Kick technique

[Goober]

So the paper work with the bio fins say small kick cycles from the knees. Anybody have any personal experiance as to which technique works the best? I have grown very acustomed to a full leg kick from the hip. Any pesonal experiance with these things would be greatly appreciated.

[setesh]

The kick from the knees works best for me, and I think it is bound to for everyone just based on the science behind the biofins. You aren't pushing a lot of water out of the way like you have to with a traditional fin, so you don't need the extra strength of your thigh muscles. But that's not the reason that kick style doesn't work as well. Really it's that the "from the hips" movement isn't nearly as fast as the "from the knees" movement. It's not about the power you put out, its about the number of kick cycles you obtain. The more kick cycles, the faster you go. Each kick cycle requires only a little bit of effort because the vortex caused by the splits is what is actually driving you (as opposed to the water you forced out of the way with your fin). Kicking from the hips is not only slower, but it takes more muscle groups to perform, thereby using more oxygen. The "from the knee" kick style, which I believe they call 'flutter kick', can be done much faster, and with a smaller muscle group. This ups the number of kick cycles you can complete, and reduces the amount of oxygen required to complete them.

[Gombessa]

I think the concern is mainly overkicking with strong flutter kicks that overpower the more flexible materials in the splits. I imagine thigh-powered flutters should be fine if you just take it easy. There's no harm in teaching yourself to mod-flutter from the knees though!

[meesier42]

Originally Posted by setesh

Each kick cycle requires only a little bit of effort because the vortex caused by the splits is what is actually driving you (as opposed to the water you forced out of the way with your fin).

This "vortex" has been proven that it is not how the split fins work, as it has been proven that the Apollo Bio-Fins work better (more thrust, and lower O2 consumption) with the split taped together with duct tape.

see the research on Rubicon Library Fin Testing

I'm not saying that they aren't great fins, just that the marketing hype on them is faulty

[WaScubaDude]

Originally Posted by meesier42

This "vortex" has been proven that it is not how the split fins work, as it has been proven that the Apollo Bio-Fins work better (more thrust, and lower O2 consumption) with the split taped together with duct tape.

see the research on Rubicon Library Fin Testing

I'm not saying that they aren't great fins, just that the marketing hype on them is faulty

Crikey, would you look at the size of that thang! Have lot's o math and statistics, but wish they had a laymens conclusion section.

Much like road biking...Some people like "spinning" with very little resistance, I prefer a more muscle centric aproach where I can put the speed on if need be or slow the kick for nice easy cruising.

[Gombessa]

Tell me about it. I used to read journals, and I was still doing double-takes thinking "Is the higher number good or bad?"

[setesh]

Wow, it's like they tried to make it difficult What I gathered was that the Attack and Biofins were better than the others on average, but that the biofin's split does not help it in any way, and probably hinders it. Is that right? I have to say that either way I love my biofins. Efficient or not, the ability to dive without nagging ankle pain worth it to me Goober, even though I think that study may say otherwise, I stand by the "kick from the knees" approach. At least for me that seems to work better.

[rox@ucf11]

so can you really frog kick efficiently with split fins?

[setesh]

Originally Posted by rox@ucf11

so can you really frog kick efficiently with split fins?

All I have to compare my Biofins to is Quatros, and to me the Biofins are not nearly as good as the Quatros for frog kicks.

[Gombessa]

What about modified frog and flutter kicks? From the "smaller, less effort kicks" marketing, sounds like these kicks should be right up their alley.