Hand paddles

h.o.s.: I don't use paddles either. But, like you I'm currently improving every month. It would be really tough to know what to attribute our improvement to if we were using tools. I'd rather keep it simple until absolutely necessary. Now, I'm certain the improvement is because I'm training more - throw tools into the mix and I'd really be confused. So, I think we both should wait until we plateau (or at very least - are improving at an unacceptably slow rate).

Actually I do use fins/kickboards equally as much as paddles. I started using tools just to break things up after a year without using any. It does add interest to workouts. I''ll probably use them for 2-3 more weeks then get ready for a taper. Guess I'll see what happens. If my times don't improve over my last big meet (August 04), then I'll assume they didn't help but hurt. I noticed a lot of college swimmers when they're home on break use them so I figured why not give them a try.

I would say not to use them for every workout. You could be doing too much paddle work by doing it every workout. Maybe, use them every other workout or every third workout.

A good drill to build up shoulder and chest strength is breaststroke power pull. This is breaststroke pull with your head up and no leg kick. A strength\power set I use is 4(10x25) with about 15 secs rest The odd sets are brs power pull and the even sets are fly sprints. I don't like using paddles because then it feels like you have baby hands when swimming after. This is when you are probably damaging your stroke because you cannot feel it properly.

My problem with paddles is that I swim so much faster with them and use fewer strokes that I want to use them all the time. It is good to use them maybe 2-3 times a week.

There are probably other uses for hand paddles, but from my understanding: 1) Hand paddles help build upper body strength. (risk: shoulder) 2) Hand paddles help the swimmer get used, to and more streamlined at, faster speeds. (expense: kick weakens) You may be getting a stronger upper body, but your times are getting worse because you're learning to rely on your hands. In a normal stroke without paddles your arms provide most of the pulling force. Use fistgloves (or simply swim with fists) to help correct the damage paddles are doing to your stroke technique. I suggest you be sure to use fistgloves as often as you use hand paddles. You can use fistgloves and fins if you want to keep your speed up.

Would you say one has to use hand paddles to achieve top results or is it possible without them?I have never used hand paddles since I started swimming.I started in August and got my 100 meter free from 1:50 to 1:06.I do not want to damage my stroke or stress my shoulders with paddles...

As with any tool, paddles have there strengths and weaknesses. This includes there impact on your stroke. My coach has me use them to help correct my habit to exit prematurely. With the straps adjusted loosely, if I do the stroke incorrectly, I will quickly feel it as the paddles slide around on my hand or fall off during the exit.

Try mixing in swims with fist gloves. If you are developing poor habits because of paddles, fist gloves (or swimming with closed hands) should help you to recover good technique.

Use paddles sparingly. 500 or a 1000 in each workout is too much, especially if you just started using paddles this year. Use paddles the way you'd use super sets in weigh lifting, in small doses to get a short period of a good muscle burn. They're for stenghtenining, not for going faster in regular workout sets. 200 pull wth paddles each workout with a longer, maybe 500 once a week is plenty. Maybe towards the end of a warmup, after some kicking, to get a good muscle burn. Use them too much, and you'll overwork your muscles, especially the smaler ones.