[Silly Sally]

I don't use a kickboard during my kick drills. Was taught that I make it more difficult to keep good body position by putting my arms over my board. And I don't find that I float any better by holding onto the board in front of me just with my hands.<br><br>
I keep my arms in front, hand over hand in a "V" regardless of if I'm on my front or back. Anyone else do this?

 

[Tithers]

I used to...it hurt my back. I would whine. Then Sheldon said..."don't you do kick on back and kick on side?"<br><br>
Ummmm-yah...but only when you tell me to do drills!<br><br>
THOSE ARE KICK DRILLS!<img alt="icon_salut.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_salut.gif">

 

[Tithers]

Oh...and if I'm KOB or just KOstomach my hands are at my side...I extend arm in KOS.

 

[MBannon]

I use a kickboard, but only to make it easier to lift my head to breathe. While I'm kicking I have my face down, arms extended out front, fingers holding the kickboard just enough to keep it in place.<br><br>
Kickboards are the bane of good form if used as a crutch.

 

[LookiLoo]

I use the kickboard when I can - I feel like I'm cheating when I do, it seems almost like a rest <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> However, many of our drills involve kick down, drill back or drill down, kick back so in that case I always kick on my back with my hands extended up over my head. I still like the kickboard best.

 

[SpartyGirl]

I use a kickboard. My favorite kick drill is back stroke kick-never really thought about it until I saw someone else do it at the pool. Gave it a whirl, so nice and comfy<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Snooze]

I do only when my coach tells me too. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[mmoonptdeux]

When I warmup with kicks, I always start with the kick front and my hands extended as if I were holding a kickboard. When I need to get some air, I just turn to get a breath like I'm about to stroke but I just return the arm back to its former position.<br><br>
I was beginnign to wonder if I should put in more yards with kick drills in as well? I generally do 25 ea front/back/R side/L side and then move to other drills. My kick is about 300% better than it used to be, but considering I was moving backwards when I first started, that's not saying much

 

[hobey]

No board for me. I do my kick drills like you and raise my head up to breathe.

 

[BethR]

I don't know that a kick board is cheating. It seems like it would be more beneficial to kick hard and not have to worry about raising your head to breathe. It's easy to get lazy with the kickboard, but when you really kick hard, it's a tremendous leg workout. I don't know that I could kick that hard if I were having to lift my head to breathe. Anyone else?

 

[Silly Sally]

Depending on how I feel, I either breathe side or raise my head a bit to breathe, but the latter includes rebalancing myself a bit.<br><br>
Joe, I don't do more than 200-300 m usually ... so boring ...<br><br>
Sally

 

[ForceD]

I don’t do kick drills. I feel like the 15 minutes it’d take me to get to the other end of the pool and back can be used more productively.<br><br>
Dan

 

[niemsco]

I recently started using a kickboard, but also use a snorkel so I can stay streamlined. With no snorkel, I wouldn't use the kb, as its just a pain.

 

[Kate60]

No, it makes my neck hurt and swim instructor said it does not emulate swim form anyway.