There are so many new products on the market, oddly shaped paddles, gloves - I even saw this contraption where you connect a tube from your waste to your ankles so that kicking is more difficult.
I do not think that this equipment is effective - particularily paddles - unless you are a very high lever swimmer and you only use it spottingly. Unfortunately ussage tends to be most common with LOW level swimmers and these swimmers use the equipment far too much durring each workout.
My advice to those returning to the pool is to avoid all of this stuff - it will only lead to injuries.
Parents
Former Member
It's sometimes fun to watch a new swimmer come to my pool with a big ol' bag of toys. He spreads them out all over the pool deck and puffs up his chest to try to look serious, all the while glancing around to see if anyone has noticed how big time he is.
He puts on his snorkel, straps on his paddles and steps into his fins. With the edge of the paddle getting in the way, he struggles to start his brand new waterproof chronograph. Then he shoves off the pool edge against a self-created wall of water and splashes violently down the lane, capsizing the little old lady doing a weak version of backstroke in the next lane. Refusing to give up after 25 meters, he shoves off again, this time considerably weaker. By the time he struggles back to where he started, his arm motion has degenerated into just dragging his paddle through the water under his elbow.
He stops at the end and breathes heavily, managing to stop his watch after several seconds of fiddling his fingers around the paddle, then glances around to see if anyone has noticed his herculean effort. After about seven minutes' rest, he takes the paddles and snorkel off and grabs his computer designed hydrodynamic wedge shaped kick board. Once again he splashes off down the lane kicking up a fountain, most of which lands on his own back and head.
The little old lady sees him coming this time and just decides to drown herself to get it over with. The lifeguard is staring at his toenails and doesn't notice.
After 50 meters with the kick board and fins and another seven minutes rest, it's time to cool down. He floats down the lane on his back imitating backstroke, all the while getting his distance by pulling with his left hand on the lane rope. He ducks under the lane ropes to reach the ladder, disrupting swimmers in the other lanes in the process, gathers all his toys into a bag, and heads for the shower.
Back at the office, he boasts to the cute new receptionist that he swims a full thirty minutes every day to stay in shape.
:p
It's sometimes fun to watch a new swimmer come to my pool with a big ol' bag of toys. He spreads them out all over the pool deck and puffs up his chest to try to look serious, all the while glancing around to see if anyone has noticed how big time he is.
He puts on his snorkel, straps on his paddles and steps into his fins. With the edge of the paddle getting in the way, he struggles to start his brand new waterproof chronograph. Then he shoves off the pool edge against a self-created wall of water and splashes violently down the lane, capsizing the little old lady doing a weak version of backstroke in the next lane. Refusing to give up after 25 meters, he shoves off again, this time considerably weaker. By the time he struggles back to where he started, his arm motion has degenerated into just dragging his paddle through the water under his elbow.
He stops at the end and breathes heavily, managing to stop his watch after several seconds of fiddling his fingers around the paddle, then glances around to see if anyone has noticed his herculean effort. After about seven minutes' rest, he takes the paddles and snorkel off and grabs his computer designed hydrodynamic wedge shaped kick board. Once again he splashes off down the lane kicking up a fountain, most of which lands on his own back and head.
The little old lady sees him coming this time and just decides to drown herself to get it over with. The lifeguard is staring at his toenails and doesn't notice.
After 50 meters with the kick board and fins and another seven minutes rest, it's time to cool down. He floats down the lane on his back imitating backstroke, all the while getting his distance by pulling with his left hand on the lane rope. He ducks under the lane ropes to reach the ladder, disrupting swimmers in the other lanes in the process, gathers all his toys into a bag, and heads for the shower.
Back at the office, he boasts to the cute new receptionist that he swims a full thirty minutes every day to stay in shape.
:p
