Is it possible to develop a great kick later in "life"?
Former Member
I'm 37. I've been swimming for 2.5 years. I'm a triathlete and was told for the longest time that kick wasn't important so I didn't do any kick sets and focused primary on my upper body form.
I've completely turned my thinking around on kicking and I'd like to develop my kick. I've been told/read that it is difficult to develop a great kick if #1 - you didn't start young and incorporate it #2 - if you developed a stroke like I did and then tried to incorporate good kicking.
In others opinions is it possible to develop a strong kick given what I've outlined above? I have a good coach right now and we've started a plan to do lots of kick sets (of different types) and weight my workouts over the next several months towards kick sets and other drills given my next A race isn't until mid-Sept.
Parents
Former Member
PWB - thanks!
My rotation is average - and we are working on it. He also has me incorporating the snorkel for kick sets. My current sets are:
1 - hands to side rotating shoulders back and forth - similar to the one you mentioned but rotating throughout the length.
2 - streamline free kicking with snorkel
3 - Breakstroke with free kick - keeps me kicking all of the time and not pausing with my kick
4 - vertical kick
5 - we discussed dolphin but have not incorporated it yet.
We haven't started working on the two-beat kick.
When I have done two-beat kicking I tend to "naturally" kick with the same side as my stroke. Probably compensating for something. Not sure if there are any tips to correct this other than just working on it.
PWB - thanks!
My rotation is average - and we are working on it. He also has me incorporating the snorkel for kick sets. My current sets are:
1 - hands to side rotating shoulders back and forth - similar to the one you mentioned but rotating throughout the length.
2 - streamline free kicking with snorkel
3 - Breakstroke with free kick - keeps me kicking all of the time and not pausing with my kick
4 - vertical kick
5 - we discussed dolphin but have not incorporated it yet.
We haven't started working on the two-beat kick.
When I have done two-beat kicking I tend to "naturally" kick with the same side as my stroke. Probably compensating for something. Not sure if there are any tips to correct this other than just working on it.
