Good stuff - I've actually seriously contemplated getting a pair of those forearm paddles, but I've got enough swim toys as is!

I myself recently made an adjustment to my technique that significantly improved my EVF and high elbow - my main adjustment was significantly widening my entry and pull position. With the arm entering at midline, you're pretty much setting yourself for a hugely dropped elbow (just try pulling with arm in the midline). I'm still adjusting to it, so no breakthrough speed gains yet ,but for sure, homebrewed self-video both in the water and on my Vasa look a lot better than my prior elbow drop. Interestingly, I rarely see people mention this as possibly the key manuever to get a decent EVF, but it's absolutely necessary, and now in retrospect when I look at swim vids posted on ST, almost everyone who isnt getting a good EVF is pretty much entering and pulling too narrowly.

I have for my Vasa an additional attachment that replaces the hand paddles - they are velcro bands that attach to your forearm. So basically you're using the Vasa with your forearms, not the hand/wrist. Probably very similar to what those forearm paddles do, and yes, it def does help with the EVF. I've been using them regularly as of late now that I've improved my form.

I actually like the Finis Fulcrum a lot - if you have a significantly dropped elbow as I did, you compensate for it by flexing the wrist like crazy on the pull. The fulcrum cuts that out entirely.

Another drill that is becoming more useful to me now is the 'fisty' swim, where you swim with fists, as that also short-circuits the cheating with hand/wrist flexing on a dropped elbow.

But at least for me, the absolute key move that permits the EVF and prevents a big dropped elbow, is a very wide entry/pull/catch.

Won't Tech Paddles be better?

http://www.techpaddle.com/

They "work" but they're super fragile. I have to slow down to about a 1:45/100m pace otherwise I'll brake one. Also, rotary timing with those is impossible.

A simple, flat & long paddle-like surface I think is best for several reasons.

1. I prefer the hand to be open resting relaxed on top of the paddle, as part of the process. But you can grab the end if you want to.
2. operating the big flat section for the arm entry is quite the deal. If you are swimming with uphill arms (ie dropped elbows), you'll find out pretty quick. The trick is to flatten or level that out in the water and you do it with body position actually. Hence my description working the body around the arms.
3. a long flat blade is a visual as well out the side of your eye you can see how vertically your are operating during the stroke. You can also extend your stroke and realize how far is too far. Going back-end with it I didn't get much for it btw.

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Training Tweets: https://twitter.com/Jagersport_com
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here are the ones that I first came across on youtube.

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Training Tweets: https://twitter.com/Jagersport_com
FM Sports: http://fluidmotionsports.com

One additional benefit to the wide elbows is that in a race, it helps keep other racers from swimming into you so often. For my point of reference, I think of myself holding a basketball after a rebound (kinda like this):

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Oui, mais pas de femme toute de suite (yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away) -Stephen Roche's reply when asked whether he was okay after collapsing at the finish in the La Plagne stage of the 1987 Tour

I've never used them, was referred to them but was hesitant. Stroke makers with just the finger seem to work good enough.

I have those. Very hard to swim with them. So uncomfortable.

I found the the Tyr Catalyst Connect in large basically a forearm paddle creating the paddle your after and definitely works more on the front of your stroke and makes you think about how to make them work and hard going.

http://www.swimmerstuff.com/tyr-catalyst-connect-training-paddles_3603_p.aspx


Alternatively you can use chopping board paddles like Brett Sutton's squad.


http://trisutto.com/the-chopping-board-paddles/


Alternatively to help with low elbows I have swum with these some time ago that act like a pool buoy for your hands and like normal paddles working more the back end of your stroke. This is the only place I can find them still online


http://profiplavani.cz/aquavolo-vbair

I think I would greatly improve using these... but would maybe drown first?

Ooooh - I REALLY like the idea of those chopping block paddles. I refuse to use paddles that allow bending at the wrist anymore - it's just wayyy too easy to develop the bad habit of just flexing your wrist and then pulling with the dropped elbow and still going max speed since the paddle itself is perpendicular to the water (and not your forearm).

My favorite still though is the fisty drill. You short circuit your entire hand resistance, and you've got nothing but your forearm to rely upon. It feels totally sucky until you get that nice wide pull side a decent EVF, and then it clicks!

I can't say that I am any faster after several days on the paddles, but certainly more efficient, happier swimmer, much more symmetrical / bilateral and breathing-wise.

However I have not used the paddles for 2-3 days and this morning I feel I am going backwards in range and being narrow (ie the crossover)

I am going back to work a set w/paddles again this afternoon.

Obviously if Ryf is using them, then they are on-point.

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Training Tweets: https://twitter.com/Jagersport_com
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