I rarely use fins at all, but today I did a fly only set with zoomers because I am struggling with learning proper fly. It really gave me a good feel for the timing, rythm and proper body position. Does anyone else fly with zoomers? If so what percentage?
I was thinking of doing at least one set a week with the zoomers.
Does anyone who has completely mastered fly continue to use fins?
When I first read this my thought was nope, never use fins for fly. I've tried it a few times and felt like it changed my timing and gave me a different (bad) feel.
The two reasons I've heard so far are (i) helps with timing and (ii) lets me swim more fly.
They seem pretty reasonable...but my experience mirrors FlyQueen's, it messes up my timing. I wonder why our experiences differ from those of others.
I think the "Nemo" drill (3-4 kicks per stroke) is another option that can both work on timing and allow you to extend your fly range to longer distances (it is tiring but less so than regular fly). But, a warning: the coaches at our age-group club specifically won't let the youngest kids use this drill b/c they think it too hard to master the timing! So maybe it is only a good drill if you already have decent timing in fly.
The range of people's reactions to fins is interesting. I own a pair but if they disappeared from my swimbag I probably wouldn't bother to replace them (I haven't even used them since the summer b/c I only like to use them LCM).
But we had a fast kick set yesterday and one person -- she doesn't have a swimming background but is incredibly fit -- used them and just loved them. She commented that using fins was the first time she felt she had something to "push against" while kicking. I don't have that problem at all (my legs were certainly spent after the set) and I wonder if -- in her case at least -- it was an issue of ankle flexibility.
The two reasons I've heard so far are (i) helps with timing and (ii) lets me swim more fly.
I think fins probably mess up my timing in fly.
But, I have 100 reasons to use fins for fly:
1-90 = Shoulders
91 = Old age
92 = Not ever swimming the 200 fly
93 = I like them
94 = I'm still getting a bit faster, even though I use them
95 = I enjoy beating smug purists who diss them
96 = Leg strength
97 = Core Strength
98 = Improves Streamlining
99 = Improves SDKs
100 = Good for shooters (but that's really kicking, not swimming fly)
Fins are a good way to alter what you are doing in your workouts and are a good medium to shock your muscles from the norm. So, yes (though I have certainly not mastered fly).
I'm just reading this thread to see who has mastered fly. :D
LOL...I think there has been a disclaimer on almost everyone's post so far regarding that!
I agree with Hulk: fins on fly about 50% of the time. It was a standing joke with the team I used to swim with that you had to be at least 40 to use fins at all.
Here's my disclaimer in that I'm no where near mastering fly.
Did want to share what worked for me in regards to fins.
I have a long (size 9.5) foot that is very narrow. Found out that the fins I was using were not the right size for me. Although the appropriate length, they were too wide which prevented me from kicking fully during swim and off the walls. I went down a size and now my fins stay on nicely. Also, the smaller size does not fool with my timing during fly and free swimming. Finally, I learned how to kick better without fins (did this through good old fashioned kick sets - some with shoes). Now, I can kick and swim quite well with fins. Too bad we hardly use them in practices. But when we do, I no longer cringe.
So, back to the initial question. I like fins for short fly or free speed sets - used sparingly.
She commented that using fins was the first time she felt she had something to "push against" while kicking. I don't have that problem at all (my legs were certainly spent after the set) and I wonder if -- in her case at least -- it was an issue of ankle flexibility.
This would be me. I can't flex my ankles while kicking, although I have tried and tried since I was a youth swimmer. My kick is very weak--always has been--therefore I DETEST kick sets.
Using fins helps me enjoy the kicking sets because I get them over faster, and I feel like I get more resistance and am working my legs harder than without.
