I just finished reading Cecil Colwin's book, "Breakthrough Swimming" (very good book). In his chapter on stroke technique, he states that swimming with a weight belt is an effective means for a swimmer to learn how he or she can best exert maximum leverage in the water, and thus generate greater propulsion. Has anyone tried this? If so, how much weight did you use, and what kind of sets did you do? Did you find it beneficial?
Thanks,
Dan
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Former Member
I guess it never amazes me that people experiment with about anything. I have never heard of anyone using an actual weight belt and using it with the same word "propulsion." Just out of common sense, it wouldn't seem like a good idea because the weight is not distributed throughout the body; it is at mid-section only. If the weight belt is to be used as "drag", I'd much rather wear a sleeveless T-shirt to add drag than an actual weight belt. I sure hope the swimmer has flawless technique if they are swimming with a weight belt; shoulder problems come to mind. And the weight belt can't have much weight built in or the swimmer will have to work with all their might to stay horizontal. Unless this was the point (?).
donna
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Former Member
I guess it never amazes me that people experiment with about anything. I have never heard of anyone using an actual weight belt and using it with the same word "propulsion." Just out of common sense, it wouldn't seem like a good idea because the weight is not distributed throughout the body; it is at mid-section only. If the weight belt is to be used as "drag", I'd much rather wear a sleeveless T-shirt to add drag than an actual weight belt. I sure hope the swimmer has flawless technique if they are swimming with a weight belt; shoulder problems come to mind. And the weight belt can't have much weight built in or the swimmer will have to work with all their might to stay horizontal. Unless this was the point (?).
donna
