I’m an OK swimmer (70.3 - 27) and my technique is generally pretty good. The only issue I seem to have is a splayed/scissor kick. I don’t have a crossover with the arms. I think the front end is pretty good. The splay seems to happen when I breathe. I generally breathe every 2 or a 2,2,4 pattern. I can swim bi-lateral, but don’t. Any ideas on how to fix this. I get it’s happening because of some other flaw and the splayed legs is trying to balance you, but not sure what or how to go about fixing it. Thanks 
Personally I think of small steady kicks as if I was inside of a tube. I had to concentrate on it for about a year before I got rid of it. Sometimes it comes back and I have to concentrate on small steady kicking again.
Kick pattern??
I’m going to guess you are lifting your head to breathe, or breathing late.
Are you sure you don’t crossover when you breathe? As in, verified with video?
You’re pretty quick as it is, so your other option is to work on fixing the symptom (scissor kick) and not worry too much about the underlying cause. Fixing the symptom “might†have an upstream effect on the cause.
Kick pattern??
I’m going to guess you are lifting your head to breathe, or breathing late.
Are you sure you don’t crossover when you breathe? As in, verified with video?
You’re pretty quick as it is, so your other option is to work on fixing the symptom (scissor kick) and not worry too much about the underlying cause. Fixing the symptom “might†have an upstream effect on the cause.
I used to have a cross over with my left arm, I thought I had that sorted, seemed OK in a recent video, but will check that. Kick pattern is 2 beat kick. I would guess it’s something to do with my breathing. I’ll look at that. Cheers
What fixed this for me was a LOT of Tower 26 style pulling. Snorkel, buoy and band (no paddles). It ingrained keeping my feet pointed with toes in (big toes touching), and executing the proper amount of body rotation (without wagging).
I’m an OK swimmer (70.3 - 27) and my technique is generally pretty good. The only issue I seem to have is a splayed/scissor kick. I don’t have a crossover with the arms. I think the front end is pretty good. The splay seems to happen when I breathe. I generally breathe every 2 or a 2,2,4 pattern. I can swim bi-lateral, but don’t. Any ideas on how to fix this. I get it’s happening because of some other flaw and the splayed legs is trying to balance you, but not sure what or how to go about fixing it. Thanks
Check your hand entry and initial hand/arm movement when your hand enters the water. Any upper-body motion that isn’t fore-and-aft will cause a torque that will be transmitted to the legs.
I guess since my best 70.3 swim time was 28:58 (37th out of 1400+ overall), I must have been a less than OK swimmer. Or, open water split times really are not indicative of swim ability. What place overall was that 27 minute split?
I tend to think this is all in head position, especially when breathing. If you rotate up really high or take an extended breath, it seems the body uses a splayed out leg to counterweight. I would watch a video and see what your breath looks like.
Check out Ben Kanute’s head rotation at 2 min 58 seconds. https://youtu.be/4yl9FID6NRg?t=2m58s. Only rotates just enough.
Then check out Sebi’s head here at 28 seconds. https://youtu.be/N8rOXHsR7p8?t=28s. He’s got a bit of splayed out kick.
If you really want some advice, I would recommend posting a video of your swim.
There could be any number of causes to a scissor kick… (lifting your head, crossing over with the opposite arm, miss timing the breath, etc.)
You mentioned it only happens when breathing and that you only breath to one side… does it happen if you bi-lateral breath?
I have a hitch in my stroke when I don’t bi-lateral breath which is why I breath every 3-5 in practice, but I actually go faster and feel more comfortable breathing every 2 or 4. So I practice 3-5 and race 2-4.
Practice as close to perfect technique as you can so you develop the proper muscle memory, and then don’t overthink it on race day, do what makes you go fast. My best 70.3 swim is 21:00.
If you really want some advice, I would recommend posting a video of your swim.
There could be any number of causes to a scissor kick… (lifting your head, crossing over with the opposite arm, miss timing the breath, etc.)
You mentioned it only happens when breathing and that you only breath to one side… does it happen if you bi-lateral breath?
I have a hitch in my stroke when I don’t bi-lateral breath which is why I breath every 3-5 in practice, but I actually go faster and feel more comfortable breathing every 2 or 4. So I practice 3-5 and race 2-4.
Practice as close to perfect technique as you can so you develop the proper muscle memory, and then don’t overthink it on race day, do what makes you go fast. My best 70.3 swim is 21:00.
Yeah gotcha, can see he lifts his head slightly.
I found an old video of me from a few years ago and I can see a slight crossover with my right arm, that could be causing the issue. I’ll see if I can post it.