In an effort to correct a "dropped elbow" problem with my stroke, I have been swimming a lot of laps with closed fists--to a point where I can swim almost as fast doing this drill as normal swimming. I do find I have to concentrate hard on extending the arm on both the beginning and end of the underwater portion of the stroke--maybe something about not having the fingers extending as usual from the hand makes the stroke feel shorter.
This drill definitely helps keep your elbow high and forces you to use your forearm and back muscles for propulsion. I've found it also seems to reduce post-workout twinges in the shoulder/rotator cuff area.
My question is: Would doing a lot of fist drill laps have the potential to create some other bad habit, perhaps in compensation for the lack of hand surface, that I might not be aware of? I try to keep everything else about my technique the same. Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Parents
Former Member
Well, keep in mind that at age 57 I'm not the fastest swimmer in the pool to begin with. Still, I find that if I maintain good body position and a decent kick, I swim with closed fists pretty easily and without much drop off in speed. The drill actually forces you to keep up a good pace or your hips start to sink. Since one of the big benefits of using this drill a lot has been the improvement in post-workout shoulder pain, I'm reluctant to return to "normal" swimming right away.
Well, keep in mind that at age 57 I'm not the fastest swimmer in the pool to begin with. Still, I find that if I maintain good body position and a decent kick, I swim with closed fists pretty easily and without much drop off in speed. The drill actually forces you to keep up a good pace or your hips start to sink. Since one of the big benefits of using this drill a lot has been the improvement in post-workout shoulder pain, I'm reluctant to return to "normal" swimming right away.
