I have one at my business and use it with some of my athletes. We use it as a muscular endurance workout, with particular emphasis on the catch. I find that elbow droppers can learn the movement of a high elbow catch more easily on the Vas without the dynamics of breathing and rotation.

I think the Vasa is a very effective tool, but it definitely is not a replacement for swimming. Don't cut back on swimming to use the Vasa, it is a supplement.

Ken

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Ken Mierke
Head Coach, Fitness Concepts
http://www.Fitness-Concepts.com
Author, The Triathlete's Guide to Run Training

I bought one for my personal use and for my two daughters, who are on a local club swim team. It absolutely has helped especially with training for proper arm/hand position, although it seemed very awkward at first until I got a feel for the proper rhythm. Because I don't have to float, breathe, etc., I can really concentrate on specific motions that I want to improve. I use it 2-3 times a week, I do 6 sets of 30, alternating between free and fly, with a one minute recover between sets. If you do get one, get them to throw in the upgraded paddles, or buy them. They really are better than the default ones.

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Live long and surf!

I definitely won't use it to replace any pool time -- no question there.

When you say you use it for freestyle, do you rotate at all, or just do a pull on one side, do it in reverse (because you can't really do a true recovery) and then repeat with the other side? Or do you pull both sides at once?

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Too f@ckin depressed from various injuries to care about having a signature line.

Sponsored by Blue Shield PPO.

You actual do a recovery, but it's linked in to your pull on the other side. You can pull bith arms at the same time as well. On my fly sets, I do a fly-like recovery.

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Live long and surf!

Ah, so you are not using "normal" swim timing, but rather more like a kayak?

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**************
Too f@ckin depressed from various injuries to care about having a signature line.

Sponsored by Blue Shield PPO.

yes

Of course the tool is not intended for training whole stroke, rather it allows you to focus on some specific areas for improvement. Anyway, I'm glad I bought it.

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Live long and surf!

Are you describing the new vasa ergometer swim machine or their other machine, vasa trainer? which one is best?

I have the Vasa Trainer, and I'm happy with it. I haven't tried the other machine. I'd really like to Vasa come up with a software tool like SpinScan to show how you're really spending your energy.

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Live long and surf!

I would not waste my money on a Vasa trainer. Just buy a pair of stretch coards and attach them to a pair of paddles and you've got the same thing for way less and taking up almost no space.