Fins

Fins are great for drills. They can increase leg exertition to improve aerobic capacity. They can help with streamlining and technique by letting you swim above race speed. I swim a lot of breaststroke with dolphin kick with fins. This lets me work on my form without straining my knees.

Originally posted by bckirkland Here's a question for you guys. Since I've been back in swimming, I've noticed alot more workouts contiaining the use of fins. When I used to swim in high school, we never used them. So really, what is the advantage of using fins during a work out and why would I want to use them? It seems like everytime I turnaround my workout says to kick with fins, or swim with fins. Any input on that would be much appreciated. It all depends on the type of fins that you use. There are traditional long fins that have been used for scuba and many swimming organizations. My preference today is to use shorter fins that look a lot like ZipFins. If you can't find any pictures, just picture a normal pair of long fins that have been chopped off so the fin only extends about 2 inches past the “cup” where your feet fit into the fin. I like these because they don't provide a huge amount of propulsion, and they add weight to my feet which makes my legs work harder. I've also noticed that using fins when doing backstroke and butterfly kick helps me to kick harder and longer so my legs get a better workout than without fins.

In addition to the reasons people have already mentioned, I'd add the following: - Fins tend to improve your ankle flexibility. There are people (often people who have done a lot of running) whose ankles are so inflexible that they actually cup water and pull them backward as they kick. But when they put fins on, the fins immediately start forcing them to bend their feet down at the ankles as they kick. Eventually they come to the point where their ankles stay that way even when they kick with no fins. - Fins encourage a narrow, streamlined kick. When people have an ineffective kick, they tend to compensate by flailing with their legs, which creates a lot of drag. To make matters worse, if they practice with a kickboard using the most instinctive kickboard form (i.e., leaning on the board with their head out of the water), this tends to mask the problem because (1) their bodies are already so unstreamlined that a little extra drag isn't all that noticeable, and (2) they move so much slower when they are propelled only by their kick that the drag isn't as noticeable. I personally use Slim Fins, which I like because of their shape and flexibility. But they are expensive!

I used fins for kicking sets and also drills, I don't tend to use them for actual swimming although I know the reasoning is so you can swim butterfly longer without falling apart. I think the kicking with the fins really works out my leg muscles and my heart POUNDS! It's a good training tool.

I swim 3500 yards three days a week - in 500 yard groups. I like using the short fins too, for the reasons mentioned - and it is fun to swim at race speeds. I usually swim 2000 yards with and then 1500 without. Personally I like the Zoomers. I have the blue ones it this point, but I'm thinking about moving up to the red ones

Originally posted by Darksaber I usually swim 2000 yards with and then 1500 without. This seems like an excessive amount of swimming with fins to me. What great benefit are you getting from 1500 yards/meters with fins?

I don't get them either (using fins). Yes, it makes the workout go quicker and they do propell me while doing fly, but doesn't that develop bad habits? Isn't it like practicing the high jump from a tampoline.

I feel the same way about kicking with the fins on as I do about kicking with a kick board. Lots of kicking with the kick board makes a person good at: kicking with a kick board! While I do spend some practice time with fins on and some with a kickboard (or both), I need to practice my events more. Last time I checked masters competition does not allow fins or kickboards in a race! So I use those training tools on a limited basis because I don't have that much pool time. I guess everyone will have to find their own point of diminishing returns. . .

Well, I do like going fast. I've just started swimming this summer. I was on a neighborhood swim team when I was a kid, but nothing other than recreational swimming since. I'm 48, and swimming (as well as other exercise) has helped me lose 40 pounds. (now 6'2", 206) So I'm a newbie, not in Masters, just swiming at the Y. I could very well be all wrong :) I did some research that suggested using fins increased resistance, helped train your foot/legs to the right technique, and, most importantly to me, increased the cardio vascular workout. (I also bought a number of books on swimming technique, but that's a different topic) I'm in it (at this point) strictly for the fitness benefits.