Hi everyone, i have been swimming for YEARS using fins. at first i just started out kicking laps, and before i knew it i was swimming laps. now my question is, that i hope someone can help me with is how do swim without my zoomers? i am tired of my feet cramping due to fins, and i really would like to swim without them. when i try and swim without them, i feel like i am a "turtle" barely moving in the water, i find it real hard to find my rhythm. so i feel like i can't swim a stroke without them. they also help buoy me up in the water, another thing that feels different without them. i feel like i will have to learn to swim all over again at the beginning. either that or i won't like swimming without them and lose motivation. does anybody have any ideas? I really feel like it is time to "ditch" the fins and the feet cramps that come with them. thanks for any input you might give me on this. Ciao and may the "lanes" be plentiful. :rant3:
Former Member
I have been using fins for my kick laps only and I can see how they can become "crutches".If you want to swim without ditch them cold turkey. You will more or less have to relearn how to swim without them,but you will probably find that you are working your legs and arms harder once you go "bare".
so as a tool to let your body know what it's like to swim fast, I think it's a postive. just like swimming with bands. swimming with bands, lets you know what it feels like to move through the water faster.
I've heard this a lot, including from people whose opinion I respect.
But I've never truly understood the reasoning. If you want to feel what its like to swim fast...take some extra rest or do a quality set or whatever and SWIM FAST.
Or, in Jeff's case, borrow some speed by wearing a B70 in practice... :)
I should have also mentioned that swimming without the fins is only awkward for the first week or so. After that, it feels natural. I personally would throw in a pull buoy after a few fin-free sessions. The reason is once I dropped the fins, I was kicking at quite a high pace and wearing myself out. Once I tried the pull buoy, I realized I did not have to kick so fast and hard. Since the pull buoy experience, my kicking feels much more relaxed and reliable.
Swim and do kick sets w/ tennis shoes for a week (I personally used tennis shoes for 2 weeks with the kids at the beginning of the season.) Take 'em off, and you'll be good to go.
Just to be clear, I wasn't advocating always using fins, paddles, or anything. It just seemed that the statement that no one should use them ever was a bit strong. It didn't seem to me that that comment was related to the mushroom comment.
I think fins are probably a useful tool if used in moderation--I'd bet Phelps has used them on occasion--but bad in excess.
