Backkick with Jetfins
- Thread starter Kylebee
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I'll give you my 2x2 cents and change.
Observations:
1. Doubles = more drag, which means you need better technique and can't expect same speed
2. Jetfins are responsive/efficient with small movements = small mistakes will be more detrimental*
*which is why doing it with no fins/no gear is easier in the beginning, but you have to adapt to your configuration
Tips:
1. Go slow on the recovery. No, slower. Even slower. And then slow down some more.**
2. Lift your head and look straight forward - if you look down, you'll swim up etc.
**it's much easier to make sure your fins are pointing straight and that you're not inadvertently making any counterproductive movements if you move slowly. Any quick movement will lead the fins to "grab" the water, so if the fins/legs are not extending in a perfectly straight cutting line you will push water behind you leading to forward propulsion – which will stop your backward momentum and create instability in the water both from lack of momentum and turbulence of the water. Moving slow also let's you separate the active part of the stroke from the recovery. Just like with frog kicks, you want to KICK - GLIDE - RECOVER. If you start recovering early, even with perfect technique, you will disturb the glide phase leading to less total movement per kick, which in turn leads to a lower signal-to-noise ratio – in other words if you have a good kick and glide, small mistakes will still disturb you a bit, but the net total result will still have moved you back...
Observations:
1. Doubles = more drag, which means you need better technique and can't expect same speed
2. Jetfins are responsive/efficient with small movements = small mistakes will be more detrimental*
*which is why doing it with no fins/no gear is easier in the beginning, but you have to adapt to your configuration
Tips:
1. Go slow on the recovery. No, slower. Even slower. And then slow down some more.**
2. Lift your head and look straight forward - if you look down, you'll swim up etc.
**it's much easier to make sure your fins are pointing straight and that you're not inadvertently making any counterproductive movements if you move slowly. Any quick movement will lead the fins to "grab" the water, so if the fins/legs are not extending in a perfectly straight cutting line you will push water behind you leading to forward propulsion – which will stop your backward momentum and create instability in the water both from lack of momentum and turbulence of the water. Moving slow also let's you separate the active part of the stroke from the recovery. Just like with frog kicks, you want to KICK - GLIDE - RECOVER. If you start recovering early, even with perfect technique, you will disturb the glide phase leading to less total movement per kick, which in turn leads to a lower signal-to-noise ratio – in other words if you have a good kick and glide, small mistakes will still disturb you a bit, but the net total result will still have moved you back...
- Messages
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- Reaction score
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- # of dives
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Rolling side to side is also likely a product of wearing doubles. The heavier they are, the more unstable they feel if you lean too far to the side. I can almost guarantee your feet are doing different things (true for everyone), one is probably creating more upward or downward force and making you feel off balance.
I wouldn't worry too much about developing bad habits on your own. There are a lot of variables with back kicks, and everyone is going to be slightly different. So if you figure out a technique that works for you, you'll be fine. There will always be ways of tweaking the kick to make it better, but it's not like there is a bicycle kick to flutter kick equivalent in the back kick. If your kick is bad, it just won't work, so you won't keep doing it.
I wouldn't worry too much about developing bad habits on your own. There are a lot of variables with back kicks, and everyone is going to be slightly different. So if you figure out a technique that works for you, you'll be fine. There will always be ways of tweaking the kick to make it better, but it's not like there is a bicycle kick to flutter kick equivalent in the back kick. If your kick is bad, it just won't work, so you won't keep doing it.
Thank you for all the input. I feel like
I can feel that. Hahaha Any suggestions on how I can improve on this issue?
- Messages
- 7,521
- Reaction score
- 6,501
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
Yeah, hours underwater, Not figuring out the back kick, but hours underwater diving
where the water is actually moving and when you need it you will find your back kick
where the water is actually moving and when you need it you will find your back kick
I will be miserable then...
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