Kick Drill

2006-06-20 6:58 PM

Subject: Kick Drill

Two questions:
1) Is the kick drill suppose to take so long to get across the pool? I mean, it takes forever to do 25 yds and thats kicking hard. I hate doing more than 50 yds b/c it takes so long.

2) What is the correct breathing pattern? Breathing out slowly the whole time per 3 - 4 strokes or hold it in until the last second?

Thanks!

Rob

DerekL

2006-06-20 7:00 PM

in reply to: #460973

Champion

8936

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Depends on how good your kick is.

I still hate doing them, but I'm managing to get faster and get them over with quicker these days. You'll get better in time.

WhipperSnapper - 2006-06-20 6:58 PM Two questions: 1) Is the kick drill suppose to take so long to get across the pool? I mean, it takes forever to do 25 yds and thats kicking hard. I hate doing more than 50 yds b/c it takes so long. 2) What is the correct breathing pattern? Breathing out slowly the whole time per 3 - 4 strokes or hold it in until the last second? Thanks! Rob

thegomer

2006-06-20 7:30 PM

in reply to: #460973

Expert

658

San Diego

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

For kick roll don't worry too much about how many strokes. A standard kick roll drill that I give my swimmers is 7 kick roll, meaning 7 kicks then roll to your other side for 7 kicks and so on. If you want you can even just kick on your back with your arms in streamline position. Remember you are working on your kick, not stroke cycles/breathing pattern.

Kicking was never my strong suit, I was always the weakest kicker on the team, so I feel your pain about kick sets never ending. Give me a pull buoy though, and I'll see you on the flipside

MLJ

2006-06-20 9:15 PM

in reply to: #460973

Expert

834

Medina, MN

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Well, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by "kick drill" but in virtually every instance in swimming it's better to exhale in a smooth, relaxed manner rather than holding your breath and then exploding it out all at once.

2006-06-21 5:53 AM

in reply to: #460973

17	Subject: RE: Kick Drill By "kick drill" I mean holder on the kick board in front crawl formation and kicking as you would doing the crawl. It's miserable b/c it's so slow. So, when doing a front crawl, it's better to exhale in the water throughout the 3 - 4 stokes than all at once at the end ?

2006-06-21 5:56 AM

in reply to: #461185

Veteran

228

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

When you are kicking you are using a different muscle group than when you run or bike. Karen

divegirlrox

2006-06-21 6:25 AM

in reply to: #461185

Regular

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

you should keep a slow stream of bubbles from mouth and nose throughout the stroke... stops the water going up your nose!

Jackemy

2006-06-21 6:42 AM

in reply to: #460973

Master

2006

Portland, ME

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

As a newbie swimmer, I hate the kick drill. I do 150m of kicking only at every swim. It used to take me a minute to get to the other end, i've brought that time down to about 45 seconds.

A couple of things that have helped:

1. get rid of the kickboard. do the drill with your arm at your side or in a glide position and focus on body form and roll.

2. If you use the kickboard (trust me not using it is not hard), focus on body position.

3. I am far from an expert but, kicking hard is one thing but kicking properly (short stroke initiated from your big muscles) is another.

2006-06-21 6:52 AM

in reply to: #460973

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

awe, thanks! I'll get rid of the kickboard. I'm doing the training regime in that Swim Workouts in a Binder by Gale B. She has me doing some serious distances with the kicking only crap. I don;t mind doing any of the other tough sets, but that kick drill is miserable since it takes so long. Thank you all for the input. I'll put the advise to motion on the next swim workout. Rob

AdventureBear

2006-06-21 8:08 AM

in reply to: #460973

Coach

9167

Stairway to Seven

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

I confess that in her workouts, I sometimes shorten the kick sets but only if I am crunched for time. I am with you. but I agree on ditching the kickboard. I do kick sets alternately on my back, or on either side with one arm extended.

pjostack

2006-06-21 9:39 AM

in reply to: #460973

Extreme Veteran

532

Plymouth MA

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

In master swim they make up do a lot of kick drills. I am not a fast swimmer but I can keep up with some of the faster people when I do kick drills. The coach says this is because I have learned to kick from my hips instead of from my knees. My toes are also pointed...suprisingly some people kick with their feet flexed and that gets them nowhere.

I usually use the kickboard with my face out of the water.

