Need advice on buying hand paddles

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:37:06 GMT

Strokemakers for me also...started with the yellow size and after a year moved up to the larger red. Still not to the dinner tray size. Be super careful not to go over your center line when pulling with paddles or you'll feel it in your delts...ouch!!! Swim Wide and over the barrell!

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:26:26 GMT

Why do you use paddles? (if you are one of those tri-people, never mind.) Are you trying stir up an old thread? I am bringing paddles back into my workouts for some variety, technique work, to build strength and I think the look cool.(he, he)

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:42:16 GMT

I coach a small group of triathletes every other Saturday. I was asked if the goup was going to be using paddles and I responded that I am no longer a strong enough swimmer to use paddles so I dont write sets with them. I think that caught everyone by surprise. Every once in a while I see an inexperienced swimmer trying to go 15M off the wall in backstroke when they would be far better served swimming above water. I think the same thing about paddle usage...

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:18:49 GMT

When using paddles, you need to take off the wrist strap and make the finger strap very loose. That way, if your technique is bad, the paddle comes off. If you keep the pressure of the water on the hand, they don't come off. If you have a bad stroke, you will get shoulder problems. If you have a bad stroke and strap on paddles tightly, you will get shoulder problems more quickly. I've always taken the wrist strap of as well. However, the instructions for the installation of the tubing for StrokeMakers say... "The placement of the tubes is essential for maximum benefit and minimum shoulder stress--DO NOT ELIMINATE THE WRIST TUBE--the paddle was designed to allow and encourage finishing your stroke with this tube in place." Anyone know why they are so adamant about the use of the wrist strap?

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

orca1946 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:36:22 GMT

IMHO - start with smaller ones till you see how your body takes to them, then work up to larger ones.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

knelson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:20:46 GMT

Anyone know why they are so adamant about the use of the wrist strap? I think it's because they know many coaches tell swimmers not to use the strap. I've always used it, but I know lots of people don't. I've tried it both ways and really don't think there's a huge difference. By the way, the only annoying thing about Strokemaster paddles is if you need to put them on in a hurry and don't quite get the finger strap over your knuckle. For some reason that always drove me nuts!

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

joel schmaltz — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:14:58 GMT

Strokemasters for me with no wrist strap. Pull sets are my favorite, drill sets or speed set, doesn't matter to me. I always thought the rule of thumb was to get a size that was approx. 1" to 1 1/2" bigger than your hand. Maybe I am wrong.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

aquageek — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:20:35 GMT

Anyone know why they are so adamant about the use of the wrist strap? Great question. My opinion is that without the wrist strap you are using the paddle more for a drill type of set - hand placement, catch, etc. With the wrist strap you are using the paddle for more full-on swimming. Both ways have advantages. I have a pair of those TYR Catalyst paddles. I ditched them as I felt they were over-engineered. I'm much happier with my Strokemasters. No one on our team uses TYR, but that really doesn't mean much since our store doesn't sell them.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

FridayGrrl — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:06:09 GMT

FYI, we are reviewing paddles for the May/Jun issue of SWIMMER, including some of the ones mentioned in this thread. They are being field tested now.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:19:57 GMT

I've used these since I got them in college (same pair!). They are definitely for stronger swimmers and only free & back strokers, although I do some limited Fly & ***. Nowadays I could probably go down a size but size I have them..... www.swimoutlet.com/.../1234.htm

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

knelson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:14:22 GMT

Why do you use paddles? Part of it is to just do something different. Swimming gets boring unless you mix it up.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:10:42 GMT

... If you want to use it for all 4 strokes you size it down. For freestyle you would probably get medium or large. I agree with this. For butterfly you probably need a small paddle. For freestyle and backstroke you can use a larger paddle.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:50:27 GMT

Why do you use paddles? (if you are one of those tri-people, never mind.)

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

aquageek — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:44:32 GMT

I like Strokemaker paddles and they come in tons of sizes. They are quite easy on the shoulders.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Bobinator — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:41:35 GMT

I like Speedo's new curved paddle. It seems to put your hand in a natural position instead of pancake flat. If you want to use it for all 4 strokes you size it down. For freestyle you would probably get medium or large.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Betsy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:29:37 GMT

I am a real advocate of using paddles for technique. When using paddles, you need to take off the wrist strap and make the finger strap very loose. That way, if your technique is bad, the paddle comes off. If you keep the pressure of the water on the hand, they don't come off. If you have a bad stroke, you will get shoulder problems. If you have a bad stroke and strap on paddles tightly, you will get shoulder problems more quickly. I swim and I coach and have experienced and observed great progress from the correct use of paddles.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Zurn — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:49:13 GMT

http://www.hanspaddles.com/ This is what I use. Used them as a kid and got new ones when I started swimming again. The were designed by my old coach. Get a set of the originals to use for every stroke and for drills, and one set of grippers to use for free style and back stroke.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:36:47 GMT

I disagree. Why bother using paddles if you use small ones? I certainly wouldn't advocate trying to use huge paddles and swimming fly, but for freestyle big paddles are great. If the person using them has experience using paddles, has decent body strength to being with and decent form, bigger paddles are fine. If the person is new to using paddles, new to swimming, then it is a good idea to start off with smaller paddles to let the body adapt to using them. I would never recommend using bigger paddles if someone has never used them before, that is way too stressful on the joints.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:42:09 GMT

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

Former Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:41:10 GMT

Which ever paddles you choose, get the smallest size possible.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

knelson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:27:49 GMT

I would never recommend using bigger paddles if someone has never used them before, that is way too stressful on the joints. OK, I do agree with this. I'd choose based on the manufacturer's recommendations. I know many of them give this sort of info, e.g. the small (yellow) Catalysts say "older age group swimmers (12+ yes), beginning masters swimmers."

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

aquageek — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:27:15 GMT

If the person using them has experience using paddles, has decent body strength to being with and decent form, bigger paddles are fine. If the person is new to using paddles, new to swimming, then it is a good idea to start off with smaller paddles to let the body adapt to using them. I would never recommend using bigger paddles if someone has never used them before, that is way too stressful on the joints. I have to side with The Hairy One on this. You should buy the paddle that fits your hand, not some monstrous meat cleaver that puts too much stress on the shoulder.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

aztimm — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:55:48 GMT

Strokemasters are my favorites, but I found I'd usually break them after a year or two. I currently have a set of TYR Catalysts and they seem much more durable. They're thicker to begin with and they don't have the small through-holes that allow crack propagation like Strokemasters do. I agree with the TYR Catalyst. I've had a pair for close to 10 years now, and I'm just beginning to think of getting a new pair. I do go through tubing more often though, but it is pretty cheap and easy to replace. Mine are XL, some guys joke that they're the size of dinner plates. I use them maybe 2-3 times a month, and I've never had shoulder problems from them. They certainly make me feel fast.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

knelson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:32:02 GMT

Which ever paddles you choose, get the smallest size possible. I disagree. Why bother using paddles if you use small ones? I certainly wouldn't advocate trying to use huge paddles and swimming fly, but for freestyle big paddles are great.

RE: Need advice on buying hand paddles

knelson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:05:57 GMT

I like Strokemaster paddles and they come in tons of sizes. They are quite easy on the shoulders. Strokemasters are my favorites, but I found I'd usually break them after a year or two. I currently have a set of TYR Catalysts and they seem much more durable. They're thicker to begin with and they don't have the small through-holes that allow crack propagation like Strokemasters do.