In general, when I swim with a group, I notice that I usually am at the front on kick sets without fins. When, however, we have sets with fins, I usually fall behind. Why is this?
The other day, I was swimming with the high school group and they were begging to do a 10 x 100 kick with fins on 1:10. No way could I make this. When I suggested doing 10 x 100 kick on 1:45 without fins, nobody thought they could make it. In fact, the coach gave a small set of 100s on 1:45 that was without fins and I thought it was pretty easy while the others could barely make it.
In any case, why do I stink on fin work when I am a pretty strong kicker without the fins? Is this a bad thing?
Parents
Former Member
Are you using the same fins as everyone else?
Both 100s on 1:45 sans fins and 100s on 1:10 with fins would be close to impossible for me, but I do see a 10-15 second drop/50 with fins, so you only seeing a 4 second drop and being a fast kicker is kinda surprising.
Here is my theory right now. You have very flexible ankles, and your propulsive force is from the foot, with very little benefit from the shin, and almost no knee bend. When you put fins on, you maintain the same style, and your propulsive force is limited by your ankle as the fulcrum instead of your knee.
This analysis is based on almost no real evidence, and is very likely completely wrong. But it could be try.
Try this experiment if you think I have a small hope of being right. Kick something you can time with fins like you normally do, a 50 or a 100. On the next one, try to whip your foot as much as possible from the knee, let the fin break the surface of the water and kick it all the way down to 30 degrees (the surface being 0 degrees) which is probably much deeper than you usually kick. Let your kick be quad driven. Compare times. Come back and make fun of my theory for being completely wrong.
Are you using the same fins as everyone else?
Both 100s on 1:45 sans fins and 100s on 1:10 with fins would be close to impossible for me, but I do see a 10-15 second drop/50 with fins, so you only seeing a 4 second drop and being a fast kicker is kinda surprising.
Here is my theory right now. You have very flexible ankles, and your propulsive force is from the foot, with very little benefit from the shin, and almost no knee bend. When you put fins on, you maintain the same style, and your propulsive force is limited by your ankle as the fulcrum instead of your knee.
This analysis is based on almost no real evidence, and is very likely completely wrong. But it could be try.
Try this experiment if you think I have a small hope of being right. Kick something you can time with fins like you normally do, a 50 or a 100. On the next one, try to whip your foot as much as possible from the knee, let the fin break the surface of the water and kick it all the way down to 30 degrees (the surface being 0 degrees) which is probably much deeper than you usually kick. Let your kick be quad driven. Compare times. Come back and make fun of my theory for being completely wrong.
