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Sounds like a recipe for cramps to me, but it does get you into the right position initially. I guess if nothing else you'll end up with a tight butt from it. That's never a bad thing.
Video definitely helps get the message across. What I found worked for people with stubborn problems with "bicycle kicking" was to go underwater and have "races" from one side of the pool to the other. Somehow when these students are trying to go as fast as possible, the bicycling almost always stops. This seems to give the brain that bit extra of whatever it takes to get it right. After that, the trick is to make it stick.
Haha! Actually, it doesn't cramp. Butt does hurt some until you're used to it. I'm used to it now - I did 1900 yards (more than a mile) in the pool last night.
I use split fins and can frog kick OK. Used them in OW when assisting with OW courses. No problem. As metioned, apparently great for cramp prevention which I am (was) very prone to. Yes, seems back kicking is not doable, though I've heard it is--Have never had a need to back kick in my diving.
Actually warming up and stretching those leg muscles before diving will help prevent cramping without resorting to splits. Stretch after too diving while considered by many to be a leisurely activity is a decent leg workout.
You know you're frog kicking correctly when you feel the pressure on the bottom of your toes. Not the whole foot: just the toes. You're trying to clap the bottom of your feet together.
You know you're flutter kicking efficiently, it you feel the pressure on the top of your instep. It's like kicking a kick ball (not the side of the foot like with soccer). The power is in the down stroke.
Actually warming up and stretching those leg muscles before diving will help prevent cramping without resorting to splits. Stretch after too diving while considered by many to be a leisurely activity is a decent leg workout.
In some cases no it won't. There are several old cramping threads. Potassium pill daily combined with splits reduced my serious (and life long due probably to heredity) cramping by maybe 95%. Prior to this time I did all sorts of stretching & leg exercises. I only switched to splits because I won them at a treasure hunt--then found later out they help with cramps. Or maybe it was just the pills, as the two things occurred about the same time give or take. Everyone is different when it comes to cramping. Some can reduce it by diet change, more hydration, exercise, or what I did. No pat answers here. At the shop I was known as the "cramp expert" at courses (a name I did not bestow upon myself).
Actually, I have never really tried to frog kick with my paddle fins--maybe it would be more efficient than with splits, as that's what I hear.
As far as flutter kicking I will add what I have found out by trial & error. The most powerful kick (thus fastest) is when you use the full leg--getting power from your thighs (with more power on the down stroke as mentioned). For a slower pace (and change of pace), you can move the thighs a bit less (but of course don't bicycle kick). Or, you can go really stiff legged and just move your fins (ankes), just for a change.
I like to switch to frog kicks sometimes just for a change of muscles, or even to what I call a side kick. Probably switching things up is a good idea re cramps as well.
Go to a pool and practice. If you can't use your scuba gear in the pool use a float board under your upper chest and arms to force your legs under water. You can even practice the frog kick this way.
Most of all just enjoy diving. Get a buddy you trust to watch at coach (during the surface interval of course).
Do a search on YouTube for GUE/UTD frog kick video. The advantage of frog kick isn't necessary going faster, but more precise and non silting. Split fins in general are difficult for this kind of precision kick. If your goal is to precisely control your position in water, get yourself a pair of stiff blade fins with tall side wall. Jet fins is a classic.
There are a few different techniques for finning. Beginners normally start with the flutter kick and over the time they change to frog kick.
Even when i look at the divers that likes to join our instructor course i see that most of them cant kick. They are bending their knees to much, kicking like a idiot, so fast etc. Even to them, they should have 100 dives, we tell them how to fin.
Kicking fast is not really efficient (drag increases as you get faster). Better to kick relatively slowly (allowing for a glide between kicks) than to try to beat the water into a foam. Fast kicks are ok for short bursts but slow and easy will get better results long term.
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