Trim/Body position Practice Techniques

[BabyDuck]

my suggestion is to get in a bit of 'floor diving' (though we usually actually do it on picnic tables!). try to assume the position while watching tv for a few minutes - knees off the floor & bent at about 90 degrees, feet cocked, head way up, clasped arms out in front. balance on your upper tummy & lower chest.

(i just saw the 5thdx video tonight - way cool, by the way! i'm still going up and back with my back kick. once i get that licked, though, i'm gonna be dangerous!)

 

[OE2X]

I agree with this 100%. And as TSandM said, weight placement and amount is probably most important in achieving this.

I'll add that tank placement can be a factor as well. If you tank rides too high, you may lawn dart - too low and your knees will drop.

 

[Snowbear]

(i just saw the 5thdx video tonight - way cool, by the way! i'm still going up and back with my back kick. once i get that licked, though, i'm gonna be dangerous!)

Make sure your head "back" ... as in face forward ... when you are back-kicking. This will help keep you 'in trim' and at the same depth when backing up.

I tend to look "down" when I back kick, which makes me lose depth. This is actually something I have learned to use to my advantage when I want to start decreasing my depth

 

[TSandM]

I don't LOSE depth with the back kick -- I'm like BabyDuck, I go back and UP. Still sorting that out.

 

[JeffG]

I tend to look "down" when I back kick, which makes me lose depth. This is actually something I have learned to use to my advantage when I want to start decreasing my depth

I started to pretend I was the video guy to keep my head up. (hands in front...head up) It worked for me.

 

[JeffG]

(i just saw the 5thdx video tonight - way cool, by the way! i'm still going up and back with my back kick. once i get that licked, though, i'm gonna be dangerous!)

Dumb thing is...if you "need" to do it..you won't. If you don't think about it...its easier.

 

[Cacia]

yea, babyduck, Tom Winters just mailed me that. It is great!

 

[Snowbear]

I don't LOSE depth with the back kick -- I'm like BabyDuck, I go back and UP. Still sorting that out.

Isn't losing depth the same as going up... aka getting shallower :06:

 

[SeanQ]

Absolutely . . . but I have moved weight up onto the cambands to get better balance. The problem was, when I started working on this, being truly horizontal FELT head down to me and really awful. So I'd trim myself out to where I THOUGHT I was horizontal, only to see on video that I wasn't.

I encountered the opposite situation. I've read how people think they're head down when they're actually horizontal and was expecting the same. I was quite surprised to find out that I was in a head down position while feeling horizontal. After I heard that and made some adjustments I felt way more comfortable and natural. A video camera or mirror would be a huge help - I wouldn't have to pick my buddies brain for every minute details after the dive. The instant feedback provided by a mirror sounds invaluable.

 

[TSandM]

Ooops, Snowbear -- I thing of "losing depth" as sinking. I'll have to try really making sure my head is up.