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Breaststroke - Band Kick

Posted by Glenn Mills on Nov 24, 2009 08:00AM (13,807 views)

Too often, especially when kicking with a board, many swimmers search for the most power possible, which causes the legs and knees to go too wide.  While this may feel like it's giving good propulsion, it's creating a huge amount of resistance in the set up for the kick.  The use of this little stretch band can really help.

Add to Cart View Cart - Check out Brendan Hansen's breaststroke kick on his DVD!

Why Do It:
Subtle reminders are great when it comes to learning, and the subtle reminder to keep your legs a bit more narrow is very productive. You may feel a loss in power with this drill, but the loss in power is overshadowed by the loss in resistance.  Creating less resistance will pay more dividends than creating less power. 

How to Do It:
1.  Take a short piece of theraband, tie the ends together, and twist it around the ankles.
2.  Start by kicking with a kick board.  Kick as you normally would, and you'll probably feel a loss in power.
3.  Don't let the band keep you too narrow, fight it a bit and feel it stretching apart as you kick back.
4.  Next, move to swimming breaststroke, and kick as you normally would.  The band will do its part to keep the kick more narrow.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
Use this drill for full breaststroke kick sets, and swim sets.  For those trouble kickers, don't be afraid to leave this tool on for a longer period of time to really get them used to kicking BACK... not just out and around.  One added benefit is how well this tool helps all swimmers finish the kick with some snap.


Tags breaststroke, kick


Responses

Responded Nov 24, 2009 03:45PM

Absuluetly brill.
Responded Nov 24, 2009 04:19PM

Never experienced the theraband breaking ? I did, with the elastibands one uses for fitness. They are thicker than theraband but narrower. I broke 3 of them. Either they're not suitable for water or... my thighs are soooo strong...
Responded Nov 24, 2009 05:46PM

Will try it one day

Responded Nov 24, 2009 07:18PM

Another way which you can do is put the band above the knee. The width that you would let your knees come apart should not be more that the shoulder width. It works quite well for me. I used the band from Finis. This band can also be used for training the dolphin kick too.
Responded Nov 25, 2009 09:09PM

Is therabands' resistance classified by colour? any colour which can be used by adults and kids?..for swim training of course.
Responded Mar 13, 2010 07:55PM

I have used a band with a 12 yr girl I have been coaching. It has kept her legs moving backwards and also has helped in finishing her kicks. She does a great job now finishing her kicks. I have used the band while she kicks on her back. She can feel the resistance more and also how it works on her inner thighs. She works out with the band about 90% during her kicking drills.
Responded Apr 18, 2010 09:21PM

used this drill this morning with my swimmers, fantastic, what a huge difference with the distance they reached off each kick, thanks
Responded Apr 18, 2010 09:26PM

I used a medium resistance band with my swimmers, guess it depends on how strong and how wide you are kicking ?
Responded Nov 30, 2011 10:39AM

this is great thanks will be using this to improve my breastroke x


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