2006-06-21 2:01 PM

in reply to: #461207

Veteran

228

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Who is Gale B? Are you saying it is better to do the kick drills without the kickboard?
When you think about that kick board you don't use it during the triathlon swim.
Thanks for the idea for my kick drills. I a going to try and not use kick board during my kick drills. Karen

2006-06-21 2:11 PM

in reply to: #460973

17	Subject: RE: Kick Drill Here it is Karen http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931382204/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/...

2006-06-21 2:13 PM

in reply to: #460982

Veteran

228

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Do you guys do flip turns when you do your swim workouts? Karen

AdventureBear

2006-06-21 2:50 PM

in reply to: #460973

Coach

9167

Stairway to Seven

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Karen, using the kickboard wastes a valuable opportunity to work on your balance. It also hurts my back. Two good reasons to ditch it, you simply don't need it if you do your drills face up or on your side.

2006-06-21 3:12 PM

in reply to: #460973

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

I do mine face down in the water, so should I still get rid of the Kick board?

Ridgelake

2006-06-21 3:50 PM

in reply to: #461432

Master

1324

Rochester, NY

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

As Pjostack said, kicking from the hip makes a big difference as does having pointed toes/feet.

The hips provide MUCH more power than the knee. Plus, you have more surface area to use when the thighs are involved.

As for foot position, try this test. Push off the wall in streamline position. Make sure to point your toes/feet back towards the wall you just left. Then, let your ankles return to normal "standing" position. Its like putting on the breaks. This test shows just how much of a difference being streamline makes....

Edited by Ridgelake 2006-06-21 3:51 PM

AdventureBear

2006-06-21 4:39 PM

in reply to: #461973

Coach

9167

Stairway to Seven

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

WhipperSnapper - 2006-06-21 4:12 PM

I do mine face down in the water, so should I still get rid of the Kick board?

I would start doing side kicking drills so that you can work on kickign & balance at teh same time and still be able to breath without havng to bend your neck up (like with a kickboard). Visit teh Total Immersion website for some free videos of the drills.

2006-06-21 5:37 PM

in reply to: #461207

Veteran

228

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Rob,
How long have you been using this book. Is the book water proof? Do you like the book? Karen

Jackemy

2006-06-21 5:49 PM

in reply to: #461973

Master

2006

Portland, ME

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

WhipperSnapper - 2006-06-21 3:12 PM

I do mine face down in the water, so should I still get rid of the Kick board?

I do kicking drills face down without a kick board. To breath I roll to the side and I balance myself by extending my arm opposite the side that I breath. I don't know if it is proper or if anyone can roll without extending an arm but it works for me. Sometimes I kick face down with my opposite arm extended and my breathing side arm back.

But take my advice as lightly as I am just figuring thing swimming thing out like many of you.

Edited by Jackemy 2006-06-21 5:50 PM

2006-06-21 6:13 PM

in reply to: #460973

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Karen,

It's completely waterproof. I bend and stand it up so that I can see it at the end of the swimming lane. That way, I can look up to see how many seconds I'm suppose to rest, the number and type of drills, etc. Yes, the workouts are challenging and functional. I've been using it for 3 weeks and would recommend it. There's some convoluted acronyms that you have to figure out, but once you understand how the books works, then it starts to fall into place.

VO2Matt

2006-06-21 6:53 PM

in reply to: #461185

Elite

3650

Laurium, MI

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

on the breathing, in theory yes. I usually breathe every 2 strokes, but my stroke length is long enough that if I started exhaling normally as soon as my head enters the water, I run out of breath at stroke 1.5. So I can either bilateral and breathe faster or just not exhale until I start my pull with my opposite hand. Regardless though, you should have full exhaled by the time you expose your mouth for the next breath.

2006-06-21 8:27 PM

in reply to: #462180

Veteran

228

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

Hi Everyone,
I am taking swim lessons and my instructor told me to stroke 3 and then take a breath instead of stroking 2 and taking a breath. also she mentioned a S shape when stroking. She also told me to pay attention if I move the water when I stroke.I am learning a few things. They are only 30 minutes. I am also going to do flip turns. I also asked her if you use your hips when you are stroking she said you use your shoulders more.................If I can think of any other helpful things I let you know. I am new to freesyle......................Karen

P.S. I am thinking about that book..................

CindyK

2006-06-21 8:35 PM

in reply to: #460973

Elite

2468

Racine, WI

Subject: RE: Kick Drill

I just finished a triathlon swim seminar....our coach told us to ditch the kickboard entirely and do kicks on our sides with one arm extended. His reasoning was that the kickboard just reinforces bad body balance habits.