I was reading the thread on swim paddles and thought I would start a new thread.
I coincidentally just bought a pair of swim paddles. I used them once and took caution because of what other swimmers told me. I only did 3x200's with them and put them away. I liked the way they felt, but I did not like it when I took them off. I also did feel a bit of strain on my left shoulder.
After reading the paddle thread circulating, I tried swimming 5x200's today with closed fists. Wow! I loved how it reduced my fatigue level so I could concentrate on my catch and moving through the water efficiently. My 200's were about 15 seconds slower than normal. I really enjoyed this set. I had some trouble keeping my hands in a fist on the last one and I felt a bit tense trying to do so.
I followed up with 5x100's with open hands and nearly tore my arms out of my sockets. This made me realize a hand is sufficient.
Do any other sprinters up to 400 meters use this technique instead of paddles?
I do some fist swimming in every warmup.I think it really improves feel for the water. I also do fist swimming if I feel I am having problems with EVF.I also do a lot of fist swimming early in the season to take strain off my shoulder,for that matter any time I feel some shoulder twinge I'll shift to fist swimming or fist swimming with fins.Fist swimming with fins keeps my speed up while decreasing strain on my shoulders. I only use paddles for the reverse paddle breaststroke pull drill as I find if I use paddles much my shoulders pay:cane:.
Former Member
I find the completely closed first tampers with my whole stroke, including recovery, a tad much; I think the lowered speed kind of messes with my body position and, hence, body roll.
I find bending my fingers in at the knuckles to be a nice compromise. It really does make you take notice of the forearms. Like Allen, I do 4-6 fifties nearly every day. Then, with full hands, 2-3 hundreds concentrating on stroke, but cruising pretty good, all as the end of my my warm-up.
Oh yeah. Generally, fists over paddles. For sure.
Former Member
My shoulders ache enough as it is w/o paddles, I've avoided them like the plague. If they are acting up I don't go to fists, I usually give them the day off and do a long hard kick set. However I do a fists drill every day after my 1000WU, I pull 200 w/ fists, and then swim 200 w/ fists. After that I like to do a strong 100 free normal, and my feel of the water is just incredible during the last 100.
