Triathlon - Do you kick during your swim?

So I've heard many people not kicking during the swim portion to save energy for the bike and run, but I find that I go much slower and it's discouraging. DISCUSS!!! :)

I definately would go slower because my legs drop too far. I kick enough to keep me relatively flat.

I kick consistantly to propel me through the water, not just for bouyancy or balance.

you do not want to kick hard (as in for propulsion) unless you are that kind of swimmer, you seem to be based on the above post but i do not know. I swim all arms, legs just there to keep me horizontal.

I kick in all my workouts(except when using a pull buoy) and races up to a HIM. If I were doing an IM(did one) I try not to kick so much.

I kick but not huge, just to help twist and turn... and keep my ass from sinkking

I kick, but not in the traditional freestyle way. Kind of an alternating leg frog-style kick that occurs just before I raise my arm out of the water.

Years ago I tried to learn the normal way of kicking, but it always seemed to wipe me out very quickly and not improve my speed by a whole lot. So for about 25 years I didn't kick at all.

About a year and a half ago, I came up with this alternate kick by just relaxing and doing what came natural for my body. My swim speed improved dramatically, and it doesn't really seem to fatigue my legs.

I'm sure a swim coach would have a field day with my technique, but I'm never planning on being the next Phelps so it works for me.

No kicking for me except to start, to pass or to turn at a bouy.

I couldn't vote - no option for me...

I don't kick much - but not to "save my legs", I just never have. I kick enough to keep my hips up & that's all. Don't know if it's a good thing or not.

I couldn't vote - no option for me...

I don't kick much - but not to "save my legs", I just never have. I kick enough to keep my hips up & that's all. Don't know if it's a good thing or not.

It is pretty much a good way to kick. I'm not a tru guy, I'm an ex swimmer and cyclist. Swam at a pretty decent level, ending with a 7th in hte 200 fly at the SCIAC league championships my senoir year on 2 weeks training (I had retired from swimming to play Rugby).

My advice for a tri swimmer is to look at how the distance, meaning 1500 swimmers at nationals or the Olympics kick. That is the right ballpark. One modification for a tri or other event not in lanes, one may want to kick and for that matter in all ways treat the start as a shorter swim, like 100 yards, just to get clear of the mass, or later in hte swim give a burst to get clear of a group. One can draft in swimming, but getting in eachothers way is far more common.

So far every one seems to be saying I kick but not a lot. I'd just point out one other point,learned from cycling. On decents cyclists often soft pedal, not becasue it gives any speed gain, but because it keeps the legs loose and ready. I'd say a light kick is beneficial in pretty much the same way.

From my novice triathlon experience i've noticed that there are two different way to kick. For propulsion and for stability. For me, kicking for propulsion is a waste of energy, i just kick enough to keep to flat and straight in the water, and it will help save your legs a bit.

I read somewhere that kicking only contributes to very little of your total propulsion. Check out this video on Beginnertriathlete. I started incorporating his advice on kicking into my swims and my endurance is much greater, and I actually swim faster.......b/c a swim stroke is your entire body.....from your arm, to your chore, through your kick. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1792

He has a 3 part video series.....I recommend watching all 3.

I kick less when I'm wearing a wetsuit, that's for sure.
I suppose I kick mostly to keep my body horizontal, but probably a little for propulsion. I say a little, because drills with the kick board are always shockingly slow and tiresome for me, so I guess I don't use my kick to move me forward much.