Are pull paddles all that useful of a tool when training? I bought my first pull buoy at the beginning of the triathlon season, and I have never used pull paddles before. When my workout plan (triathlete mag’s 12 weeks to peak xterra fitness) calls for them I just use my pull buoy.
I’m a new triathlete and used pull paddles for the first time today at the suggestion of my coach. They train completely different muscles than the pull buoy does. I was amazed by how the paddles helped my stroke, forced me to face my palm down to the bottom of the pool and elongate my stroke. Really the pull buoy only helps get your hips up not improve your stroke.
I equate them to a batter swinging two bats at the same time to warm up before stepping to the plate or walking/running while carrying hand weights. Well, I’m not so sure of the second comparison because hand weights don’t really contribute to the muscles propelling you.
Yes, they can help you to focus on getting a good solid catch. They can also badly screw up your shoulders if you’re not careful.
Vital - No, in the sense that a triathlete does not need them in training to achieve their goal of finishing the swim leg. Useful in improving performance - Absolutely.
forced me to face my palm down to the bottom of the pool
Avoid this, your arm should not be deep in the water at any stage. After the catch, you start bending your elbow such that by the time your arm is at your chest your forearm should be roughly perpendicular to your upper arm. This will allow you to push and pull harder with your back and chest muscles.
For example, trying pushing down with your arm extended on your desk. Then try it with your arm bent at 90 degrees and see which has more power.
For the OP, there are plenty of paddle-related threads around, search for them.
As many triathletes keep away from lifting weights, especially in season, paddles offer an overload/strengthening option when swimming. They are a very useful tool in that regard, and also for technique. You can overdo it though, is indicated above.
Paddles are useful, but only when used properly. Used improperly (or even used proerly, but overused) they can really mess up your shoulders.
Use small paddles and only use the finger loop to secure them, not the wrist loop.
NM, thanks - I meant at intiial entry it forced me to keep my hand flat at the water instead of going in with my hands at an angle (as I have a tendancy to do from my swim instructions as a kid). I’ll also try and work more on getting my elbow bent faster after entry.
Thanks!
forced me to face my palm down to the bottom of the pool
Avoid this, your arm should not be deep in the water at any stage. After the catch, you start bending your elbow such that by the time your arm is at your chest your forearm should be roughly perpendicular to your upper arm. This will allow you to push and pull harder with your back and chest muscles.
For example, trying pushing down with your arm extended on your desk. Then try it with your arm bent at 90 degrees and see which has more power.
For the OP, there are plenty of paddle-related threads around, search for them. I agree completely and believe the video analysis I had on my swim stroke supports. I generate much more force through the 90 degree arm position than any other. Here’s a link to the coach that I used. He does clinics and analysis all over if anyone is interested. It was well work the cost to me-- but I was clueless starting out! http://swimmingtechnology.com/
http://www.faculty.sbc.edu/mcalarco/Popov.mpeg
this is a video of Popov with some good slow mo. it looks to me like his arm is pretty deep. he does bend the elbow but not to 90* until after it passes the chest.
yes, it hard to push down on your desk because you are trying to lift your entire body. in the water there is not that much pressure. although there is enough to hurt you if you don’t develop the stregnth to do this. i think that can be why people will drop the elbow - bad form and/or not enough stregnth to push. JMHO
I’d take it easy on using paddles and gradually work into it and I wouldn’t use them more than once per week.
IronBolus - best approach is to play around with slightly different depths until you find a point which feels the most powerful. Flexibility work will help this as your power at the start of the pull can be limited by that with an optimally bent elbow - which is why some people drop it.
Bobby - http://www.zippyvideos.com/7132490175791146/crawl-thorpe400m06sydney2000/ this video has underwater bits of Hackett and Thorpe. The angle can misconstrue some of the angles, but the effect is clear.
Bermudabill - well, video angles can always be difficult to work out precisely. IMO, the arm is approx at 90 when it reaches the shoulder, however, it is impossible to say for sure unless we saw it from the front. As I said, I think people drop the arm due poor flexibility and a misguided tendency to drag the hand through the easiest path possible, which may not be the most effective.
One thing to note when watching videos is that these guys are stronger and more flexible than anyone here, so we cannot expect to exactly replicate their strokes. In any cases, there are notable differences between them, so their strokes are a guide rather than a manual.