Talk:Finning techniques

"Once learned by a diver, it typically becomes the standard kick"

This is not the case in my experience, so I would like a reference indicating that at least one reliable reference has asserted the claim. • • • Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 13:33, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

I can anecdotally say that I often slip into using frog kick when I'm travelling slowly in open water, without thinking about it. Perhaps the different style changes the muscles that are stressed and is beneficial in itself? Anyway, I can understand why someone might have reached that conclusion from their own experience, but I'm unaware of any reliable source that claims it typically becomes the standard kick (as if there were such a thing as a "standard kick" anyway!). --RexxS (talk) 14:06, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

I also use frog kick for a break from flutter kick, but it does not give me the cruising efficiency I need for long distances, and it is not so good when swimming close along a wall. But that is just me. Observation of other divers with a wide range of training in a marine environment shows that a few use frog kick much of the time, and many use it a smaller part of the time, and there seems to be a fairly strong correlation between the type of fin used and the preference for frog kick. I tend to use frog kick more when I am using short stiff-bladed fins, because they are inefficient with flutter kick, and flutter kick more with the long blades. I don't use split fins or force fins or any of the more exotically hinged varieties. There again I don't have any reliable reference. I recall a comparison of fin types done some years ago by a student, but I don't think it was particularly reliable. As far as training goes, I was trained in frog kick during CMAS 2 star, Commercial class 4 and at least two tech courses, but still find it most suitable only in a limited range of circumstances. • • • Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 07:51, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

This source here: [1] actually says the opposite, that the frog kick is "not commonly used in diving" except as an occasional change up.  — Amakuru (talk) 08:04, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for the link Amakuru, but the book is a little out of date (1992), things have changed in the last 23 years. I think frog kick is more popular now since the DIR movement began and the increased popularity of penetration diving, but although cave divers are more intensively trained to use frog kick because it reduces silting, and it does integrate well with the other propulsion and maneuvering skills and types of fin used in cave diving. I know it is also taught in recreational and commercial diving, but not how universally it is taught in those fields. There may be a trend towards frog kick as standard among cave divers and some other tech divers, but the extent appears to be undocumented, and I sincerely doubt that a similar trend exists among recreational and professional divers, but again, this is not reliably documented. • • • Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 13:37, 19 August 2015 (UTC)

Name change

I propose to change the title to Swimfin propulsion techniques or Finning techniques to allow expansion of the content to include all the other finning techniques. I am open to alternative suggestions for the title if anyone has better ideas. all techniques for propulsion and maneuvering by divers and swimmers using swimfins should be covered. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 15:46, 6 November 2017 (UTC)

Discuss

No comments = no objections, so I will go ahead with the move. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 05:43, 1 December 2017 (UTC)

"Finning techniques" gets good hit rate for highly relevant material on google search, is short and to the point, and inclusive for maneuvering, so going with that. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 05:50, 1 December 2017 (UTC)

 Done · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 05:55, 1 December 2017 (UTC)