Started swimming again after quite a few years off. I have found I have developed a strong addiction to my pull bouy which I affectionately call my "diaper"...... (as well as wearing my paddles). I do most of my main sets with them both on. I don't seem to have any shoulder problems using the paddles so often ...... which surprises me.
I'm wondering if this is a healthy addiction. Then again, I am old and need my diaper to stay a float easier.
John Smith
I like pulling w/ paddles as well. I use TYR Catalyst paddles, but also use a smaller buoy as AZTIMM mentioned above. I really grind away at my pull sets, thinking of the paddles as my "weights" in the water. I can get my heartrate going pretty high too.
The only other thing I use is fins. Now I use long fins, where in the past I used the short ones. On my team, we do a kick set every day that usually incorporates the fins, and we do our kicking very fast w/ short rest intervals (e.g. 12 x 100 @ 1:20 in SCYards)
Former Member
No toys. I am in a "no toys" phase. I gave away my agility paddles after one workout: They got between me and the water; it felt like trying to play cello while wearing mittens. I like fins every rare while, but they aggravate a chronic tendinitis in my ankles. I do not like pull buoys or kickboards for any reason.
It is better to get in the water and swim. When you are done swimming, get out. If you are "grinding it out", you are trying to do too much!
But that's just me ... maybe later I will be all for toys!
Hm... no toys? I seem to recall someone being very excited about the Instabeats he's got on order. :D
Former Member
I have 3 different sets of paddles:
* TYR Catalyst: when I want to just grind away a pull set
* Finis Agility: when I want to work more on improving my stroke for free
* Speedo fingertip: when I'm working more on *** or back
Interesting....... I have become finicky about the paddles I use with my addiction now.
I have used the TYR catalyst paddles (yellow size) and found the pointed tips to slip a little too much on the catch. There's a positioning that has to be just right with them.
The Finis Agility flip flop and wobble around a bit too much.... just don't feel stable going in and out of the turns with them. I'd rather relax my hand muscles and feel the pressure with my arms and shoulders instead.
The Speedo fingertips don't feed my addiction enough in terms of riding out the front of my stroke and smooth acceleration into the wall on the final pull going in to the turn. There's just not enough ego involved when you swim with these things.
I've been using the Arena Vortex paddles lately and changing the tubing configuration to run horizontal across my wrist and straight across my 4 fingers. There's a bit of cupping in the palm to these, but not too much cupping like the Speedo Tech or Contoured paddles. Too much cupping seems to reduce the total glide feel out front and applies a lot of focused pressure on the center of hand. I'd really like to design my own paddles ........ maybe call them.... "Addictions" .....:-)
300 on 1:10
That's what I do on the track with running shoes, but maybe 3 x
Former Member
StewarACarroll "....... 10x300 set on 1.10 pace in short course yards"............
That's more like continuous swimming. No time for chit chat on a set like that.
............. Glad you are addicted to the snorkel though.
