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?
I believe the best way to kick is the way
that allows you to kick the fastest times.
what are your kicking times for
15, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, & 200?
Find out what they are then work to improve them.
If you want to experiment with technique, do this set:
20 x 50 kick
odds: FAST for time on :45 experimenting with splash, foot speed, & amplitude
evens: EASY on 1:45 recover & prepare for your next FAST one
Things you can experiment with are:
+ Splash: none, some, lots,
+ Amplitude: small medium large,
+ Frequency: Foot Speed: fast, faster fastest,
+ Intensity: how much effort
What works best for me is:
Some to lot's of splash, medium amplitude, & fastest foot speed,
plus being warmed up & ready, getting psyched, hard push offs & fast turns.
Other factors that affect kicking speed are:
+ leg conditioning
+ hard push offs
+ fast turns
+ what suit the kicker wears
+ how the kicker starts
+ whether the kicker is fresh or fatigued
+ the kickers body shape & weight
+ foot & ankle flexibility
+ being warmed up & ready &
+ mental factors: like self image, what the swimmer expects to kick, and how psyched they
DEVELOP A FAST KICK THEN INTEGRATE IT WITH YOUR STROKE,
USE IT WHEN YOU SWIM.
It takes years of training to maximize your kick potential
Learn how hard you can kick for each distance you race.
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?
I believe the best way to kick is the way
that allows you to kick the fastest times.
what are your kicking times for
15, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, & 200?
Find out what they are then work to improve them.
If you want to experiment with technique, do this set:
20 x 50 kick
odds: FAST for time on :45 experimenting with splash, foot speed, & amplitude
evens: EASY on 1:45 recover & prepare for your next FAST one
Things you can experiment with are:
+ Splash: none, some, lots,
+ Amplitude: small medium large,
+ Frequency: Foot Speed: fast, faster fastest,
+ Intensity: how much effort
What works best for me is:
Some to lot's of splash, medium amplitude, & fastest foot speed,
plus being warmed up & ready, getting psyched, hard push offs & fast turns.
Other factors that affect kicking speed are:
+ leg conditioning
+ hard push offs
+ fast turns
+ what suit the kicker wears
+ how the kicker starts
+ whether the kicker is fresh or fatigued
+ the kickers body shape & weight
+ foot & ankle flexibility
+ being warmed up & ready &
+ mental factors: like self image, what the swimmer expects to kick, and how psyched they
DEVELOP A FAST KICK THEN INTEGRATE IT WITH YOUR STROKE,
USE IT WHEN YOU SWIM.
It takes years of training to maximize your kick potential
Learn how hard you can kick for each distance you race.
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?
