The Kick
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thehitman posted 3 years ago.
Rather than kicking faster, kick slower. Switch to a 2 beat kick (one kick for each stroke).
Your kick gives you very limited propulsion in longer distance swims, so about the best thing you can do with your legs is keep them out of the flow behind you, reducing the drag.
Good luck in your training.
thehitman
thehitman
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adeegan posted 3 years ago.
Zoomer fins also really help your kicking technique, they pretty much force you to kick right. I suggest the red ones. In my opinion the kick is the easiest thing to fix... so you are not in that bad of shape :)
4949
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1727 days
beads1985 posted 3 years ago.
As thehitman stated
"Your kick gives you very limited propulsion in longer distance swims, so about the best thing you can do with your legs is keep them out of the flow behind you, reducing the drag. "
I barely kick when I swim. Nothing too taxing on my legs.
During the swim part of a triathlon you can give you legs a break so they are fresh for the bike and the run. Your upper body gets to rest for the most part during those part anyway.
Nothing to it, but to do it
183
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1304 days
KenMierke posted 3 years ago.
Beads and Hitman nailed it. Your swim isntructor probably is very good at coaching pool swimmers hwho race much shorter events withour bikes and runs afterward and need the propulsion from the kick. Even though the kick is a very inefficient source of propulsion, if you're racing for 1-3 minutes, you need the extra power. For triathletes, the kick should only provide a platform for torso rotation. The 2 beat kick will allow you to more effectively use your torso and upper body without weasting energy.
Many athletes kick to keep theor hips and legs from sinking too low in the water. If you do this, work on keeping yopur upper body lower in the water and your natural bouyancy will keep the hips and legs up. Ken
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Micks posted 3 years ago.
When you're kicking make sure to keep your knees straight and to kick from your hips. Many people kick by only bending their knees, this will give you no propulsion. You should kick down, keeping your whole leg straight, but bending at the hip. You can relax your leg as you bring it back up, allowing your knee to bend slightly.
Most triathletes don't kick much, but as Ken said, it does help a lot to be able to keep your legs high in the water. You'll have a better body position, therefore less drag, making it much easier on your whole body.
477
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1344 days
geochuck posted 3 years ago.
Just watching a video of a swimmer that I am doing swim stroke analysis for and the feet are completely out of the water. Keep them in the water don't kick in the air.
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1941 days
Tpup posted 3 years ago.
If you want a second opinion, let me know. I'll e-mail you the number of a coach who is one of the top female masters triathlete in the SE, she teaches at the Y in Sandy Springs. She can video you and help you understand if it's your kick or your swim position in the water that's the issue (feet to low, etc)... I highly recomend her, her name is Heidi Smith...
477
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1344 days
geochuck posted 3 years ago.
Micks there were some great swimmers from Winnipeg - George Bevan was a Proffesional Marathon swimmer from the 50s, he was one of the best on the pro swim circuit.
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1314 days
rbreddin75 posted 3 years ago.
Thanks everyone for the advice,
I can feel my lower body "dragging" behind me and that is usually the reminder I use to kick (usually slightly, just to help me keep my legs up). I have been practicing with a pull bouy and it is amazing how much more efficient I am with it. I usually swim my laps until I get so tired that I feel as though I can't go any further (increased breaths are a sure sign) then I add the bouy - It gives me the feeling of a "second wind" suddenly I have the energy to do another 10 laps or so...
I don't have much of a background in the swim so it is both a struggle for me and an aera that I can show significant improvement in.
Thanks for the help and I will let you know TPUP if I need your friends number.
rr
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As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another. proverbs 27:17
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As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another. proverbs 27:17
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bluebirdbiker posted 3 years ago.
As for the "kick" I find it improves you time to kick but minimally. I have been experimenting with the kick a bit and find that using the feet in the kick to rotate the hips vertically so that the shoulder becomes verticle is critical to increasing your speed in the water. It is good to just scissor kick on each stroke, not excessively but it does propel you faster. Improving "the kick" has decreased my time in distances by about 1-2min.
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OK,
I had a stroke lesson yesterday and the instructor told me that my breathing and upper body movements are good. He told me that my kick SUCKS. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, How did you fix it? I know, I know... kick more... but I already feel like im kicking as fast as I can. Any help is appreciated...
(I take constructive criticism well...)
As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another. proverbs 27:17
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