From Mat Luebbers,
Your Guide to Swimming.
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From an About Swimming Reader: I am a swimmer with a problem. Do you have any suggestions for a swimmer with a lazy swimming kick (freestyle)? I will be swimming well, then I will loose my kick rhythm and cannot regain it. Any info would be great. Thanks!

For a freestyle or backstroke swimmer, the kick rhythm can set the speed for the entire swim. Being able to hold a specific kick tempo - or being able to control it - can be very important for swimming speed. Let's try two things that might help you overcome your "lazy" swimming kick trouble.

• Do you feel like you have lost your kick rhythm because you are tired and cannot maintain that tempo? If so, then it may take more specific kick or leg conditioning. That means trying to hold the kick speed or kick rhythm for longer and longer durations, and/or hold that kick speed for more frequent efforts of shorter durations with recovery between each effort.

  Example: Swim 14 x 25 (or 50) at desired kick rhythm with rest between each effort. Over a series of weeks, decrease the rest between each 25 (or 50) until you cannot hold the kick rhythm. When you hit that point (if you do) then add some rest between each effort and repeat the cycle.

• Do you feel like you just cannot find the rhythm? You are not exactly tired, but you don't seem to be able to get back into the groove if you fall off pace? Then you might want to practice changing the rhythm before you lose it, then try to regain it. Teach yourself how to find (or vary) swimming kick tempos regardless of where you are in a swim. You might be able to use this to your advantage in a race, altering your kick speed - and your overall swimming speed - at different stages of a swimming race. Mix up slower, faster, and desired rhythm kicking.

  Example: Swim a set distance (a 100, 150, 200, etc.) with kick rhythm at desired rate for first 1/2 to 1/4 of swim, then drop it off or speed it up for the next 1/4 to 1/2 of the swim, then back to desired for final portion, rest, then repeat. As you get better at it, try changing kick speed more often and less often.

I hope this helps you learn how to regain your desired kick speed. Let me know how it goes. Swim On!

Mat