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)
I like my paddles and do think they help me however I believe drills done properly help with catch even more. Try this: Do 10 X 50 at an interval appropriate for you. The first 25 drill and the 2nd 25 regular swim. I like to alternate fist drill (holding tennis balls works too) and finger drag drill (helps me keep elbows high). After a length of drill I can really feel my stroke and the element of it that the drill was focusing on.
I don't like to do a drill much more than a 50 without a break. What good is a drill unless you are doing it perfect?
I like my paddles and do think they help me however I believe drills done properly help with catch even more. Try this: Do 10 X 50 at an interval appropriate for you. The first 25 drill and the 2nd 25 regular swim. I like to alternate fist drill (holding tennis balls works too) and finger drag drill (helps me keep elbows high). After a length of drill I can really feel my stroke and the element of it that the drill was focusing on.
I don't like to do a drill much more than a 50 without a break. What good is a drill unless you are doing it perfect?
