Hi,
I need to widen my swim gear inventory. A waterski is about the closest thing to fins I have experience with (id est - never used fins). I feel I can really make use of a pair of them but I haven't a clue as to what type to try first. :help:
If it's possible to point me in the right direction, would anyone know what fins to try first?
If it helps:
Short distance swimmer (order of ability level: free, fly, back, ***)
Foot size: 10.5 (very wide)
moderate ankle/foot flexibility
average flutter kick speed
below average SDK speed (but moderate efficiency)
Primary uses: to augment fly, various drills, and to spend more time feeling hydrodynamic forces at race pace and faster.
Not sure I know what I exactly need but I was thinking of something that will allow me to swim 2 x 50 (at 1 sec faster than race pace) @ 0:90, yet be forgiving enough to assist other uses (i.e. fly sets, drills).
:notworthy: Merci Obrigado!
Lots of really good info posted here. My main issue is that I am all arms in freestyle and am one of those leg draggers. When I do put more effort into kicking I get unbalanced in the water. What happens is when I breath my one leg will kick out causing resistance. I read (and viewed some videos) that certain fins help train the legs to maintain proper positioning. Another review mentioned that shorter would be better since they would help maintain the faster cadence of "normal" swimming - (without fins). Of course something else that requires attention is my SDK\underwater kicks, but might need a different set of fins for that. I appreciate everyone's input.
Looks like serious kicking drills are in my future.
In all honesty, I think you just need to get to work on more kicking, without the arms, or fins for that matter. All strokes, distances and all events now, especially at the upper levels, kicking is a key component of swimming. You can get started with just a kickboard and start out with sets of 25s or 50s, trying to reduce your interval down so that you're trying to hold a "good" pace. I wasn't a big kicker in the past, but I've changed that now. I still consider distance freestyle my best events, but I am much more kick based than before, and when needed can really pour it on with my legs when needed, especially at the end of races when you don't need to lose.
Lots of really good info posted here. My main issue is that I am all arms in freestyle and am one of those leg draggers. When I do put more effort into kicking I get unbalanced in the water. What happens is when I breath my one leg will kick out causing resistance. I read (and viewed some videos) that certain fins help train the legs to maintain proper positioning. Another review mentioned that shorter would be better since they would help maintain the faster cadence of "normal" swimming - (without fins). Of course something else that requires attention is my SDK\underwater kicks, but might need a different set of fins for that. I appreciate everyone's input.
Looks like serious kicking drills are in my future.
In all honesty, I think you just need to get to work on more kicking, without the arms, or fins for that matter. All strokes, distances and all events now, especially at the upper levels, kicking is a key component of swimming. You can get started with just a kickboard and start out with sets of 25s or 50s, trying to reduce your interval down so that you're trying to hold a "good" pace. I wasn't a big kicker in the past, but I've changed that now. I still consider distance freestyle my best events, but I am much more kick based than before, and when needed can really pour it on with my legs when needed, especially at the end of races when you don't need to lose.
