![]() Many beginner swimmers start by using the so-called "bicycle kick" which causes the swimmer to kick water backward in the opposite direction to where they want to go.Īs much as it makes a logical sense to kick the water behind you, it will get you going very slowly and it is very bad in terms of efficiency, effectiveness. Your feet are one of the most important things in swimmingīefore you start, it is important you understand what it is that propels you forward. If you struggle with learning to properly kick during freestyle, here are some pointers that might help you get over the flutter kicking plateau. Unfortunately, everyone learns in a different way so there is no single technique or sequence of drills which will work for everyone. Some get it right away and they move on in their swimming skill learning program, others struggle with the right leg motion which hinders their progress during the other swim exercises. I’ve taught countless individuals with varying skill levels and everyone is different in the way they understand how the kick should be performed. Please read the disclosure for more info.Ī proper flutter kick is one of the most important keys to an efficient, fast and enjoyable freestyle swimming experience however, it is also one of the hardest parts of the freestyle stroke to learn. Note: Even though a wetsuit handles one of the primary functions (creating lift) during a triathlon, a good kicker can still benefit from the other three functions.Note: This swimming tip article may contain affiliate links. (Only use a two-beat kick if you do not choose to focus on your legs to improve your swim time.) In a six-beat kick, there is virtually no recovery time, generating a steadier propulsive force. Since the most powerful of the down kicks coincides with the end of the underwater pull, it helps stabilize the counter-rotation of the body.Ĥ. ![]() Because the kick is not symmetrical, it creates lift-the downward phase of the kick is more powerful than the upward.ģ. ![]() Depending on the strength and fitness level of the legs and the ankle flexibility, it creates propulsion.Ģ. The kick plays a huge role in overall speed because it provides four important functions:ġ. I believe focusing on the legs is one of the best ways to improve as a swimmer. As a triathlete, one of the biggest dilemmas, given the limited amount of swim training time you have, is how much time and effort you should spend trying to improve your kick. ![]() If there is one skill that most differentiates the fast swimmers from the not-so-fast swimmers, it would be the strength of the kick. A poorly executed 2 beat kick I believe usually creates excess drag through the legs working like large stabalises to the body movement and it is usually when you see a hammer kicking action or a very spread eagled style kick to counter balance the body"sinking" or an unstable body rotation. This flutter kick at a consistent level creates balance in the stroke and consistent forward propulsion. Moving away from a slower kick to a 6 beat kick doesn't mean that you have to kick harder it becomes more of a flutter kick than a hard core sprinting type kick (sprint kick which is generally unsustainable for most tri or open water swim race distances). While I have been swim coaching I encourage swimmers to push toward a 6 beat kick, but often as they do this they say "it is unsustainable" for them. ![]() I read this article just recenlty and really thought it was a great explanation to the importance of the kick especially the 6 beat kick for most open water swimmers and triathletes. ![]()
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