Hi there,
I am beginning a novice training program (600 m)
and I have my kick board.
What is better? kicking with flippers or without?
and could someone please explain the difference with advantanges / disadvantages to me.
Thanks in advance
Former Member
WOW, thank you for the great response.
It's so nice getting advice and personal experiences from people who know what they are talking about.
:)
Great questions...........great replies and some very insightful comments.
Here are my own observations:
Fins, unlike paddles, and being flexible, provide their own power due to their very elasticity, i.e., they translate the user's power and increase it (by what %, I don't know). I know that if I use fins, yes my body will ride even higher in a FR, power swim, but it doesn't tire my legs (hams or quads or calves or even ankles) or buttocks (glutes). I just don't see how using fins can be an aid to increasing strength or efficiency in leg (lower-body) propulsion.
Whereas, paddles being stiff (there might exist flexible paddles, I've never seen or experienced them if they do) offer extra resistance to the stroke (FR in my case) and thus are a strengthening exercice (IMHO). Yes, they do increase the area that is active in propulsion but I find that they work my shoulder muscle more than they help me in swimming faster.
Conclusion (for me and ONLY me):
It's great (immense) fun to Freestyle with fins. (I think to myself, "So, that's what swimming feels like to the likes, of Ian, Michael, Alex, et al!")
But swimming with paddles is "work".
