How do I kick properly while swimming? - Project Sports
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How do I kick properly while swimming?

3 min read

Asked by: Brittany Jackson

Are you supposed to kick when you swim?

You want to allow for some natural bend in your knee as you kick. But keep your legs as straight as possible and use your hips and core to generate motion. Aside from creating less drag, your legs get tired faster than your core, so you are being more efficient and conserving energy!

Should you kick your legs when swimming?

Your core and hips should always initiate your flutter kick. Think of your kick like a wave, one that starts in the midsection of your body and goes down to your toes. Some swimmers initiate their kick with their knees, causing a huge bend in their knees. Instead, your knees should only be bent at about 120 degrees.

How do beginners move their legs when swimming?

Keep your legs horizontal close to the surface. But not completely out of the water the efficiency of the kick comes from the flexibility of your ankle.

What is the most common kicking mistake?

The most common kicking mistake is to bend your knees while kicking. If you do this, you increase the surface area creating resistance. Instead, you want to keep your legs as straight as possible.

What are the five biggest mistakes of the swimmers in freestyle?

Polish Your Freestyle Swimming Technique – Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes

  • Mistake #1: Head position. …
  • Mistake #2: Arm extension and pull. …
  • Mistake #3: Body rotation. …
  • Mistake #4: Kick. …
  • Mistake #5: Breathing.


How do you relax your legs when swimming?

Take six kicks in this position then pull with the extended arm whilst taking the other to the front and rotate onto the other side repeat this down the rest of the leg.

Why is kicking so hard swimming?

Leg muscles are bigger than the arm muscles and require more oxygen. For many swimmers, 50 metres of pull feels completely different than 50 metres of kick. In fact, 50 metres of kick feels quite hard and tiring. The heart rate goes up and it doesn’t feel easy at all.

How do you keep your bum up when swimming?

The solution in order to actually get your hips up and have a better body position in the water is to sit up nice and tall, have your shoulders back and your chest out; you push your hips slightly forward. That will get you sitting straight in the water and reduce the resistance on your legs.

Why do distance swimmers not kick?

Distance swimmers—“Kicking uses too much energy for a long race; I’m better off if my legs just stay out of the way.” Pull-set enthusiasts—“I’m far faster with a buoy between my legs; kicking is obviously counter-productive.”

How can I kick better?

Go with the hook kick that one's more of a whipping but the wrap house. We're gonna stick that one as well normal switch we'll go to the other leg. So it's front kick side kick hook kick roundhouse.

How can I get stronger kicks?

We came up with knee to feet jumps okay so starting on your knees. You're gonna violently extend your hips forward. I can quickly pull those hips forward use your arms to swing up get some momentum.