Fins

RE: Fins

joshua — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:03:07 GMT

Jayhawk - thanks for the link. Presently I am using the AlphaFin and I find them very comfortable, perhaps because they float. I am considering getting the Finis Gold. I use the fins to increase ankle flexibility, strengthen kicking muscles and in overspeed sets for fitness. Would the Finis Gold be a good choice for these purposes?

RE: Fins

Former Member — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:45:11 GMT

Matteo, have you ever used the blue or red Zoomers? I used to have the blue ones. I think they have stopped making them and have gone to the gold. I just wondered how the gold ones compare to the old blue or red ones. This is actually my first time using fins so I don't have anything to compare them to.

RE: Fins

Former Member — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:37:50 GMT

I picked up some Finis Gold Zoomers a few months ago to try and strengthen my kick. Matteo, have you ever used the blue or red Zoomers? I used to have the blue ones. I think they have stopped making them and have gone to the gold. I just wondered how the gold ones compare to the old blue or red ones.

RE: Fins

Former Member — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:21:19 GMT

I picked up some Finis Gold Zoomers a few months ago to try and strengthen my kick. 95% of the work I've done with them is kick sets, with very little actual swimming with them. As my intent was to improve my kick for sprinting, that's what most of my kick sets were...high intensity efforts. Lots of AFAP 25's and 50's. After several weeks there was some improvement in my 25 and 50 kick times, though I probably overdid it a bit as I wound up with some knee pain and had to back off for awhile. I did wind up swimming a PB in the 100 Free without resting or shaving, though I'm not sure how much of that can be contributed to the fin work. Good luck!

RE: Fins

Former Member — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:03:52 GMT

We tested fins for an issue of SWIMMER magazine. Watch the video review here: SWIMMER Magazine Fin Testing - YouTube

RE: Fins

Former Member — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:34:50 GMT

Love my TYR Crossblade fins-they are neither short like zoomers or long like scuba fins.They work great for my back stroke and free kick sets.I have always liked working with fins because my kick is worth :censor: and they allow me to focus much more on my stroke technique.

RE: Fins

joshua — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:21:28 GMT

As to monofins: I haven't used them for years but when I did, I didn't feel improvement except in my underwater fly. Actually, I felt that the only thing that monofins were doing for me was making me a better monofin swimmer, which was not my goal. I agree that different size fins work different muscles and I also agree that long fins change body alignment. I feel that shorter fins keep my body more aligned with my non-fin body position.

RE: Fins

jbs — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:59:45 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with breaststroke fins? I'd really like to get some to try out, but my size is on back order (everywhere!) until fall. My feet tend to be a bit lazy when I kick out and I wondered if the added resistance would help fix my positioning. I've used the breaststroke fins and like them. They do seem to help you feel where your feet should be in the kick. However, I'd caution you to warm up your legs a lot before you use them -- particularly with some breaststroke kick. Also, start out easy at first until you get used to them.

RE: Fins

The Fortress — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:55:36 GMT

My opinion: for KICKING sets with fins, I think long fins or a monofin (talk to Fortress about that one) are best. And even more specific, for LONGER kick sets, long fins over the monofin (I tend to only use it when I am doing 25s or 50s but no longer than that). Short fins, or "zoomers" as my club team used to call them, are better for swimming sets which call for fins. Nowadays, I don't even take my own advice and use strictly long fins, but that is because I threw out my zoomers in college because I hated them so much and haven't bothered buying a new pair. Zoomers versus long fins will change which muscles in the legs are getting worked harder. In the end though, do whatever is more comfortable. I know people who hate long fins as much as I hate short fins, considering them "unwieldy." I mostly agree with Calvin. And like Calvin, I use only long blade fairly stiff fins. I think shorter fins would be better for freestyle, but I don't really train free. I spend a lot of time underwater dolphin kicking in fly and back so prefer the long fins for swimming those strokes and for ***. Long fins are definitely the way to go for kick sets. And monofins are fantastic! I don't use them to swim fly and hence am not a "monofin swimmer" as Joshua commented. I use the Finis Shooter MF exclusively for dolphin kicking. And, trust me, you don't just become a "monofin kicker." They build swim specific leg and core strength and help perfect streamlines. I would definitely not be as good a kicker without my use of fins and the MF.

RE: Fins

mlabresh — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:05:23 GMT

The ones I have are shorter - the Speedo training fins, I believe. I like them and haven't noticed any difference in my body alignment when I use them. I could see how longer ones would though. Does anyone have any experience with breaststroke fins? I'd really like to get some to try out, but my size is on back order (everywhere!) until fall. My feet tend to be a bit lazy when I kick out and I wondered if the added resistance would help fix my positioning.

RE: Fins

Calvin S — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:45:19 GMT

I feel that shorter fins keep my body more aligned with my non-fin body position. Which is why I think they are better for "fin" swimming!

RE: Fins

Former Member — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:31:54 GMT

I like to use medium sized fins that have some but not too much flexibility. This allows me to build the strength in my legs. Long fins change my kicking technique into a more scuba diving type action. I also ensure that I do lots of kick without fins so my legs don't become reliant on them.

RE: Fins

Calvin S — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:33:24 GMT

RE: Fins

mlabresh — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:36:21 GMT

I'm on my first pair of fins and have only used them a handful of times.. no recommendations, but I'm interested in what others have to say! :popcorn: