Swimmers of all levels can benefit by refining their technique. The freestyle or front crawl is usually a swimmer's fastest stroke. Although legs require a large amount of energy, they do not necessarily produce the majority of propulsion when...
The crawl, the front crawl, the Australian crawl, freestyle — these are all names for using a scissor kick and both arms to move yourself through the water when facing down. Swimming the crawl uses your entire body, with your arms and core...
The kick turn, also called a flip turn, gets its name from the motion involved in completing the turn. This turn is used when you reach one end of a swimming pool and have to turn around to continue your race. As you approach the wall, your upper...
Many inexperienced swimmers have difficulty coordinating breathing, swimming strokes and kicking. Typically, when a routine breath is missed, you'll stroke faster, lift your head to get air and stop kicking. Without your feet and legs kicking, you...
Swimming kicks help propel your movement through the water. Without proper technique and execution of kicking, your career as a competitive swimmer will be short. The flutter kick used in freestyle and backstroke, the dolphin kick performed when...
Swimming strokes are accompanied by certain types of kicks. Both the backstroke and freestyle stroke are performed with flutter kicks, which help propel your body forward. Flutter kicks complement the movements made by your upper body when...
The legs play an essential role when swimming and complement the type of stroke you are using. The flutter kick is the primary technique used for freestyle and backstroke, while the scissor kick is used for the breaststroke. Both techniques are...
The runner's kick occurs when a runner has reached near-exhaustion but has not yet crossed the finish line. A burst of energy, known as the runner's kick, enables her to sprint those last couple hundred meters to win the race. In swimming,...
Swimming is a full-body sport that increases your heart rate and respiration while also working the body's major muscle groups. The flutter kick used in the freestyle and backstroke employs the entire leg starting at the hips. While it is obvious...
The backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle are the four strokes used in competitive swimming. The backstroke and freestyle, which are also called the back and front crawl, respectively, are known as long axis strokes because the axis of...
Swimming uses all the muscles in your body and elevates your heart rate, the key to burning calories. The longer you swim, the more calories you burn. Kick boards may make swimming easier for you, allowing you to swim longer and burn more...
The front crawl, or freestyle, is the fastest and most energy-efficient of all swimming strokes, which is why it's used in competition. This stroke uses alternating pulling arm motions combined with the flutter kick. Also used with the back crawl...
Crossover kicking primarily is used by long-distance swimmers. It is designed to help you keep your rhythm as opposed to propelling you through the water. Sprinters use a flutter kick, usually with four to six beats per stroke cycle -- an...
Swimmers focus on their upper body for propulsion, but a strong kick gives you the edge in a race, and toned legs help your endurance in distance swims. Your leg muscles, such as the quadriceps and the hamstrings, are large and energy-hungry....
Whether you're a sprint specialist, long-distance swimmer or triathlete, proper kicking techniques can greatly improve the efficiency of your freestyle stroke. Racing swimmers can generate substantial force with a good kick. Triathletes might want...
The scissor kick is a lower-body movement that helps propel swimmers through the water. It is easy for beginners to learn because it requires only a simple opening and closing of your straightened legs to provide forward momentum. Used in...
Swimming fins are commonly utilized by body surfers and scuba divers. The fin can help to increase your speed and maneuverability as you are submerged in the water. Swimmers who incorporate the proper fin technique can engage a large number of leg...
The dolphin kick is used when swimming the butterfly stroke and is the hardest part of the stroke to learn. It resembles the tail action of a dolphin as it swims through the water. The kick involves synchronizing the legs and developing a smooth,...
Kicking while swimming is meant to keep your back half floating -- try swimming without kicking and you'll find your legs sinking down and creating drag. However, that doesn't mean that viciously attacking the water is best. Kicking in freestyle...
The flutter kick, the kick you use to swim freestyle and backstroke, might be more of a puzzle than a secret. There are a number of important techniques to master, which can improve your flutter kick, but the difference between a decent and an...
A powerful kick is a major part of swimming strokes and can make the difference in speed. This goes doubly for the freestyle stroke since the kick is a major part of the force that is generated by the freestyle stroke. Working up your kick to one...
Swimmers perform the flutter kick in three scenarios in the water: backstroke, freestyle and treading water. The technique for the flutter kick remains the same, regardless of whether you're swimming on your front, your back or treading vertically...
Scissor kicks are a useful addition to your floor exercise routine. BodyBuilding.com lists scissor kicks, also called flutter kicks, as a butt-building hip extension exercise. While scissor kicks can be challenging at first, they become more...
Lack of core strength can lead to low back pain. Lower back exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles of your lower back. Doing exercises with an exercise ball can also work your ab muscles, contributing to a stronger all-around core....
Freestyle is the competition name for the stroke also known as front crawl. Freestyle, like backstroke, uses a flutter kick to help propel a swimmer through the water. Flutter kick is one of the simplest swimming kicks in comparison to...
The swimming kick is used partially for propulsion, but mostly to position your body properly in the water, minimize drag and reduce the amount of energy you need to expend with each stroke. Leg strokes include scissor or flutter kicks used with...
The flutter kick is one of the most common kick strokes in swimming. It is also the easiest for younger swimmers to learn, in comparison to the kicks used in the breast, side and butterfly strokes. But the basic simplicity of the flutter kick does...
As one of the four swimming strokes of competitive swimming, the breast stroke (or breaststroke) is equally suited for the recreational swimmer. It's the only stroke where the hands remain just below the water surface for the entire time. This...
Breaststroke and flutter kick are two of the three kicks necessary to do the four strokes used in swimming competition. Breaststroke is also called frog kick, because the leg movement mimics a frog's. Flutter kick is performed during both the...
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