Breaststroke Kick Technique

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Is your breaststroke kick letting you down? Getting the frog kick action, but you still feel like you're not getting anywhere?  

Read on.

Breaststroke kick technique similar to kicking like a frog


The legs are the powerhouse of breaststroke, and the full leg kick should be a simultaneous and flowing action, resulting in a powerful boost that propels the overall stroke.

Video demonstration of Breaststroke Kick



FREE EBOOK:  all technique tips here can be found in my 'Breaststroke Technique' book, along with a couple of bonus drills to help you perfect some essential parts of the stroke.

Don't miss out!  Click here to grab a FREE copy of my book. 

Breaststroke Legs:  Step By Step...

Step 1:

Knees bend as the heels are drawn up towards the seat. At the same time, the legs need to bend at the hips, effectively drawing the knees up under the hips. 

Step 2:

Feet and toes turn out, exposing the surface area of the soles of the feet to the water, ready for them to drive the water backwards.

Turning the feet out and exposing the soles of the feet to the water gives a larger surface area from which to provide power for the kick than if the toes and feet remained pointed backwards.

Step 3:

The legs sweep outwards, around and slightly downwards in a flowing circular path, accelerating as they kick. The knees remain close together, inside the line of the hips. The heels and soles of the feet drive around and back to provide power and propulsion to the stroke. The legs and feet then return straight together with toes pointed to give a streamlined body position.



Time to take your breaststroke to the next level

Do you still think you need more to help get your breaststroke legs performing how they should be? Time to download my book. 

'How To Swim Breaststroke' will not only fine-tune your leg kick, but it will improve all other aspects of your swimming stroke: arm pull, breathing, timing and coordination.  

Click below and download my book today!  

How To Swim Breaststroke with ease and confidence.
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Common Breaststroke Leg Kick Mistakes

The feet cause most of the problems when it comes to kicking. Failure to turn the feet out will result in a lack of power and that feeling of going nowhere. 

Failure to turn out both feet and only to turn out one foot will result in something known as a screw kick. This is where one leg kicks correctly and the other swings around, providing no propulsion at all. 

The best exercise for correcting these common faults is to swim on your back (supine) with a woggle or noodle held under the arms for support. Then the swimmer can sit up slightly and watch their leg kick as they perform it.

Kicking in slow motion at first, making a conscious effort to turn out both feet and ensure both legs and feet are symmetrical is best before attempting to add power.

For more detailed Breaststroke drills, click here.

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