Back kick help

[TSandM]

You know, my husband mastered the back kick faster than anybody else I'd seen, and this is how he did it: He went to the local pool in a bathing suit -- no fins. He floated on the surface and played around until he started to go backwards. He kept at it until he could swim laps backwards. Then he added fins (still on the surface, no gear) and played with it until he could swim laps backwards with the fins. Then he put on scuba gear and presto! Back kick. You could try that.

 

[InTheDrink]

You know, my husband mastered the back kick faster than anybody else I'd seen, and this is how he did it: He went to the local pool in a bathing suit -- no fins. He floated on the surface and played around until he started to go backwards. He kept at it until he could swim laps backwards. Then he added fins (still on the surface, no gear) and played with it until he could swim laps backwards with the fins. Then he put on scuba gear and presto! Back kick. You could try that.

I read before that that was how your husband mastered it. So I've been trying back swimming with some success (although I do lose my balance probably every 8 metres or so and have to right myself). But I can still do a length or two. I tried sneaking in training fins but the lifeguards cited health and safety and forbade them. So that option's out. Grrr.

However I am focussing on this and doing this a couple of times a week in the pool but it's not yet really translated into scuba. I've found that rythm is very important and that I achieve this better with narrower strokes (back swimming this is). Probably not as much propulsion but better for stability at this point for me.

Well, you know what they say, 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration

J

 

[Mayor]

IMHO you might have to drop out of trim somewhat to get the kick started. Then make sure you drift a second before the next kick. As you become better you can stay in trim all the time. With a wet suit on it's very easy once you get the hang of it. Add a dry suit and stages/DECO you really have to power it. Hope I helped!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Patience and going slow really helps. Along with acceptance that you might not get it at first. That was one of the keys for me. It allowed me to relax and make mistakes without getting frustrated and trying too hard. The time I did that it was a mess. Angry, frustrated, embarrassed, etc resulted in me trying to use too much power and force it. Result of that was not pretty! Once I adopted the oh well if I get it this time fine but if not ok, everything seemed to change. I relaxed and concentrated on things that were in front of me like the pool side instead of the kick itself. picking a specific tile and watching it get further away while not going up or down. Soon it was out of sight! And I was not worn out. Hands stayed folded infront and up a bit to help with balance. Then focusing on keeping my compass level while doing it. For me it was a very real matter of not getting tunnel vision and thinking only of the kick.

 

[InTheDrink]

You know, my husband mastered the back kick faster than anybody else I'd seen, and this is how he did it: He went to the local pool in a bathing suit -- no fins. He floated on the surface and played around until he started to go backwards. He kept at it until he could swim laps backwards. Then he added fins (still on the surface, no gear) and played with it until he could swim laps backwards with the fins. Then he put on scuba gear and presto! Back kick. You could try that.

I forgot to mention one incident a couple of weeks back which I found amusing: one of the lifeguards on duty, having observed me do 15 metres in reverse, came to up me and sympathetically asked whether I was trying to go forwards but getting mixed up....

 

[InTheDrink]

Patience and going slow really helps. Along with acceptance that you might not get it at first. That was one of the keys for me. It allowed me to relax and make mistakes without getting frustrated and trying too hard. The time I did that it was a mess. Angry, frustrated, embarrassed, etc resulted in me trying to use too much power and force it. Result of that was not pretty! Once I adopted the oh well if I get it this time fine but if not ok, everything seemed to change. I relaxed and concentrated on things that were in front of me like the pool side instead of the kick itself. picking a specific tile and watching it get further away while not going up or down. Soon it was out of sight! And I was not worn out. Hands stayed folded infront and up a bit to help with balance. Then focusing on keeping my compass level while doing it. For me it was a very real matter of not getting tunnel vision and thinking only of the kick.

Good tip Jim. I have indeed found myself having all of the emotions you mention above and trying to muscle it. I like the idea of picking a spot in front of me and watching that and not focussing too much energy on the kick. Should keep me head up too.

Cheers,
J

 

[lamont]

Patience and going slow really helps. Along with acceptance that you might not get it at first. That was one of the keys for me. It allowed me to relax and make mistakes without getting frustrated and trying too hard. The time I did that it was a mess. Angry, frustrated, embarrassed, etc resulted in me trying to use too much power and force it. Result of that was not pretty!

One time I called a second dive, because on the first dive I was annoyed with my back-kick...