I once had a terrific boss who taught me a lot not only about work, but life. One thing he taught me and that I've lived by ever since is to constantly ask yourself "Does what I'm doing make sense?"
Applying that question to kicking drills has made me wonder. I have read more than once that (other than in breaststroke) kicking a) is used to maintain your body's position in the water, b) that you derive little or no propulsion from it (other than perhaps when sprinting), c) kicking hard can actually increase your drag and slow you down, and d) kicking hard more than doubles your energy use.
Given those four things, I'd like to know your thoughts (and not just knee-jerk reactions) from both swimmers and coaches, regardless of your experience level:
Does it make sense for us to use a large part of our practice time and energy doing kicking drills?
Do we derive any real benefit from doing so?
Do we do it because it actually helps us be better swimmers (which would make sense), or do we do it because "that's the way it's always been done" (which makes no sense at all).
Keep on strokin'!
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Former Member
In relation to kicking, I hear alot about six beat kicks, two beat kicks, etc. I had never heard that term prior to the Olympics, so this may be a silly question, but what exactly do you mean by a six beat kick or a two beat kick, etc.
Since I've been back in swimming -- for just over a month now -- I find that my kicking drills really suffer. While I'm swimming my kick feels strong and I kick pretty much 100% of the time, but when I'm kicking with a kickboard doing sets of 50's or 100's, it's like I can't kick anymore. It really gets to the point at the end where I'm expending no energy at all and by the time I get done with the set, I've got 100% energy. Unless I do breat kick, that's when I really feel like I'm expending energy.
Sorry, I kinda rambled there, but at the end of the day, what do you mean by a varying beat kick? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
In relation to kicking, I hear alot about six beat kicks, two beat kicks, etc. I had never heard that term prior to the Olympics, so this may be a silly question, but what exactly do you mean by a six beat kick or a two beat kick, etc.
Since I've been back in swimming -- for just over a month now -- I find that my kicking drills really suffer. While I'm swimming my kick feels strong and I kick pretty much 100% of the time, but when I'm kicking with a kickboard doing sets of 50's or 100's, it's like I can't kick anymore. It really gets to the point at the end where I'm expending no energy at all and by the time I get done with the set, I've got 100% energy. Unless I do breat kick, that's when I really feel like I'm expending energy.
Sorry, I kinda rambled there, but at the end of the day, what do you mean by a varying beat kick? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
