I mainly do short course races, so big yardage isn’t necessary nor good for someone with a history of shoulder problems. My local gym has a pool, but no equipment. I’m getting a kick-board and a pull buoy, but I’m wondering – do hand paddles & fins really make much of a difference in training for someone who swims a couple times a week about 1500 yards or so? I’d integrate them into my workout and increase yardage a bit, but are they really worth it in the long run?
I’m eliminating weight training to all but once a week as I’m also trying to lose a little weight, and I don’t want to gain the muscle mass I usually get from weights. Lots more cardio-type things, and I’m upping the ante on biking this year - anything to shed a few pounds - I’m about 180 now, and I’m shooting for 170-165 in the long run. Of course if I’d eat a little better…and a little less…
Fins allow you to train at a faster rate. You feel the water more and therefore can make changes in your stroke based on water flowing past your body. Your pulse rate will be higher while training with fins and you will increase your ankle flexibility which is integral to fast swimming. Some hand paddles (Finis’ fulcrum paddles) do a similiar job as fins. If you do not swim correctly they fall off.
You do not have to increase your yardage. You will swim more intensely.
I use the little Hans paddles with holes. I like them. Are they effective? Any effective drills or sets using them?
I love my zoomers, too. I swim 4X a week 2 to 3,000 yards and once a week I focus on kick; alternating between zoomers and no fins for 1,000 + or so. Is this also a good idea? I’m a better-than-average swimmer, BTW (I can do 1:30s all day; 1:15s are a bit hectic for me)
Axebiker: Doug’s right and fins and paddles are cheap and last years if you don’t lose them. And swim more, he’s right about that too. -TB
I’ll consider the paddles you were talking about though. They look interesting and could provide a bit more challenge to control. I’m a pretty efficient swimmer, and my technique is pretty good as well as I had a competitive background, but I need to get more out of my workouts, because they are getting tedious. As I mentioned, I’m dropping most of my weight training as well, so I think additional resistance would be a good thing.
Shoulder problems? Stay away from both paddles and the kick board. The paddles will put added stresses on your shoulder and the kickboard can lift the shoulders into an unnatural position. I never use paddles. I use a KB but my shoulders arent a problem. Go to www.USMS.org and search their forums on this topic.
The problems are actually pretty minimal these days - I attribute part of that to weight training in college. I’ve got partially torn rotators along with some issues from overtraining in high school. I know to be careful with the paddles - if they give me any problems, I just won’t use them. I aggravated them in HS pretty bad one week, and it took a couple months to recover. Now that I’m 33, I’m sure it’ll take longer, so I’ll watch it and not use them too much. I just need to switch things up a bit so I will actually train a little! Boredom is almost a worse enemy than injury.
I personally like Zoomers. They are not too heavy or long and feel just right. The downside to Zoomers is that some people get abrasions on their insteps or toes. Fin booties will solve tht problem. The first time you use them your calves and feet might cramp. WSear them sparingly at first.
I have used the Hans paddles. They were developed by Dick Hannula. I have gone to shaped paddles which take the stress off my shoulders and place it on the palm of my hand and lats. I like the fulcrum paddles without the wrist strap.
Your kicking regimen seems fine. Whenever I use fins the pace goes up drastically. I will do a long kick without them and negative split a 1,000. Then again I like to kick.
It depends on the hand paddles. I have had the long head of my biceps rip off my shoulder and my suprapinatus muscles pinned back on. I can swim with fulcrum paddles all day long. They do not affect your shoulders at all.
a different view point. i don’t understand the need for fins while training for a triathlon. as a former distance swimmer (16:00 mile) i would rarely use more than a two beat kick during anything over a 500y swim. given that there are two events to follow which are heavy on the legs, it’d make sense to me just to minimally use the lower body beyond a two beat kick for balance and water positioning. as for paddles, i like to remove the lower (wrist) band on the paddles and just use the bands across the fingers. this will really help you train for better stroke technique.
I would tend to agree on the minimal use of legs, however, I just want to use them to fine-tune technique. And lets face it, as you move through your 30’s, you aren’t necessarily gaining a lot of muscle strength along the way as the testosterone levels begin to decrease. Any help I can get to become more efficient is a good thing. As a short course person, I get an opportunity to “turn it on” at times too, so it could help in the long run. I also tend to think that increasing the intensity of my workout helps as well since I am unable to commit the amount of time I SHOULD train due to a number of other reasons - family, home, dog training (new hunting dog!!), etc… I just want to be able to get the maximal benefit from the often too short of training time I have available. Becoming more efficient seems to be the key to me, as the days of “brute force” and “gutting it out” are kinda behind me. I’m turning rapidly into the weekend warrior I thought I’d never be.
Not a huge fins fan, as I am also a two beat kicker. My fins always rubbed me the wrong way though, so my heals and instep had chaffing, which probable had something to do with it. I think the biggest benefit is the flexibility that was talked about above. Foot flexablity will help your swimming in many ways. The “more relaxed” foot will translate all the way up the leg to the hip and core, making your entire body more, relaxed.
Try this some time, swim freestyle with your toes pointing straight down to the bottom of the pool. See how it affects your body roll and stroke. Now swim regular…see a difference. Now, how would it change if your foot was completely relaxed (had the extra flexablity)?
Shoulder problems? Stay away from both paddles and the kick board. The paddles will put added stresses on your shoulder and the kickboard can lift the shoulders into an unnatural position. I never use paddles. I use a KB but my shoulders arent a problem. Go to www.USMS.org and search their forums on this topic.
I don’t do LONG sets, and my yardage is pretty low compared to many, so I’m not too worried. If I was doing the 5000-6000 yard sets I once used to, I’d be a little more concerned. At 1500+, many would consider my workout a warmup!
I’m a big fan of paddles, fins and any other gadget. Suck up your pride and spend a few extra dollars and start with the small ones, working your way up to the larger ones. A lot of strain can be avoided that way. Also, do whatever Doug says.
Huh? Suck up my pride? Did I miss something? I think I’ve been pretty humble to this point…
I do plan on starting small however - and staying that way. I just want to get the technique/conditining aspect of it all. I’m not looking to turn into a dolphin! LOL!