I like to swim with fins some days, I have the zoomers and some regular fins. I notice when I swim finless that I feel slow as a snail.If I have been using the fins for a couple of days. I know some swimmers that only use fins as thats the only way they have been able to learn, to them I say great what ever works for exercise but have noted to them that they should at least be able to swim finless to get out of the pool for safety if they fell into water anywhere.
Former Member
I see fins as a swim tool like a kick board/pull bouy etc. It is easy for some to become too use to using them in the same way some become too dependant on pull buoys. I use fins for isloated sets eg. kick sets or use them during technique practice for fly, but not during any other set.
Extra toys. IMHO, should not count when totaling yards / day.
This is ridiculous. I would say something else, but I don't want to trouble Jim M. to have to scold me.
There are numerous prior threads on fins.
There are numerous benefits to using fins. All elite coaches use them. Typically, it is best to have a specific purpose in mind when using them, not just mindlessly throw them on (unless you have a shoulder problem).
Very tempted to try them...but like pull-bouys..I think they artificially make swimming easier...and if over utilized tend to give one the illusion that they are faster and in better shape than they actually are. For example..When I see this person averaging over 9000 yards a day on the most recent GTD stats...I certainly wonder how much of that is accomplished with fins/artificial(?)...To each their own...I however do not want to kid myself or anyone else.
I love my fins. I tend to just kick with them, not too much swimming. With the zoomers a person can swim and not have your stroke be distorted by using a long fin. I credit the fin use with helping me develop a very good sdk.
This is ridiculous. I would say something else, but I don't want to trouble Jim M. to have to scold me.
There are numerous prior threads on fins.
There are numerous benefits to using fins. All elite coaches use them. Typically, it is best to have a specific purpose in mind when using them, not just mindlessly throw them on (unless you have a shoulder problem).
Maybe the term you're looking for is ridonkulous?
I agree with you 100%. With a specific purpose, any toy/swimming aid can be extremely beneficial. And I've worked my legs far more with fins than I ever could without. One of the toughest sets I've done over the past year was 100 FAST w/fins + paddles (when done correctly Paul said it can predict race times).
I totally agree with Fort, Ann & Tim -- thanks to fins, I was able to baby myself through a rotator cuff tear - took 2 years, but no surgery. Also, thanks to zoomers, I was able to get my fly rhythm back - not so with fins, as they can really distort & make you think you've got something going on when you don't! But the zoomers have helped & my stroke (w/out the zoomers) has vastly improved because of the zoomers. Besides, they are fun! and really break up the workout, especially when you're bored and swimming solo!
I generally only use fins for long, hard kicking sets and occasionally when my bicep tendinitis acts up. I try not to use them too often so I don't get dependent on them. In fact, I don't like the way I feel when I use them for freestyle.
This is ridiculous. I would say something else, but I don't want to trouble Jim M. to have to scold me.
Hahaha. No kiddin. It's like people are trying to distinguish what yards are quality and what aren't? If I do 10 x 100 free on 1:00 with fins, these people are telling me it's not good enough to count toward my yardage total? Putting on fins doesn't mean I am going to be exerting any less energy. Maybe I'll get through a set faster, but maybe not.
Fins rule. :D
I like to use them for sprinting.. stuff like repeat 100s on a 2:00+ interval, coming in at sub 1:05. I could never come close to that speed without fins, nor could I approach the wonderful combination of lactic acid and ankle stretching that the fins produce.
I also use them for pace work on longer swims like 500s. With fins I can choose what pace/100 I want to swim the 500s on.. say 1:20, 1:15, 1:10, and allocate sufficient speed and pain while watching the clock every 100. Without fins I have to either accept a horribly slow pace (1:35+) or burn out and die after the first 150.
My level of effort to swim a 1:20 100 free without fins is about the same as what it takes to go sub-minute with fins. Since everyone else in my training group can do 1:20s at cruise effort, I pretty much have to use fins to keep up. The workouts are written at their intervals, not mine.
All this fin training doesn't seem to be hurting, because experience has shown that I swim faster in meets when I train a lot with fins.
