It's hard giving paddle advice since paddles do different things and no one has the same exact stroke flaws. here are some guidelines that hopefully will help you and other triathletes when it comes to paddles
1st: you need to remove the wrist straps from almost every paddle. This helps with feedback. If the paddle is sliding off your hand then you're 1 step closer to identifying a stroke flaw
2nd: the overwhelming majority of triathletes are using paddles that are too large for them. If they sized down then the paddles could do what they are designed to do. If you're the average triathlete using something above size .5 or 1 for strokemakers or a SM for TYR Catalyst or size 0 or 1 in Roka paddles your paddle is too large. Size down. If you swam in college, growing up, swim <29 for a half IM then you can think about larger paddles, maybe.
3rd: The longer the set either in repeats or volume the smaller the paddle. Doing a single 400? The you can probably use a bigger paddle. Doing 10x100 go for a smaller paddle
4th: paddles may react a bit differently based on personal stroke dynamics
5th: Most paddles will cause you to reduce your stroke rate as you fatigue. Keep our stroke rate up. Best way to do that is size down in paddles. it's hard to produce more power when you can barely turn your arms over
Here is what I think about some paddles I own. IIRC I have 5 or 6 pair in my swim bag across 3 or 4 or 5 different types
TYR Catalyst - better for length out in front of the stroke, ok for power, will overwhelm less efficient swimmers (hey that's you as a triathlete!) in longer pull sets
Strokemakers - better for power, again .5 or size 0 for most triathletes and for those leaving on the 1:35 or less consistently across all sets maybe a 1, maybe. Leaving 1:30 and less you can probably get away with a 1 all the time and maybe a 2 for short power production sets
Roka Pro Swim paddles - power production. These paddles pull a lot of water. Going to large in size will overwhelm the overwhelming majority of triathletes leading to reduced stroke rate, reduced velocity and loss of pulling power. The majority or triathletes need to be in a 0. A minority in a 1. I use a 1 and I can barely turn these things over. I'm leaving on the 1:20 for my longer sets & 1:25 for my sets of repeats 300 and under..without paddles
Finis Agility paddles - good for the catch and maintaining pressure on the water. These will slide off the easiest for most triathletes.
I've got at least 1 other type of paddle but I'm too lazy to walk to the other side of the house to see what it is
Hope that helps
Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta
1st: you need to remove the wrist straps from almost every paddle. This helps with feedback. If the paddle is sliding off your hand then you're 1 step closer to identifying a stroke flaw
2nd: the overwhelming majority of triathletes are using paddles that are too large for them. If they sized down then the paddles could do what they are designed to do. If you're the average triathlete using something above size .5 or 1 for strokemakers or a SM for TYR Catalyst or size 0 or 1 in Roka paddles your paddle is too large. Size down. If you swam in college, growing up, swim <29 for a half IM then you can think about larger paddles, maybe.
3rd: The longer the set either in repeats or volume the smaller the paddle. Doing a single 400? The you can probably use a bigger paddle. Doing 10x100 go for a smaller paddle
4th: paddles may react a bit differently based on personal stroke dynamics
5th: Most paddles will cause you to reduce your stroke rate as you fatigue. Keep our stroke rate up. Best way to do that is size down in paddles. it's hard to produce more power when you can barely turn your arms over
Here is what I think about some paddles I own. IIRC I have 5 or 6 pair in my swim bag across 3 or 4 or 5 different types
TYR Catalyst - better for length out in front of the stroke, ok for power, will overwhelm less efficient swimmers (hey that's you as a triathlete!) in longer pull sets
Strokemakers - better for power, again .5 or size 0 for most triathletes and for those leaving on the 1:35 or less consistently across all sets maybe a 1, maybe. Leaving 1:30 and less you can probably get away with a 1 all the time and maybe a 2 for short power production sets
Roka Pro Swim paddles - power production. These paddles pull a lot of water. Going to large in size will overwhelm the overwhelming majority of triathletes leading to reduced stroke rate, reduced velocity and loss of pulling power. The majority or triathletes need to be in a 0. A minority in a 1. I use a 1 and I can barely turn these things over. I'm leaving on the 1:20 for my longer sets & 1:25 for my sets of repeats 300 and under..without paddles
Finis Agility paddles - good for the catch and maintaining pressure on the water. These will slide off the easiest for most triathletes.
I've got at least 1 other type of paddle but I'm too lazy to walk to the other side of the house to see what it is
Hope that helps
Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta
Last edited by:
desert dude: Jul 12, 18 9:41