6 Best Kickboards For Synchro Drills for Building Core Stability

Your child comes home from their first synchronized swimming practice, buzzing with excitement about sculling, eggbeater kicks, and something called a "body line." Then comes the email from the coach with the equipment list, and you see "kickboard" on it. But the flimsy foam board from last summer’s beach trip doesn’t look anything like what the other swimmers are using, and you realize this is another one of those moments where the right gear can make a real difference in your child’s progress.

Synchro Drills Need a Specific Kickboard

When your child is just learning to swim, a kickboard is mostly a flotation device—a tool to build confidence. In synchronized swimming, however, the kickboard serves a completely different purpose. It’s a piece of training equipment designed to isolate specific muscle groups and build the incredible core stability that synchro demands. Think of it less as a floatie and more as a piece of gym equipment for the pool.

A standard, highly buoyant recreational board can actually hinder a synchro swimmer’s development. It can lift their hips too high, creating a "banana back" and preventing them from engaging their abdominal muscles correctly. The goal isn’t just to stay afloat; it’s to hold a perfectly straight, taut line from head to toe while performing powerful leg movements. The right kickboard provides just enough support to allow the swimmer to focus on technique without becoming a crutch.

FINIS Alignment Kickboard for Body Line Drills

You’ve probably heard the coach talk endlessly about the "body line." The FINIS Alignment Kickboard is designed specifically to teach this foundational concept. Its unique, compact shape and less-buoyant design encourages swimmers to submerge it slightly, forcing them to engage their core to keep their body flat and aligned in the water.

This board is an excellent tool for younger swimmers (ages 8-12) who are just beginning to understand how their core connects their upper and lower body. Because it’s narrower, it’s also perfect for one-arm drills and practicing rotation while maintaining stability. It’s a specialized tool, so it’s a purchase you make when you see your child is committed to developing proper form from the very beginning.

Speedo Team Kickboard for Powerful Leg Work

Sometimes, the goal is pure, unadulterated power. The Speedo Team Kickboard is the classic, reliable workhorse you’ll see on pool decks everywhere for a reason. Its traditional tombstone shape and substantial buoyancy are perfect for drills focused on developing a strong, propulsive kick, which is the engine behind every synchro routine.

This is a fantastic, versatile board for any swimmer in the family, making it a smart investment. For a synchro athlete, it allows them to rest their upper body and pour all their energy into their legs without sinking. This helps build the stamina required for eggbeater kick and powerful thrusts. If your child is also on a traditional swim team or you have siblings in the water, this board is a practical choice that will see years of use.

TYR Hydrofoil Kickboard for Sculling Stability

As your swimmer progresses, they’ll spend more and more time on sculling—the intricate hand movements used for propulsion and stability. The TYR Hydrofoil Kickboard has a unique, contoured shape that promotes a more natural body position, with the hips and legs slightly lower in the water. This is much closer to the position they need to hold during actual routines.

This board is ideal for intermediate swimmers (ages 10-14) who are refining their sculling techniques. It provides enough stability to support them while they focus on their hands, but its hydrodynamic design encourages them to use their core to maintain balance. It helps bridge the gap between basic kicking drills and the complex coordination of sculling while holding a perfect body line.

Arena Kickboard Pro for Advanced Core Training

When your swimmer moves from recreational to competitive synchro, the training gets more intense. The Arena Kickboard Pro is designed for exactly this level of athlete. It often features multiple grip options and a less buoyant, more rigid construction. This isn’t about making kicking easier; it’s about making it harder in a targeted way.

This board is a tool for advanced core conditioning. Coaches will have swimmers use it to create instability, forcing the abdominal and back muscles to fire constantly to maintain balance. It can be used for vertical kicking drills or held on its side to challenge stability. This is the board you buy when your athlete (typically 12+) is serious about their training and needs equipment that can push them to the next level of strength and control.

Kiefer Training Kickboard for Versatile Drills

Let’s be practical: sometimes you just need a solid, no-frills piece of equipment that gets the job done without a hefty price tag. The Kiefer Training Kickboard is that board. It’s a durable, well-made classic that provides a good balance of buoyancy and stability for a wide variety of drills, from basic kicking to back-layout sculling practice.

This is the perfect first "real" kickboard for a child just starting their synchro journey. It’s also a great option for families on a budget or for those who aren’t yet sure if synchro will be a long-term passion. It’s a significant step up from a recreational board and provides all the support needed for a novice or early intermediate swimmer to build their foundational skills effectively.

Sporti Pull-Kick Pro for Drill Transitions

A synchro practice involves a dizzying array of drills. One minute they’re working on leg power, the next they’re isolating their upper body and core with a pull buoy. The Sporti Pull-Kick Pro is a combination tool that serves as both a kickboard and a pull buoy, and for a parent managing a bursting gear bag, this is a brilliant solution.

This two-in-one design is incredibly efficient. It allows your swimmer to transition seamlessly between drills without having to swim back to the wall to swap out equipment. This maximizes their time and focus in the water. It’s a smart, practical choice for the intermediate swimmer whose practices are becoming more complex and fast-paced.

Proper Kickboard Use for Maximum Stability

Simply owning the right kickboard isn’t enough; the real benefit comes from using it correctly for synchro-specific drills. Unlike in traditional swimming where the board is almost always held out front, synchro swimmers use it in countless ways. They might lie on their back and place it under their shoulder blades to practice sculling, or hold it vertically between their knees to engage their inner thighs during eggbeater drills.

Encourage your child to listen carefully to their coach’s instructions. The kickboard is often used to create resistance or an unstable surface, forcing the core to work harder to maintain balance. Remind them that the goal isn’t to lean on the board for support, but to use it as a tool to activate the right muscles. Proper use turns a simple piece of foam into a powerful core-strengthening machine.

Choosing the right kickboard is a small but meaningful way to support your synchronized swimmer’s journey. It’s an investment in building the deep, foundational core strength that will allow them to execute beautiful, graceful, and powerful skills in the water. By matching the board to their current skill level and training focus, you’re giving them the right tool to build their confidence and their capabilities, one strong kick at a time.