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
One exercise I find that not only helps my core but my kicking is the Captain Chair Leg Lifts. Its that piece of equipment that you stand in, then hang, with your elbows & forearms on pad while gripping hand grips....you legs hang, then you bring your legs straight up as if you were sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you. Great for building up thigh and some of the hip muscles.
For ankles, just calf raises should help some. I also try to work on the flexiblity of my ankles by sitting and rocking back on them (in socks on a pad/carpet).
One exercise I find that not only helps my core but my kicking is the Captain Chair Leg Lifts. Its that piece of equipment that you stand in, then hang, with your elbows & forearms on pad while gripping hand grips....you legs hang, then you bring your legs straight up as if you were sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you. Great for building up thigh and some of the hip muscles.
For ankles, just calf raises should help some. I also try to work on the flexiblity of my ankles by sitting and rocking back on them (in socks on a pad/carpet).
