@qbyrd0015 Not straight... straighter. People often overuse the term straight when talking about the flutter kick. If you keep your legs absolutely straight... you don't go anywhere. :)
Some elite swimmers use asimetric and disrhytmic kicks, but they make these instinctively to find the highest propulsion force given by legs. To experience the sensation of leg coordination and propulsion it should have a good flexibility of the hip and ankle and it should be tried at a slow rhythm of kicks-beat.
The second, more subtle of ineffectiveness for kicks are the lack of co-ordinations with the body rotations and strokes. What means asimetry of kicking ? That means the differences in kicks amplitude and co-ordination with body for each side of rotation. What means the disrhythmic kicking ? If you look at some underwater videos you can see that some swimmers seems to make a small pause (break) of motion betweeen some kicks (it looks like stop & go movement). That is dysrhythmic kicking style.
The common mistake is that most of the ineffective kick's swimmers initiate and beat too much from knee. The correct form is to initiate the kick from hips, to let the ankle relax to flex only 1/3 part while thigh make extension, and then make the kick like a whip slapped, counting 1-2-3 until the beating is automed.
The 6 beat kick give more propulsion than 2 kick. A slight elevated position of forehead, or avoiding a too olique entry of hand in water, can offers the conditions to increase the hips amplitude of kicking and the force of propulsion. (but too elevated position of head can increase the drag resistence). Jan Thorpe is an example of swimmer with a high propulsion of feet.
Just a short question: When swimming I usally do long distances of 800m and 1500m and as pointed out before, I always use a 2-beat kick to conserve the energy and it works relatively fine. but when I do a 200m or 400m I use a faster kick and against all logic it seams my upper body tires faster than my legs, even though it should be the other way round!(?)
When I said "standard" I mean the fast way used in 50m, 100m and 200 m competition, in which most of the swimmers uses more than 30%-35% propulsion force given by kicks. In long distance 800m, 1500 m and triathlon swimming, 1 kick (2kick / cycle) should be "standard". In this last case the kicks provide balance and less 30% propulsion force, but it conserve energy
Standard free style has 6 kick on a complete cycle ( 3 kick/ stroke), but these are not egual in intensity and amplitude. There are one kick stronger than the other. How to discover the stongest kick in the group of three: swim 1 kick / 1 stroke (2kick/ complete stroke cycle). That is the strongest kick. Then try 3 kick / stroke: keep the focus on strongest kick and add 2 small kick. The strongest kick help the derotation of pelvis, second is anti-rolling kick and 3rd help rotation
@vincereee When you say "standard freestyle has 6 kick on a complete cycle"... do you mean "standard" as most people? I don't think I'd necessarily qualify the 6-beat kick as a standard kick for most swimmers. I wish it was standard, heck, even in my own swimming, but unfortunately, I don't think it is. With that said, I like the using the one beat to find the set up kick. Good post from that standpoint. :)
@goswim098 When I said "standard" I mean the fast way used in 50m, 100m and 200 m competition, in which most of the swimmers uses more than 30%-35% propulsion force given by kicks. In long distance 800m, 1500 m and triathlon swimming, 1 kick (2kick / cycle) should be "standard". In this last case the kicks provide balance and less 30% propulsion force, but it conserve energy
holy crap thats fast
deathbyninja007 5 months ago
I heard you are supposed to keep your legs straight but this guy had his bent???
qbyrd0015 10 months ago
@qbyrd0015 Not straight... straighter. People often overuse the term straight when talking about the flutter kick. If you keep your legs absolutely straight... you don't go anywhere. :)
goswim098 10 months ago
this kid looks fast!
saltycrackas71 10 months ago
@saltycrackas71 - 20.1 50 free, high school senior. He's pretty good.
goswim098 10 months ago
Some elite swimmers use asimetric and disrhytmic kicks, but they make these instinctively to find the highest propulsion force given by legs. To experience the sensation of leg coordination and propulsion it should have a good flexibility of the hip and ankle and it should be tried at a slow rhythm of kicks-beat.
vincereee 10 months ago
The second, more subtle of ineffectiveness for kicks are the lack of co-ordinations with the body rotations and strokes. What means asimetry of kicking ? That means the differences in kicks amplitude and co-ordination with body for each side of rotation. What means the disrhythmic kicking ? If you look at some underwater videos you can see that some swimmers seems to make a small pause (break) of motion betweeen some kicks (it looks like stop & go movement). That is dysrhythmic kicking style.
vincereee 10 months ago
The common mistake is that most of the ineffective kick's swimmers initiate and beat too much from knee. The correct form is to initiate the kick from hips, to let the ankle relax to flex only 1/3 part while thigh make extension, and then make the kick like a whip slapped, counting 1-2-3 until the beating is automed.
vincereee 10 months ago
The 6 beat kick give more propulsion than 2 kick. A slight elevated position of forehead, or avoiding a too olique entry of hand in water, can offers the conditions to increase the hips amplitude of kicking and the force of propulsion. (but too elevated position of head can increase the drag resistence). Jan Thorpe is an example of swimmer with a high propulsion of feet.
vincereee 10 months ago
Just a short question: When swimming I usally do long distances of 800m and 1500m and as pointed out before, I always use a 2-beat kick to conserve the energy and it works relatively fine. but when I do a 200m or 400m I use a faster kick and against all logic it seams my upper body tires faster than my legs, even though it should be the other way round!(?)
sushiquak88 10 months ago
When I said "standard" I mean the fast way used in 50m, 100m and 200 m competition, in which most of the swimmers uses more than 30%-35% propulsion force given by kicks. In long distance 800m, 1500 m and triathlon swimming, 1 kick (2kick / cycle) should be "standard". In this last case the kicks provide balance and less 30% propulsion force, but it conserve energy
vincereee 10 months ago
the week after spring break our coach has been having us do a TON of long kick sets or timed kick sets. build up those legs for long course season!
cxm0 10 months ago
Good idea. I'll try this on my swim tonight.
tardis2005 10 months ago
Standard free style has 6 kick on a complete cycle ( 3 kick/ stroke), but these are not egual in intensity and amplitude. There are one kick stronger than the other. How to discover the stongest kick in the group of three: swim 1 kick / 1 stroke (2kick/ complete stroke cycle). That is the strongest kick. Then try 3 kick / stroke: keep the focus on strongest kick and add 2 small kick. The strongest kick help the derotation of pelvis, second is anti-rolling kick and 3rd help rotation
vincereee 10 months ago
@vincereee When you say "standard freestyle has 6 kick on a complete cycle"... do you mean "standard" as most people? I don't think I'd necessarily qualify the 6-beat kick as a standard kick for most swimmers. I wish it was standard, heck, even in my own swimming, but unfortunately, I don't think it is. With that said, I like the using the one beat to find the set up kick. Good post from that standpoint. :)
goswim098 10 months ago
@goswim098 When I said "standard" I mean the fast way used in 50m, 100m and 200 m competition, in which most of the swimmers uses more than 30%-35% propulsion force given by kicks. In long distance 800m, 1500 m and triathlon swimming, 1 kick (2kick / cycle) should be "standard". In this last case the kicks provide balance and less 30% propulsion force, but it conserve energy
vincereee 10 months ago