open/closed handed freestyle??

Originally posted by Paul Smith Oh Contrar Mr. Smith..... I told you to stop dropping your thumbs to almost 90 degrees at hand entry.....a poor/lazy habit you picked up training on your own the last couple of years with opversize paddles and without my being around to yell to you......any chance that may play a part with your should problem thats emerged???!! Also.......I told you to keep your hand "relaxed" but to pull your thumb in rather than having it positioned like part of a big "L" as in LOSER!! And by the way......seems to have helped a bit considering your relay splits at worlds wouldn't you say.....so YOU pay up old man! PS: next year we're going to get you out of that late 70's, googles out breakout on starts/turns that you seem to take pleasure in! I've noticed in underwater video's of Popov swimming freestyle that he positions his thumb out at a 90 degrees upon hand entry. I Tend to do this as well and I never thought this was a bad thing. For me it seems easier to maintain a relaxed feeling in my hands that way. I do use the TYR catalyst paddles, so that might be why its more comfortable to swim with my thumb out. Kevin

Originally posted by Paul Smith Oh Contrar Mr. Smith..... I told you to stop dropping your thumbs to almost 90 degrees at hand entry.....a poor/lazy habit you picked up training on your own the last couple of years with opversize paddles and without my being around to yell to you......any chance that may play a part with your should problem thats emerged???!! Also.......I told you to keep your hand "relaxed" but to pull your thumb in rather than having it positioned like part of a big "L" as in LOSER!! And by the way......seems to have helped a bit considering your relay splits at worlds wouldn't you say.....so YOU pay up old man! PS: next year we're going to get you out of that late 70's, googles out breakout on starts/turns that you seem to take pleasure in! I've noticed in underwater video's of Popov swimming freestyle that he positions his thumb out at a 90 degrees upon hand entry. I Tend to do this as well and I never thought this was a bad thing. For me it seems easier to maintain a relaxed feeling in my hands that way. I do use the TYR catalyst paddles, so that might be why its more comfortable to swim with my thumb out. Kevin