Drills to improve kicking

Legs matter, but it's more for positioning with triathletes. You want an efficient kick so you can do something with it without wasting energy. Biggest reasons for the kick are to help lift the legs for better body position and to help with rolling side to side with the stroke. Just being efficient in the kick will give the lift, but timing matters for the roll.

A 6 beat or 2 beat kick are the most common methods taught. This is the number of kicks per cycle, or 2 strokes. 2 beat will have the right leg kick when the right arm is in the downswing, helping you roll to your left side. Left with left arm to go back. A 4 beat is not used as much (by those who know at least), because there will be a right AND left kick in one stroke, negating the roll assistance. A 6 beat will have to that help to one that counters per stroke, so there is more help.

I think it's better if one of the swimmers explains how to kick more effectively though. I'm ok, but still leave a lot to be desired. It should not look like you're running underwater. And to me it feels like I'm doing a lot less than I should with the range of motion, but more would increase the drag substantially.

Having a powerful kick might be nice in some situations (bridging gaps or breaking away), but it takes some time to develop. And as an age grouper, there are likely a lot of other things you can work on that will yield more gains. Just get to effective and let your upper body do most of the work in propulsion. In the water it's a much more effective use of energy. Pure swimmers don't have to bike and run after they're done.

AHA! I thought 2 beat meant 2 kicks per arm stroke! I think my 4 beat kick is a problem...I seem to find myself rotating just fine on my left side but on my right I'm frustrated with the feeling that I'm lifting my head and I keep getting neck strain on the right side of my neck. I've been trying to rotate from the hip but for some reason it never feels right on the right side, but it's perfectly natural on the left. I thought it was because I needed more practice or to get used to it.

Thanks, brigby1. I'm gonna try a 2 beat kick next time I'm at the pool. To stay within the thread's theme...any drills for moving to a 2 beat kick?

I just spent a few minutes demonstrating the difference between a 2 beat kick and a 4 beat kick to my husband while spinning my arms in the air and kicking. He kept saying he didn't get it, so I then went to a dining room chair and laid on my stomach with my arms and legs free and "swimming" in the air. I demonstrated a few times - "see? See how on one side my arms and legs match up but on the other side it doesn't?" He kept saying he didn't get it.

Then I realised he just enjoyed seeing me flail around like a really excited idiot. Husbands!!

...and what's the deal with feet breaking the surface when kicking. I didn't remember much instruction as a young swimmer, but what seemed to get drilled in to my head was never ever ever break the surface. You are trying to kick water not air.... but of course plenty do.

I was watching some videos last night from Ryan Hall demonstrating stuff and the model was constantly doing it. Big slpashes.

Wait... so what is the timing? I thought you kicked same side as you weer half way in same side pull.

So you are saying left hand spear, right leg kick... left leg kick when right hand spears???

Doing a 6 beat kick... not saying I'm right just what I do... all same side... my leg wants to kick as my hand enters, then in the middle and then at the end of the stroke.

Trying to do a 2 beat kick I can't get rid of wanting to fire a kick as my hand enters... but you are saying I'm opposite.

What do you say about splashing?

Clarity!! Can't wait to try. That proper 4 beat kick is so weird. I never heard of such a thing (I'm pretty untrained). Is that recommended, or is a 6 beat more common?