Underwater Kick Meaning in Swimming

Underwater kick is the leg movement performed while a swimmer is completely submerged. This can be a dolphin kick (butterfly/freestyle/backstroke) or a single breaststroke kick following a pull-out. This phase allows the athlete to capitalize on the momentum gained from the wall before the surface drag slows them down. A swimmer uses a fast underwater kick to stay ahead of the waves created by other participants. The goal is to stay perfectly streamlined to minimize resistance while the legs provide the propulsion. Improving your underwater kick is often the fastest way to improve your overall competitive times.