Have you ever noticed that some people get an instant boost from putting on paddles while others don't?
I swim with a training partner and we both hold around 1:10 "threshold" pace (per 100 yards) in training. When we put on paddles and do (as an example) 200s on the 2:35, I'll start out holding 2:25-2:30 and eventually tire out to the point of being touch and go. My training partner will hold 1:05-1:10 pretty comfortably.
Does anyone have any thoughts on how this relates to training and racing? Is more paddle swimming going to make me a faster swimmer? Is it irrelevant to swimming speed without paddles? Does this indicate that I need to do more lifting to get my lats and triceps stronger?
Anyone have any advice on training with paddles or stories about how paddle work has affected their racing?
Have you ever noticed that some people get an instant boost from putting on paddles while others don't?
I swim with a training partner and we both hold around 1:10 "threshold" pace (per 100 yards) in training. When we put on paddles and do (as an example) 200s on the 2:35, I'll start out holding 2:25-2:30 and eventually tire out to the point of being touch and go. My training partner will hold 1:05-1:10 pretty comfortably.
Does anyone have any thoughts on how this relates to training and racing? Is more paddle swimming going to make me a faster swimmer? Is it irrelevant to swimming speed without paddles? Does this indicate that I need to do more lifting to get my lats and triceps stronger?
Anyone have any advice on training with paddles or stories about how paddle work has affected their racing?
It depends on a lot of factors. Assuming you are using a pullboy if someone swims much faster doing pull it often indicates they have poor body position without the pullboy and need to work on not letting their legs sink. Many good swimmers with paddles and pullboy will be a bit faster than full stroke, especially if using larger paddles. As pull is more efficient than kick I find I can pull for longer than swimming full stroke.
If your free is a bit more kick driven it could cause your pull to be slower. Kick plays a big part in body roll as well so when doing pull your timing might be a bit off. It might also indicate you would see improvements by training pull or doing upper body dryland. It also seems like you should go on a slower interval when doing pull sets.
Have you ever noticed that some people get an instant boost from putting on paddles while others don't?
I swim with a training partner and we both hold around 1:10 "threshold" pace (per 100 yards) in training. When we put on paddles and do (as an example) 200s on the 2:35, I'll start out holding 2:25-2:30 and eventually tire out to the point of being touch and go. My training partner will hold 1:05-1:10 pretty comfortably.
Does anyone have any thoughts on how this relates to training and racing? Is more paddle swimming going to make me a faster swimmer? Is it irrelevant to swimming speed without paddles? Does this indicate that I need to do more lifting to get my lats and triceps stronger?
Anyone have any advice on training with paddles or stories about how paddle work has affected their racing?
It depends on a lot of factors. Assuming you are using a pullboy if someone swims much faster doing pull it often indicates they have poor body position without the pullboy and need to work on not letting their legs sink. Many good swimmers with paddles and pullboy will be a bit faster than full stroke, especially if using larger paddles. As pull is more efficient than kick I find I can pull for longer than swimming full stroke.
If your free is a bit more kick driven it could cause your pull to be slower. Kick plays a big part in body roll as well so when doing pull your timing might be a bit off. It might also indicate you would see improvements by training pull or doing upper body dryland. It also seems like you should go on a slower interval when doing pull sets.
