I'd like to improve my technique. I've recently tried swimming with hand paddles, hoping it would improve my catch on my free and back.
However, I actually swim more slowly with them than without. And when I stop using them, I'm not all that comfortable with how the water feels.
Should I be worried about the paddles altering my stroke in a bad way? Perhaps paddles aren't meant for technique but for, say, power/strength?
I didn't use them when training as a youngster so I'm not sure what the consensus is as to their value now.
(I did find this related post: www.usms.org/.../showthread.php, but still not clear if they're for technique or for strength-building or both)
Parents
Former Member
I think they can. It's about learning how to grip the water. Some swimmers complain that they feel like they are spinning or slipping after they take paddles off. Some even go for the opposite effect by using fist gloves. But we don't train to make ourselves feel better about our technique, we train to get faster. Think about this: you take off paddles and you immediately feel how inefficient you are. This is great, in my opinion. It knocks you out of the complacency everyone develops with their own stroke pattern, and it makes you focus on getting that same feeling the paddles give you without actually using them.
I think they can. It's about learning how to grip the water. Some swimmers complain that they feel like they are spinning or slipping after they take paddles off. Some even go for the opposite effect by using fist gloves. But we don't train to make ourselves feel better about our technique, we train to get faster. Think about this: you take off paddles and you immediately feel how inefficient you are. This is great, in my opinion. It knocks you out of the complacency everyone develops with their own stroke pattern, and it makes you focus on getting that same feeling the paddles give you without actually using them.
