I read an article about fist swimming. sometimes I do it but because the article seemed swell done, I tried it throughout one weeks work out. It totally screwed my stroke. I did 5X 400. On the last length of the last one my stroke count was 25/length. Then I did regular free for 400. through out my count was really high. Now i have to go back and do soemthing. I was surprised how quickly it changed everything. Now i think that I'll never swim with fists ever again.
My understanding is fist swimming forces you to use a high-elbow stroke and engage your forearms since otherwise you won't go anywhere. I think it does that and IS useful, but should be used sparingly.
5 x 400 drills? :confused: Drills are normally done in small doses, so you can concentrate on them. Yardage is done in large doses, so you can go to sleep.
I don't use pull bouys or baords either. The other day I had a woman ask me if I was paralyzed because I was doing *** stroke dragging my feet. We had been swiming next to each other for about 15 minutes prior to this incident.
I thought the reason to use fists is to use your shoulders and upper arms more.
use your upper arms and shoulders more to what effect?
if the goal was to give myself an arm and shoulder workout, i would go to the gym and do some dumbell work.
if i am to swim with a handicap (fist swimming is a handicap) my goal is to find greater efficiency in other areas. certainly catching more water with your forearm would be a positive result.
Fist drill serves two purposes as used in my personal drill arsenal; 1) the Catch and 2) Speed.
Sounds like the catch part was discovered. When using fists only, you can see how using your forearm is an integral part of the beginning of the underwater portion of your stroke.
Also, you can see how important it is to keep your underwater followthrough along the outside of your body. If you find those hands creeping underneath your body, move them out (rotate those shoulders more).
The Speed portion of fist drill is purely just getting a feel for how fast the turnover is with fists. Many distance swimmers, like myself, tend to have issues with slow turnover. Using fists, your arms are constantly moving, since your hands sink right in. Kinda makes me feel like I have a prayer at a decent 50 free :)
