OK, I was kicking it in the pool with the seniors and I noticed a recurring theme among all of them.
Everyone was having thier foot exit the water by at least 2 inches. By this I mean the part of the foot from just below the ankle all the way to the toes. I also used to (until about 3 months ago) kick this exact same way until I started focusing on having just my heel break the surface of the water. This has helped me immensely on getting a better 'bite' with my foot and to hold more water.
Am I just crazy or do most swimmers not know the correct way to kick? Heck, I didn't, that's for sure (unless I'm completely off my rocker).
Anyone else find it easier to kick this way?
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This sounds about right. As with most good flutter kickers, the heels come out a tad higher during kick sets.
During a swim though...they should be deeper just as you stated. Kicking air isn't productive.
www.floswimming.org/.../87259-kick-set-auburn
I am very glad that you brought this video forward. It allows me to mention something we've kept forgetting in these last few threads on kicking (although Ande probably mentioned it in his recommendations), an old trick as simple as abc.
When you kick hard and oufff. It is merely sufficient and that you fear you may be dropped, just cheat a bit. Put your head in the water that brings your legs at the surface easing off the kicking a bit. That gives you some speed then you raise the head back up and hold on to the set. And besides, that works on hypoxia (no air) a bit in the same time. Two birds with one stone they call this?
On this clip, the coach seems to be using tubas (French, I do not know in English, pipes maybe?). That allows for the kid to keep the head in the water all the way. I find it's brilliant (as a drill), never thought about it.
I believe that it explains in part why every single kid is tapping on the water, and indirectly why they seem so fast.
This sounds about right. As with most good flutter kickers, the heels come out a tad higher during kick sets.
During a swim though...they should be deeper just as you stated. Kicking air isn't productive.
www.floswimming.org/.../87259-kick-set-auburn
I am very glad that you brought this video forward. It allows me to mention something we've kept forgetting in these last few threads on kicking (although Ande probably mentioned it in his recommendations), an old trick as simple as abc.
When you kick hard and oufff. It is merely sufficient and that you fear you may be dropped, just cheat a bit. Put your head in the water that brings your legs at the surface easing off the kicking a bit. That gives you some speed then you raise the head back up and hold on to the set. And besides, that works on hypoxia (no air) a bit in the same time. Two birds with one stone they call this?
On this clip, the coach seems to be using tubas (French, I do not know in English, pipes maybe?). That allows for the kid to keep the head in the water all the way. I find it's brilliant (as a drill), never thought about it.
I believe that it explains in part why every single kid is tapping on the water, and indirectly why they seem so fast.
