Which swim toys, if any, are you using?

I am a purist. An awful lot of users here. I did use a crutch for the trip home from the Hospital after my knee operation. Then a cane for a few days and threw it a way. I think all of you crutch users (swim toys) should throw them away. I have a crutch - I wear googles for training but not when I race. I did wear googles when I swam the marathons.

Morgan, if those are the paddles you use I would recommend taking the rear strap off and just using your fingers to hold the paddle....the reason is, that rear strap tends to be used as a cheat strap....by leaving it on you are able to cheat your stroke by pulling your hand out early. If you take that strap off and start swimming and it gets pulled off you are not pushing all the way through on your stroke. This will correct that pretty quick.....after having to retrieve your paddles a few times down the lane you'll realize what you are doing. My old high school coach would make us take the strap off completely so we couldn't use it at all.

So about this Monofin...is it really as insanely fun as it looks like it might be? I can just see myself wanting to use it all the time, screaming "I'M A MERMAID! I'M A MERMAID!" alot. Yes, you nailed it! It's exactly like that!! :groovy: (I do have to restrain myself.)

I just use Zoomers. So about this Monofin...is it really as insanely fun as it looks like it might be? I can just see myself wanting to use it all the time, screaming "I'M A MERMAID! I'M A MERMAID!" alot.

Morgan, if those are the paddles you use I would recommend taking the rear strap off and just using your fingers to hold the paddle....the reason is, that rear strap tends to be used as a cheat strap....by leaving it on you are able to cheat your stroke by pulling your hand out early. If you take that strap off and start swimming and it gets pulled off you are not pushing all the way through on your stroke. This will correct that pretty quick.....after having to retrieve your paddles a few times down the lane you'll realize what you are doing. My old high school coach would make us take the strap off completely so we couldn't use it at all. I took the wrist strap this morning at your advice...and to my surprise I was just fine without the wrist strap! Thanks for the suggestion--wouldn't want to be :cane:-ing my way through practice!!:D

I *own* quite a few of these toys, but rarely use them. My knees hurt after using fins, paddles make my shoulders ache, and I hate kickboards with a passion. I have no objections to pullbuoys, but I don't seem to have quite gotten the hang of using them effectively. With a club, I'll go along with pull/kick sets, although on I still haven't quite figured out how to push a board and I always look damned silly trying. On my own, I guess I'm a purist out of pure cluelessness.

Another question about the Monofin...how do you turn? Obviously a flip turn, but can you still push off the wall with that big fin on? I've found some video and my lord, it looks SO FUN, but it only shows the length and not the turn. I have never seen anyone use this at my pool. Does it complicate circle swimming? Does it intrigue and intimidate others? Is it better suited to open water than lap swim? It seems so exciting. Please tell me more! Here is a thread discussing monofins, which also references other threads discussing monofins and fins: forums.usms.org/showthread.php I don't circle swim with monofins. Usually just use it when I'm swimming solo and have a lane to myself. It seems to frighten people away, so I often have a lane to myself. I often get a lot of questions about what it is and how to use it. I don't know about OW. Doesn't seem like it would help you swim there. Monofins generally help with SDKs, streamlining, etc. On the monofin thread above, other uses are discussed. I have no problem with using in for SCY. I learned how to flip pretty quickly with it. I never do open turns. I think LC, you could easily circle swim with it because everyone is much more spread out. I use it for speed workouts and SDK practice. I do a lot of underwater shooters with it. I do four point kicking on my back, front, left side and right side. I'll do sets of 50s and sometimes 100s with it. I'll do BR drills and fly drills, but not full stroke fly. It's fun. I did mermaid workout today. Spent about half the workout underwater, doing a lot of fly, back, SDKs and underwater kicking. Just make sure to do some kicking without the MF too! I think it's helped improve my SDKs on fly, back and free and strengthened my core. Sometimes it feels like a weight workout. Give it a whirl! There are several different types of MFs too. I use the finis shooter. Oh, but don't drop it on your toes or feet. You might need stitches!

I tried a monofin once and with the first kick I did a faceplant into the bottom of the pool - whoa! Be careful what direction you are pointed because its powerful - once I got the hang of kicking it was really fun and fast . . . I am guilty of using just about every toy on the list at least once or twice. I don't use a pull buoy though as I no longer need flotation for my thighs . . .

Water Wings :party2:

Another question about the Monofin...how do you turn? Obviously a flip turn, but can you still push off the wall with that big fin on? I've found some video and my lord, it looks SO FUN, but it only shows the length and not the turn. I have never seen anyone use this at my pool. Does it complicate circle swimming? Does it intrigue and intimidate others? Is it better suited to open water than lap swim? It seems so exciting. Please tell me more! I've flipped with mine and never had problems pushing off. I've also done open turns with it, but they aren't very fast, as you can imagine. I've never worn it when I've had to share a lane because it could be a problem because of its size (and sharp edges!). Most people at our pool don't even notice it unless it's on the deck and then some will ask a question or make a comment. I think there are some models that are better suited for open water but I don't think the one I use is.