[1Topodope]

Hi Kicksters!<br><br>
Today I finally...finally..had a good day in the pool! I am not sure what happened but it seemed like something "clicked". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/banana.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banana"><br><br>
However, I do have a question about a drill a friend suggested. She had me put a giant styrophone weight-looking thing between my legs and hold it there as I did laps. The idea was to put the emphasis on my arms. I thought I would be slower b/c I wasn't using my legs. Instead I was faster and it felt easier.<br><br>
It feels like this "thing" is keeping my butt and legs higher in the water. Without it, my legs and butt seem lower in the water. This is creating "drag", right? If this is the case, what can I do to work on getting my legs and butt higher in the water?<br><br>
I sooooooo appreciate all the advice I have received from this site! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/notworthy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notworthy">

 

[Tri_coach06]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>1Topodope</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1900856"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Hi Kicksters!<br><br>
Today I finally...finally..had a good day in the pool! I am not sure what happened but it seemed like something "clicked". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/banana.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banana"><br><br>
However, I do have a question about a drill a friend suggested. She had me put a giant styrophone weight-looking thing between my legs and hold it there as I did laps. The idea was to put the emphasis on my arms. I thought I would be slower b/c I wasn't using my legs. Instead I was faster and it felt easier.<br><br>
It feels like this "thing" is keeping my butt and legs higher in the water. Without it, my legs and butt seem lower in the water. This is creating "drag", right? If this is the case, what can I do to work on getting my legs and butt higher in the water?<br><br>
I sooooooo appreciate all the advice I have received from this site! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/notworthy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notworthy"></div>
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That thing is a pull buoy and it does exactly what you described. It lifts your legs and lower torso. Does it create drag, yes, but minimal.<br><br>
The buoy puts your lower body where it should be so you can try and mimic that feeling when your swimming without it. You should work on your kick and your abs strength as well as your back.<br><br>
Without seeing you I can almost guarantee that you are not rotating enough. Legs dragging usually means you aren't rotating enough and are flat.<br><br>
One arm up drills will help. Kick on back and strength training for your abs and back.<br><br>
Watch these movies and try to be them when you swim.<br><a href="http://www.triandsucceed.com/swimming.html" target="_blank">http://www.triandsucceed.com/swimming.html</a><br><br>
CS

 

[niemsco]

You won't like this, but throw the pull buoy in the garbage. The pull buoy does little to help you learn to swim the right way. It just reinforces bad body position and limits your rotation. Your goal is to learn to swim like a swimmer and not rely on a wetsuit to keep your body upright. Or it should be.<br><br>
The pull buoy should only be used if you have good body position and want to do some pulling for upper body strength. How do you know? Well you shouldn't be swimming faster with the pull buoy. If you are, then its the wrong thing for you. Your issue is not your upper body strength or endurance.<br><br>
I would suggest you do lots of "side-swimming". Kick on side, arms out, at side, one arm drills, catch-up. When you are doing catch up you can then work on your "catch" and pull and focus on downhill swimming (keeping that butt up). Kick on side will be the bread and butter for you. You need to have someone watch you though to make sure you are doing it right.<br><br>
I also personally find swimming with a snorkel useful also. One made from someone like Finis. It not only lets you focus on the upper body, but doesn't let you cheat with the legs, and helps you learn correct head position. If you're head is two low... well you will get water down your throat as the snorkel is design that way, to high, same thing (there are two of these, one that is really low and another that is higher. The lower one is more helpful but more difficult). Also snorkel is very good for kicksets, and you should do kicksets as they help you with body position. Throw the kickboard in the garbage too and just go out with your arms in a streamlined position and kick all the way down, from the core, no breathing. Snorkel allows you to focus on kicking the with good technique taking the breathing out of the equation

 

[MBannon]

Although it may sound like Sheldon and Scott are saying the opposite of each other (pb = good, pb = bad) I think they actually agree. And I agree with them.<br><br>
The pull buoy should not be used by beginners to get better at swimming, but it <i>should</i> be used by beginners in very small doses to show them what they're doing wrong, which is exactly what Sheldon points out. Swimming with and without the pull buoy should feel the same - if it feels like it brings your legs up, then your legs are too low when you swim. Ditch the pull buoy and work on body position for a while. Then try the pull buoy again and see if you've improved your position.

 

[MBannon]

duplicate

 

[Yo Sake]

The "thing" is called a "crotch rocket" according to my DH <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"><br><br>
I will leave the discussion of effectiveness of pull buoy to others... I have to admit I often use pull buoy to give my legs some breaks.<br><br>
I agree with niemsco on the snokel. I have noticed recently more water started coming into the snorkel as I swim - I had better pay attention to the head position - thanks for the reminder.

 

[1Topodope]

Thank you for the feedback! I will check out triandsucceed before my next swim.

 

[Tri_coach06]

Scott put some very good drills out there. Follow those. I very much agree with the kick on side drills.<br><br>
A drills set should look something like this.<br><br>
200 kick as 50 kick on side left/50 kick on side right, 50 kick on side alternate every 6th kick, 50 kick on side alternate every 6th kick with 3 strokes.<br><br>
OK, I know you have no idea what that means.<br><br>
50 kick on side left: Your on your left side. Face looking at the bottom corner of the pool. Your right shoulder is just above the water line. You breath by turning your head only and then turn it right back down. Do not forget to blow out as you are moving.<br><br>
50 kick on right: same except your turned the opposite direction.<br><br>
50 kick and flip every 6th kick. Start as you would with the 50 kick on left and about every 6th kick, turn to the other side, get a breath and continue kicking. Repeat that action every 6th kick. It does take some coordination, but stick with it and you'll get it.<br><br>
50 kick turn every 6th kick with 3 strokes. Same as above but you will add three arm strokes before you go back on your side.<br><br>
This is a decent video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6rMSz6qIxk&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6rMS...eature=related</a>

 

[Tithers]

I never thought of the snorkel for kick drills...I might just get me one of those low-rider ones.

 

[ericd256]

tithers is gonna be known as snorkel girl now at her pool now. Some will think snorkel guy has a new lifemate <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Tithers]

here's me doing my sculling drillz...<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t232/alohagirl420/mz_030302_10030404784.gif" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[1Topodope]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Tri_coach06</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1901082"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">OK, I know you have no idea what that means.</div>
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You got that right! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> Thank you for the explanation and video. I am sure this will help me a lot!