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Breaststroke - Kick with Fins

Posted by Glenn Mills on Oct 23, 2012 08:45AM (8,525 views)

Here's a great way to add a new dimension to an old drill.  Two-down, one-up breaststroke drill with fins!

Why Do It:
This drill teaches swimmers to understand the resistance the recovery of the legs creates during the kick, as well as working on extension out front, and timing of the breath.  Adding the fins also teaches the swimmer exactly WHERE the kick grabs water and sends them forward.

How to Do It:
1.  The only fin I've found that works for this drill is the FINIS PDF (Positive Drive Fin).  These little round fins really do a great job for breaststroke kicking.
2.  Push off and start with a regular stroke of breaststroke.
3.  When you get to extension, go under water and initiate a second breaststroke kick.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
When you're under water waiting for the second kick, make sure your body is flying flat... parallel to the surface of the water.  Don't dive too deep, and keep your head directly between your arms.  Also FEEL where the fins catch the water.  Your goal is to catch the water as high in the kick as possible, without creating resistance with your thighs.  Try to ride out each kick as long as possible, and stretch your body to the other end with each forward extension of the arms.




Responses

Responded Oct 23, 2012 09:23PM

Thanks for this Glenn. I bought a pair of these fins a while back now and have tried doing brerast kick with them. Have always struggled to feel like I'm getting "traction" on the water - feels like having knives attatched to my feet! Think I kick faster without them. But maybe I just need to slow down or maybe change the alignment of my legs or something. What do you think?

Responded Oct 24, 2012 11:54AM

If you're not able to really feel the connection of WHERE the fins take hold and grab... there's a chance that it could be an issue with ankle flexibility. It's interesting that you mention "knives" attached to the feet. This tells me that the fins aren't getting turned out, and your feet are indeed slicing through the water with the edge of the fin, rather than grasping the water at the top of the kick. Try some egg beater vertical kick to see if you can feel the grab one leg at a time. If you can feel it there, and not when kicking breaststroke, we're starting to figure out the issue. Keep me posted and thanks.

Responded Nov 01, 2012 01:10PM

Hi Glenn! Got recently these PDF's especially for my breaststroke. Having the same thing going on as Tony with kicking. With trying to grab water I am flexing my feet but water goes around feet in stead of against foot soles. Without them I feel I am able to grab or push water away.
This will need more practice. Thank you for posting this drill. Will try the egg beater kick see if this is bringing me somewhere. (more forward)

Responded Nov 12, 2012 11:32PM

I don't have the PDF fins (yet?). But my coach is having us swim in either jeans or shoes fairly regularly, and my breaststroke kick is SO much better when I am wearing the jeans or shoes. I feel the resistance better, I guess? Not sure. I do have the alpha fins and my coach said it is OK for me to use those when I do breast stroke kick. I don't feel it as much, myself, with the fins.


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