Hand paddles

RE: Hand paddles

orca1946 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:40:55 GMT

All toys are meant to be used sparingly. More distance with less stroke count ,gets you to feel the speed of a higher body position.

RE: Hand paddles

Bobinator — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:21:37 GMT

How did you get rid of the tennis elbow? I have been using paddles to help with my catch. I guess I've been using them a little too much and have developed tennis elbow. Did you do any special exercises or stretches, or did you just rest it till it went away? I think the paddles and the way I hold my grandson both contributed to this problem but right now I can't swim a lick without pain.

RE: Hand paddles

__steve__ — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:14:28 GMT

Is your pain on the outside or inside (same side as pinkie with palm facing you) of the forearm joint. If inside, then it's golfer's elbow - medial epicodilitis. I had it - Had to get a shot, but it worked

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:21:02 GMT

I'm going to take all advice into consideration and back off the paddles. maybe just a couple more workouts at 200yds with them in the next 2 weeks, hopefully I'll see some improvement this year....and they are fun to use.

RE: Hand paddles

aztimm — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 11:56:15 GMT

I have the TYR Catalyst hand paddles and use them when we're doing a strict pull set. Sometimes I'll also use them for our hypoxic sets (breath control). I'd say this works out to 400-600 yards, 1-2 times a week (I swim 5x week usually). I've gone through phases with paddles where I'd use them everyday, to sometimes 1 time in 2 weeks. All depends really what the coach has in store for our workout. One thing I rarely do is wear them for a swim set....unless I'm in a lane with swimmers significantly faster than I am...they do really make me go faster. The only problem I've had was tennis elbow when I first started using paddles (8+ years ago). I just had to back off a bit, and it has never come back.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:16:20 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

mattson — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 04:19:01 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 17:14:31 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:55:38 GMT

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...

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:21:03 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 15:54:17 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 14:37:54 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

tjrpatt — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 10:26:38 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 07:27:51 GMT

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.

RE: Hand paddles

Former Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 07:03:00 GMT

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).