Butterfly - Dolphin Kick, Arms Up!

Looks really cool. I'll try today.
Thanks

Hi Barbara...first I want to congratulate you for your swimming records, very well done.

I practiced the drill and it was tough on my hamstrings. However I ended with more questions...why is it harder to do a dolphin kick on the back in a streamlined position than with your hands down along the body???
This contradicts the whole "swimming theory" behind Front Quadrant Swimming because in the streamline position you have all the weight of your arms out in front to counterbalance the weight of your legs and bring your hips up...in fact to do the drill I had to extend my neck as long as I could, throw my head backwards and my hands in the streamline position where actually under the water...before I raised them.

Anyway, it is a great drill. Thanks

Okay...have me patience.
In my mind the concept of FQS applies to ALL strokes, in fact I think that it applies best to short axis swimming strokes than to the long axis ones. You want to re-establish your balance out in front as soon as possible so you want your arms out in front (in the imaginary front quadrant) as soon as possible as well, they are balancing tools that re-establish balance and allow for a long straight body line.The arms out in front also counterbalance the weight of the lower body and this is one of the reasons why FQS proponents also argue that the pull should not go all the way back (in any stroke) because if it does you are transfering weight from the front to the lower and heavier lower part of the body which means a heavy load on the legs.

As for the weight...look at the lady on the clip, she has her arms in the streamline podition and out of the water, the man has them in the water, BUT in BOTH cases the arms are counterbalancing the much heavier lower part of the body.
The example use to demonstarte this goes like this: get into the pool and float with your arms at the side. Initially you will float but almost immediately your legs will start to sink, so simply throw your arms back behind your head as in the streamline position and the legs will come up. I have experienced this many many times and did it once again before posting this comment. It always works and that's why I asked the question.

In "theory" dolphin kicking on the back with arms by the side should be more difficult and tough on the legs than if you do it with your arms in the streamline position.

Am I so wrong on this one????

Hi Tomas,
I will assume that you have watched the drill and know that it has nothing to do with whether your arms are at your sides or extended in streamline...that the whole point of the drill is to have your arms out of the water and thereby add "weight" and make your kick more intensely just to keep your head above water. It's kind of like when you are treading water in the deep end using just your legs, and then someone throws you a 10-pound rubber brick and you have to keep kicking. The kick gets more intense.

So, if I assume you understand the purpose of the drill, I will also assume that you are simply asking a hypothetical question of why it is harder to kick dolphin on your back with arms in streamline, than it is with arms at your sides -- which you say is your experience. I think you are not alone in finding it easier to kick dolphin with arms at your sides, but my experience as a swimmer and coach is that most people (self included) find it easier to kick dolphin on their back with arms in streamline. In my experience, those who have trouble kicking in this position (arms in streamline) are often those with poor shoulder flexibility, and those who seem to have difficulty rounding or curling their back when their arms are extended above the head. Very often, I've seen swimmers with less shoulder flexibility feel more comfortable kicking with arms at the sides. With arms at the sides, it's also possible to scull a little bit with the hands, and this aids propulsion (many swimmers aren't even aware that they do this sculling). In any case, I think this is an individual thing, and not something that challenges the whole theory of FQS.

Just my two cents.

I think some swimmers think it's easier with arms at the side because they have more range or motion and can dolphin kick more freely. Holding in a streamline position allows for less movement as you have to stay in a tight streamline. Also, the front quadrant comment by Tomas leaves out one very important point. It pertains to full stroke swimming, in which case you are actually taking arm-strokes. It makes sense to want your arms to be creating propulsion as much as possible. Tomas, in case you didn't notice, this drill doesn't include any arm strokes. It doesn't go against the theory of front quadrant swimming because there is no front quadrant aspect to the drill.

I find this drill too easy (without fins) - so I wonder if I'm doing it right sometimes.

I have a question regarding fins. I kick one leg with a kickboard, fins on (the other fin is raised out of the water). I alternate legs per length (for ten). Focusing on ankle flexibility and (I think) a slight hip wiggle? Anyway, it feels great. I then do same (for ten lengths) without fins. Thing is - I now can't breastroke anymore since left knee rotator cuff is complaining - together with pain left hip (perhaps induced by breast kick legs only drill?) Have any other swimmers experienced drill-induced injury?