have you ever improved your (swim) kick?

Of course by lots of laps in the pool I mean lots. I went from swimming 2-3x a week avg 3000-4500 yds 3 years ago to 3-4x a week 6000-8000 yds next year to 5-6x a week avg 15,000-18,000 yds this year.

The reality is that a very small % of tri-geeks are willing to spent the time required in the pool to improve their swim, hence just a few see big improvements.

I don't have flexible ankles, in fact I don't want to cuz my run is my strength, and that doesn't stop me from have an efficient kick. After all we are NOT looking for propulsion from the kick, but rather body balance and to start the body rotation to use our core which provides the power to generate a better/faster/stronger stroke. if your kick hasn't improve is because you are doing the wrong work or just not doing enough...

Thanks for the feedback

To clarify my question. I wasn't hoping to go faster with a kick but I wanted an efficient kick to help with body position (keeping hips up) so swimming is easier. Right now it seems that my kick is slowing me down and ruining my glide.

Even so, I do enjoy swimming so putting in lots of yards is fine (especially in July!).

I know that there is no "magic bullet" I wanted to make sure that my efforts are correct instead of working really hard at swiming bad.

Swimming with a band? Do you mean the tether to side of a pool?

And that is a great improvement, nice job.

If I understand correctly, you're not meant to kick much (other than, as Jorge mentioned, for balance and rotation) until the last few hundred yards. At that point the kicking serves to get the blood flowing to the legs, so that you don't start out cold on the bike.

To the OP: my first year on a swim team I got the "most improved" award, so yes, people do get better. But really, if you want to improve your kicking and overall swimming you just have to do a lot of it--and make sure you're doing it the right way. Get some coaching (masters teams can be good for this, and video analysis is particularly good), watch videos of people with impeccable form, and swim swim swim. Good luck!

I am hoping to break blocks and crush seal skulls.

Just Kidding.

To clarify. I am not looking for an Ian Thorpe like kick. But, my kick is uncoordinated and causes drag. So my workouts are more difficult and longer than they need be. Also if I ever race w/o a wetsuit I will be really slow.

This is the weakest part of my swim and so far the most difficult to correct. It is bad enough that it interferes with my glide which is crucial to a good swim.

So, I was hoping to hear from everyone to see what type of results they have had with the various training methods.

BTW, How many FOPers have a weak and ineffecient kick?

More or less efficient kick has nothing to do with keeping hips up - leaning on your lungs does! and keeping your head low. and all other stuff from Total Immersion book and DVD. helped me a LOT!! good luck.

Since my kick provides zero forward movement the answer would be zero.

Seriously though, I appreciate the feedback. I haven't heard any new suggestions excpet for the last one of whipping my leg around to lossen it up. But, you all have bbeen very helpful in sharing what has worked and hasn't worked. This helps my perspective on where my focus should lie and what type of results I can look for.

I really appreciate it.

great advice

thanks

I am a total beginner with a kick that used to cause a lot of drag.  I spent so much time kicking to keep my balance, I was breathless after a 1/2 lap.  I started doing the TI drills which as a prior poster indicated includes a lot of kicking.  I have improved both overall and my kick.  I have gone from a 10 beat kick (according to my swim coach) to an almost solid 2-beat kick that adds some propulsion.  I can now go a whole lap (pathetic to some) without dying at the end.