I’ve been told to train like a swimmer to get better at swimming. So I’m in a Masters group, swiming freestyle twice a week and a non-freestyle stroke twice a week. Seems to be working. I’ve noticed all the strong swimmers swim with fins during the kick sets. I don’t, and get dropped pretty quickly. So, if I am supposed to train like a swimmer, should I get fins? What are the pros/cons of fins? Any fin recommendations?
Thanks!
Let me preface this by saying that I am by no means a swimmer.
I use Zoomer Z2s. I only use them for specific drills that are very difficult to hold good body position otherwise and when learning a new drill.
I don’t know why you’d want to use fins for kick sets, though.
Steve
Fins are great and have their place, but its not in a group workout. That bugs the hell out of me. If you’re going to get a pair, I love the Zura fins.
I love the Titan PosiDrive fins. They give you the extra propulsion, without changing your stroke or kick mechanics, which I found regular fins did. They are also very comfortable.
Why zura?
They’re don’t hurt my knees.
How do you work fins into your training? Kick sets only? Drills? When regularly swimming?
How do you work fins into your training? Kick sets only? Drills? When regularly swimming?
NOT during a kick set. A kick set is meant to work on your kicking. I use fins primarily during my warm-up. I’ll swim with fins for the first 800-1500m of my set, depending on how I feel. Or if I’m really tired. The purpose of fins, in my mind, is to allow you to maintain a higher base speed at lower energy cost. I.e., I can warm-up at a speed that is closer to what I want to swim during the main set, but without having it cost as much energy. This is how most of the “real” swimmers who use fins seem to use them. I got them when I was training in Flagstaff, and the Danish National Team was training there at the same time. The Danish coach is an Australian, who came out of AIS and was part of the program that developed Hackett and Thorpe. He had his swimmers use fins for their whole warm-up, so that they got used to catching water at a certain speed, but they didn’t have to work hard for that speed. I’ve incorporated them in the same way, and I’ve found it’s really helped. I think my technique is better during warm-up, and then I am also less tired during the main set, so I swim better as a result. I’ll also use them in between sets if I am doing a set like 6x100 fast, 400 easy, 6x100 fast, 400 easy. I’ll use fins for that 400 easy so that I can maintain a good turnover, but at a lower energy cost.
I like the look/design philosophy of the Zuras.
http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/5265.htm
I also looked at the Tritan Posidrives. How are they for rotation? They seem kinda wide.
I second this - Dave Scott recommended them at a clinic I attended a month ago and they really make you work to kick correctly, they don’t just make the workout easy like other fins. They help with body position, ankle flexibility… love them.
Rachel
Yeah- the ankle flexibility is great.
I actually have found the opposite. The stronger swimmers and kickers generally don’t use fins during kick sets. The weaker ones tend to use the fins because they need them to keep up with the pace. Anyway, you shouldn’t really use full sized fins unless you are fooling around trying to break a pool record or something. Try the standard zoomers or the Z2s made by Finis. You can get both of these at www.swimyourbest.com. At checkout, enter the coupon code “openwater” for 20% off your purchase.
Try swimming freestyle 5 times a week. Remember JFT!
Fins can also be good for developing ankle flexibility, simply through usage.
Don’t become over-reliant on them though, the little and often approach is best.
I always use fins on my kick sets (I dont do many kick sets though) I feel it gives my legs a better workout (kinda like using paddles for the pull).
Dont get full size, get the buggy board size which are short and quite stiff, makes it easier to move around and less likely to hit somebody else 