Back kick in splits - possible? Feasible?

[TSandM]

I started my diving career in splits, but once I went to paddles, the splits got put away. Several years later, I got new dry suit boots that wouldn't fit in any of the paddle fins I had, but would fit in my splits, so I ended up doing a dive with them. By this time, my kicks were pretty much squared away, and I was interested in what I could or could not do in the splits.

Yes, you CAN back kick in split fins. It's not efficient, because there is no way to ensure that the soft, floppy part of the fin doesn't fold and create drag during the reset, and the fin doesn't "bite" the water during the power stroke. But you can go backwards. I think it would be almost impossible for someone to LEARN the kick in splits, because they just don't give you the proprioceptive feedback that I at least found necessary to master the mechanics. In addition, no kick is truly non-silting in splits, because the floppy fin parts create errant vortices that will raise silt, even when the kick is done correctly, if you are close enough to the bottom.

I use the back kick CONSTANTLY. It starts on descent -- as soon as my head is underwater, I give a single back kick that pulls me down and back into a horizontal position at about three feet. I use it to stop; I use it to position for photography. I use it to maintain team cohesion during descents and ascents. I use it to monitor students, as Rob described. I use it to keep the water from pushing me into walls when I am drifting. It's one of the most useful kicks, and one of the most useful things I've gotten from my advanced training. I honestly can't imagine diving without it.

 

[Storker]

Other than a skill that tests technique, what are the practical uses of a back kick ?.

One word: Photography. I've missed mastering the back kick more than once while photographing.

Also, it's cool to be able to show off by backing off from my buddy without sculling desperately with my hands :cool2:

 

[SanDiegoSidemount]

Other than a skill that tests technique, what are the practical uses of a back kick ?

Getting out of a hole/crevice with your hands occupied, e.g. while shooting photos or video. Any kind of cramped quarters where spinning around using helicopter kicks aren't an option. To avoid being a hand-waving spaz.

In my experience the shorter and stiffer the fins are, the better they function for back kick. This is because the primary motion after you thrust your legs backward is to use your shins & ankles to lever the tips of your fins back towards your head. It's a quick and somewhat abrupt motion, and the tips of the fins are providing most of the thrust. Floppy fins just don't give you any leverage for this. Long fins move slower through the water and don't seem to move you as far per kick.

I think the main thing that prevents split fins from working well is not that they're split, it's that they tend to be floppy. No leverage.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have done it in Oceanic V-12s and Apollo Splits. Not as pretty as in my F-1's or HOG tech fins but it can be done.

I used have one shop give me students to teach to back kick when I was working with them. That was after I swam a few lengths of the pool that way.

And on the first night I got a student to teach it to... well let's say I did it but it was a biatch. Some days it is no problem and I think I could do it with a couple 1 x 12's strapped to my feet with zip ties. And then there are still times, infrequent but still, that my feet tell my brain to stuff it. Not going to do that today. AND splits would make no difference at all. It'd be as ugly in them as in paddle fins.

Just to be fair though I have to alter the kick style and the power behind it to do it in splits. And for the reason already noted. Leverage required is different.

 

[Storker]

While nearly anything is possible (except, perhaps, skiing through a revolving door...)

You know, in my college days, I'd consider that a challenge. These days, alas, I think I'm too old. Perhaps I'll try to challenge my son? (note to self: bring camera, preferably video)

---------- Post added December 17th, 2013 at 11:15 PM ----------

I don't know what you can and can't do with split fins because I don't have enough experience with them. From what I know about finning I have the general impression that if you can move forward with a frog kick then it MUST be possible to move backwards with a frog kick if you get the form of the back-kick just right.

I've got a feeling it just might be not so much the split, but the fact that the Subgears are really curved. I don't think they give much propulsion when pulled backwards through the water because of the pronounced convex curve from my toes to the tip of the fins.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I use my back kick all the time to move backward without having to turn which is often suboptimal. I don't dive splits though.

 

[Montana Diver]

I struggled to learn how to back kick in my apollo splits, always moving forward during the reach back stage, prior to the power stroke. I believe what was happening was that the splits, due to their flexible nature were not horizontal in the water. The fins drooped, which pushed me forward several inches as I moved the fins backwards in preparation for the power stroke. When I changed to Hollis F-1 for my rescue class, I became more proficient with the back kick. I still have to concentrate and practice several times to be able to perform the kick with out bumping into the object in front of me. I haven't dived my splits in several years, however I believe that I could perform the kick, might take more practice and greater concentration to get the fins more horizontal at the beginning.

 

[Nwcid]

I have not used split fins but I did have another thought on this subject. I know there are people that say they can back kick in split fins, and maybe they can. I was also just thinking about what "gear" they are wearing.

I normally dive in a drysuit with double LP-72's. I have been practicing doing back finning with minimal success, using Turtle fins. Sometimes I stand still, sometimes I end up moving forward and occasionally I end up actually going backward. A couple weeks ago in Bonaire I was wearing shorts and a rash guard, using an AL-80. I had my HOG fins on and found it EXTREMELY easy back kick.

So I guess the question is what gear are you wearing when using each fin?

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I have HOG Tech2 fins. Found no real difference when using my jets. Double LP-85s and a drysuit.

 

[TSandM]

NWcid, I'd be willing to bet your trim is better in the warm water gear. If you are out of trim, a back kick is extremely difficult to do. Most people diving doubles are initially head up, which will make it hard to go backwards.