Eggbeater Kick
Encyclopedia
The eggbeater kick is a hands-free form of treading water that allows the swimmer to remain vertical. It is a style of kicking where the swimmer's legs alternate one-legged breaststroke
kicks. This form provides continuous support because there is no break in the kick.
. In summary the principle states that the faster a fluid is moving the less pressure it has. The decrease in pressure causes the external pressure to exert a force, therefore creating a uniform pressure. This is the main cause of how a swimmer is propelled upwards. The swimmer is rotating his/her legs circularly in opposite directions. With the foot being arched and angled, the circular motion allows the swimmer to make water above their foot move faster than the water under their foot. This difference in speed causes a difference in pressure which pushes the swimmer out of the water. The faster the swimmer's feet move the more power he/she receives to propel upwards out of the water.
To aid in learning you can use your hands to scull. Sculling is a forward and backward motion of the hands at alternating angles near the surface of the water. It follows the same physics as the eggbeater kick.
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
kicks. This form provides continuous support because there is no break in the kick.
Advantages
The eggbeater kick comes with many useful advantages. It allows the swimmer- to use their hands
- to be stable (no swaying) in the water
- to maintain the same level in the water.
- to conserve more energy by doing less motions
Disadvantages
The eggbeater kick has frustrating disadvantages because- it is difficult to learn
- it requires a lot of practice
- it causes knee problems - the rotating of the knee in a circular motion causes part of the knee to deteriorate, which brings feeling of pain in the knee
Sports
- Water PoloWater poloWater polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
- players use this style of kick so their hands can be free to shoot, pass, dribble and control the ball. Water polo players need to perfect the eggbeater kick to have success. - Synchronized Swimming- uses this style of kick so they can perform other important skills that require stabilization. Eggbeater kick allows the swimmers to lift teammates out of the water. To learn more about this sport and its use of eggbeater go to synchronized swimmingSynchronized swimmingSynchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
.
Lifesaving
- Lifeguards must demonstrate they know how to use this kick because it allows them to use their hands to rescue victims. If lifeguards were to use another form of treading water they would be preoccupied with their hands, making them unable to help a drowning victim.
Armed forces
- Navy SEALsUnited States Navy SEALsThe United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
have been recruiting water polo players because their skills in the water allow them to succeed more in training than others.
Physics
The eggbeater kick propels swimmers in an upward direction. The kick style is based around Bernoulli’s PrincipleBernoulli's principle
In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that for an inviscid flow, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy...
. In summary the principle states that the faster a fluid is moving the less pressure it has. The decrease in pressure causes the external pressure to exert a force, therefore creating a uniform pressure. This is the main cause of how a swimmer is propelled upwards. The swimmer is rotating his/her legs circularly in opposite directions. With the foot being arched and angled, the circular motion allows the swimmer to make water above their foot move faster than the water under their foot. This difference in speed causes a difference in pressure which pushes the swimmer out of the water. The faster the swimmer's feet move the more power he/she receives to propel upwards out of the water.
Learning
To learn how to eggbeater one should- Be in a sitting position
- Have knees bent almost at 90 degrees
- Have legs a little wider than shoulder width
- Rotate right leg in a circular motion counter-clockwise while left leg is rotating in a circular motion clockwise at alternate timing
To aid in learning you can use your hands to scull. Sculling is a forward and backward motion of the hands at alternating angles near the surface of the water. It follows the same physics as the eggbeater kick.