Kicking or Pulling?

Kicking and pulling—two essential components for smooth and fluid swimming. Without one, the other would be out of balance. These are the Yin and Yang of swimming. Similar in age to the Yin and Yang, so is the debate about which is better: kicking or pulling. Kicking, the main driver of the stroke, is where most of the power comes from. Many coaches constantly scream at their athletes, “YOUR KICK DRIVES YOUR STROKE!” Even though this is true, kicking also takes a heavy toll on the body; inflicting lots of emotional and moral damage, as well as leaving behind massive deposits of lactic acid in the legs. However, despite the pain and effort associated with kicking, it is commonly what sets aside the good from the great in this grueling sport we call swimming, making them more powerful.

On the other hand, pulling is commonly what determines how effective your stroke will be. Technique is heavily dependent on the arms and how they traverse through the water, how much water they grab, and how efficiently they can propel you through the water. Although pulling does not take as large of a toll on your body during training, if you practice improper technique, there may be a shoulder injury down the road. But should you master the art of pulling, you will have unparalleled efficiency when moving through the water. All the best swimmers in the world have beautiful techniques, which is derivative of their pull, making them more efficient.