A kickboard is a large, flat, buoyant device usually made of a high-density foam. Both kickboards and fins act as swimming accessories that provide training and safety benefits. Experienced and novice swimmers can both benefit by adding kickboards and fins to their swimming routine.
Kickboard for Rest and Safety
Kickboards provide a way from swimmers to rest while in the water, a practice that applies to both veteran and beginning swimmers. For more advanced swimmers, a kickboard provides rest from strokes that emphasize the arms, including the backstroke and breast stroke. For inexperienced and weaker swimmers, including children, a kickboard provides a relative measure of buoyant safety. Amateur swimmers can hold on to their kickboards as they develop their comfort and kicking skills in the water.
Kickboards for Focused Workout
Kickboards are valuable training tools for swimmers or athletes looking to get a concentrated lower body workout. Most swim training works the entire body, from legs and feet to back and shoulders. By using a kickboard, all your energy and power comes from your legs. Isolating the legs is not only a good way to build strength and endurance, it also forces you to focus on your kicking technique, perfecting your movements to provide the most power with the least effort.
Fin Benefits
Fins work to add power by increasing your foot's size and resistance through the water. Fins are available in several sizes, from large fins often used in scuba diving to smaller swimming fins. By adding resistance through increased surface area, fins make your leg muscles work harder to get through the water. The result is a more powerful stroke that requires more muscle energy. Fins are excellent training tools for swimmers who want to work on the explosive leg power necessary in dolphin kicks and frog kicks.
Considerations
Fins and kickboards provide many of the same benefits, namely a more focused and intense lower body workout. Consider combining fins and kickboards for the ultimate leg workout. When choosing your fins, fit is everything. Your fins should be snug, but not uncomfortably tight. While fins may seem like a good safety tool for weak swimmers that might benefit from a stronger kick, it is not always the case. Fins require experience in kick stroke and ankle rotation that many beginning swimmers might lack.
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