HI all. I need help deciding what paddles to use. I just bought TYR Catalyst paddles size S. I am a male, 23 years old, weigh 150 and swim about 3-4 times a week. I would say that I am intermediate. Basically, I feel that the paddles provide too much resistance for me. Although, the Small size is what it recommened. I have no experience with paddles so I am un sure of how they are suppposed to feel. I am afriad that if I move a size smaller, my hands might be slightly too big for it. The XS is recommended for for males and females 11-12 years old. I am in a bind so any help would be appreciated!!!! Regards, Cliff :)
Parents
Former Member
Cynthia,
I think the underlying point of most of the postings is not that paddles are universally good or bad, but that it depends on how you use them.
I personally do not use paddles at all for specific reasons. First, I have had shoulder problems in the past, and I am not inclined to risk having them again for whatever benefit paddles might bring. Second, I do not think I will benefit from increasing the leverage on the water I get from my hands alone. The style of swimming I am trying to teach myself emphasizes using my core body trunk muscles to generate power, and getting my arms, abs and legs all working in coordination. Isolating my arms and shoulders is not going to help me learn how to coordinate my whole body, and increased strength in my arms alone will not necessarily make me faster.
However, others may have different training objectives where paddles might help. I can't visualize how paddles would teach me to swim better, but when a swimmer as accomplished, and as scientific in his training methods, as Paul Smith says he can, I pay attention.
I think the bottom line here is paddles can be counterproductive. Don't use them just because everyone else is, but do use them if you have a specific purpose in mind and know what your limits are. Finally, I think it extremely dangerous to argue paddles are OK because Shirley Babashoff used them alot, and she had no injury problems. I've riffed on this before, but to sum up... Just because a training method works well for extraordinarly gifted world class athletes who are preparing for world class meets, DOES NOT MEAN that these methods are best (or even safe) for other swimmers whose goals are more modest. I know of plenty of swimmers in their 20's, or their teens even, with blown-out shoulders.
Lastly, I really appreciate the analogy to scythed chariots, and let me develope this theme further. Not only are paddles and scythed chariots potentially items of mass mayhem, for the most part they are wholey ineffective. Darius tried to use them against Alexander the Great, and Alexander's highly trained army had no problem neutralizing them. You've touched on my other obsession--military history--and I could riff for hours on that one, but you REALLY don't want to get me started. (Unless, of course, you are just like me, and when you here of a movie titled "Hannibal," you think Hannibal Barcid rather than Hannibal Lechter.)
Matt
Cynthia,
I think the underlying point of most of the postings is not that paddles are universally good or bad, but that it depends on how you use them.
I personally do not use paddles at all for specific reasons. First, I have had shoulder problems in the past, and I am not inclined to risk having them again for whatever benefit paddles might bring. Second, I do not think I will benefit from increasing the leverage on the water I get from my hands alone. The style of swimming I am trying to teach myself emphasizes using my core body trunk muscles to generate power, and getting my arms, abs and legs all working in coordination. Isolating my arms and shoulders is not going to help me learn how to coordinate my whole body, and increased strength in my arms alone will not necessarily make me faster.
However, others may have different training objectives where paddles might help. I can't visualize how paddles would teach me to swim better, but when a swimmer as accomplished, and as scientific in his training methods, as Paul Smith says he can, I pay attention.
I think the bottom line here is paddles can be counterproductive. Don't use them just because everyone else is, but do use them if you have a specific purpose in mind and know what your limits are. Finally, I think it extremely dangerous to argue paddles are OK because Shirley Babashoff used them alot, and she had no injury problems. I've riffed on this before, but to sum up... Just because a training method works well for extraordinarly gifted world class athletes who are preparing for world class meets, DOES NOT MEAN that these methods are best (or even safe) for other swimmers whose goals are more modest. I know of plenty of swimmers in their 20's, or their teens even, with blown-out shoulders.
Lastly, I really appreciate the analogy to scythed chariots, and let me develope this theme further. Not only are paddles and scythed chariots potentially items of mass mayhem, for the most part they are wholey ineffective. Darius tried to use them against Alexander the Great, and Alexander's highly trained army had no problem neutralizing them. You've touched on my other obsession--military history--and I could riff for hours on that one, but you REALLY don't want to get me started. (Unless, of course, you are just like me, and when you here of a movie titled "Hannibal," you think Hannibal Barcid rather than Hannibal Lechter.)
Matt
