Okay, I am a decent swimmer (21:30 for oly) I tried the cords around my ankles and I am not kidding you when I say this but my legs were dragging on the pool floor…Does this normally happen? I could not figure out how to fix this except to increase my stroke rate dramatically…Any thoughts?
Okay, I am a decent swimmer (21:30 for oly) I tried the cords around my ankles and I am not kidding you when I say this but my legs were dragging on the pool floor…Does this normally happen? I could not figure out how to fix this except to increase my stroke rate dramatically…Any thoughts?
It’s a tough swim when you wind up vertical!! Your not moving forward so your legs arent going to get any “lift” to support them. Try attaching chords higher up, like to top of a ladder railing or the leg of the life guard stand. If all else fails try to attach them around your waist instead of ankles. You will have to flex your lower back to keep your legs up, very fatiguing at first. Good Luck 
Okay, I am a decent swimmer (21:30 for oly) I tried the cords around my ankles and I am not kidding you when I say this but my legs were dragging on the pool floor…Does this normally happen? I could not figure out how to fix this except to increase my stroke rate dramatically…Any thoughts?
When you say cords, are you talking the cords which keep you from swimming away from the wall, or cords which tie your two ankles together to prevent you from kicking all over the place?
Three suggestions in no particular order:
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Point your toes (more). If they aren’t pointed straight back they can contribute to your problem. Unless it is a very pronouned (toes pointed toward the bottom) this probably won’t cause too much of a problem in it’s own.
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Less knee bend in the kick. Ideally (IMO) there should be very little knee bend in the kick. It should be driven from the hips with the knees flexing to make the motion smooth and comfortable. Any time the knees drop down below the “hole” that the rest of the body is making through the water they are causing drag. That reduces speed and will contribute to a leg drag problem.
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Head position. Is it up and looking forward (breaking the water with the forehead or face) or pointed down looking at the bottom (breaking water with the crown of the head)? Both types of positions are useful. It’s kinda hard to find the bouy or wall when while looking toward the bottom. On the other hand the head is a hefty hunk of meat and lifting it (even a little) to sight a bouy or just to see ahead will rotate the body around it’s center of gravity. Head is up and the legs naturally want to be down. Use the back muscles to counteract this, but if this is something new it will make for a sore back.
If you have access to an endless pool try to put some time in. I’ve found that having water pushed past me as opposed to pulling myself through the water makes drag points in my stroke and position mechanics very evident. If your toes aren’t pointed enough, you’ll feel the water hitting them. Same with the knees and head position.
Good luck.
OK you’re taking about doing pull sets without a pullbuoy, and a band around your ankles so you don’t kick.
I always hated those, cause my legs would do the same thing. Really, I don’t think there is much you can do other than make sure you aren’t lifting your head. If they still drop, then you might want to find the smallest pullbouy you can and use that.