In the “Readers Ask” section on page 11 of the latest issue of USMS Swimmer (as shown on the home page of this site), there is a question about the use of paddles.
The reply (from Randy Nutt of the Boca and Gold Coast Masters) says something to the effect that “……..Paddles increase distance per stroke and enable the swimmer to achieve some very fast speeds in a work out”.
As I’ve said repeatedly, the main problem in swimming is how to get more propulsion –not reduce drag- and paddles and flippers provide the most drastic improvement in speed.
So here’s the $64,000 question: If FINA allows the use of so called tech suits which increase speed by purportedly reducing drag, why aren’t paddles and flippers (which increase speed through enhanced propulsion) also allowed? :confused:
Dolphin 2
Every sport has technical and/or scientific improvements that help move the endeavor forward. It is absurd to think swimmers could achieve the times they do today utilizing training methods and technology from the earliest beginnings of the sport.
The new "tech suits" do raise the issue of additional buoyancy for a swimmer wearing the suit. There is a thin line I suppose concerning this issue, but I do not feel that it has been crossed - yet. Most likely there will be a time when FINA will draw the line, but I feel that elimination of drag from the material is not out of that line.
Every sport has technical and/or scientific improvements that help move the endeavor forward. It is absurd to think swimmers could achieve the times they do today utilizing training methods and technology from the earliest beginnings of the sport.
The new "tech suits" do raise the issue of additional buoyancy for a swimmer wearing the suit. There is a thin line I suppose concerning this issue, but I do not feel that it has been crossed - yet. Most likely there will be a time when FINA will draw the line, but I feel that elimination of drag from the material is not out of that line.
