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
That's old news...the latest was suffered from taking too many spin classes...and I'll leave it at that....but will say he's a wuss.
Paul, I don't know your alter ego, but it sounds like he has done some pretty heavy duty damage to his pudendal nerves, which is enough to make anybody sulk for awhile in a dark closet. I know that when we had our pug Lefty neutered, it took him a whole day to perk back up.
As far as this paddles and flippers debate goes, I would like to propose a solution that has some historical resonance to it for long time posters on this thread.
I propose that USMS grant a special exception to any swimmers who learned how to swim competitively as adults, which, as we know, causes something of a disadvantage. Such swimmers should be allowed to compete with fins and paddles, the size of which shall be determined by a complex number of calculations that include overall body size and months after puberty at which said individual first learned the competitive strokes.
We might even consider adding a special category for our Eastern European adult-onset swimming friends.
Mr. or Ms. Dolphin 2, do you fall into this category? Send us your dimensions plus the months after puberty you began competitive swimming, and we can use you as a test case for the new order.
That's old news...the latest was suffered from taking too many spin classes...and I'll leave it at that....but will say he's a wuss.
Paul, I don't know your alter ego, but it sounds like he has done some pretty heavy duty damage to his pudendal nerves, which is enough to make anybody sulk for awhile in a dark closet. I know that when we had our pug Lefty neutered, it took him a whole day to perk back up.
As far as this paddles and flippers debate goes, I would like to propose a solution that has some historical resonance to it for long time posters on this thread.
I propose that USMS grant a special exception to any swimmers who learned how to swim competitively as adults, which, as we know, causes something of a disadvantage. Such swimmers should be allowed to compete with fins and paddles, the size of which shall be determined by a complex number of calculations that include overall body size and months after puberty at which said individual first learned the competitive strokes.
We might even consider adding a special category for our Eastern European adult-onset swimming friends.
Mr. or Ms. Dolphin 2, do you fall into this category? Send us your dimensions plus the months after puberty you began competitive swimming, and we can use you as a test case for the new order.
