility is key. Check out what JMiller does for ankle flexibility on the "Fun & Fast" thread.
