I've starting swimming again after about 8 years off. I'm trying to get back into shape to lose a little weight and hopefully start competing again! Anyway, when I was swimming I'm pretty sure we all just used big fins. Now it seems there's about 100 different types (long, medium, short, really short, some have holes, etc). I have been thinking about buying some, but I'm lost. Maybe I shouldn't even use fins? Any suggestions?
Not everyone agrees with this, including some pretty fast swimmers & kickers. (I don't use fins very much either, btw.)
Increasing angle flexibility and leg strength are two fine reasons to use fins.
All I would say is, don't come to rely on them. Do some sets without them.
And I recommend tracking improvement in your kick by using your times without the fins; you don't get to use them in a race, after all. If your times with fins are improving but not your times without them, all you are doing is learning to use fins more effectively.
As far as what kinds of fins to get, I'm going to defer to an avid user.
Yes, I'm one of those that don't agree with Ande.
Bob Strand's suggestions are solid. Most of my fin work for kicking is hypoxic and/or very fast. Fins are awesome for breaststroke as well (dolphin kicking or flutter kick drills).
Leg strength is an absolute payoff. I can leg press almost 3x my body weight.
Not everyone agrees with this, including some pretty fast swimmers & kickers. (I don't use fins very much either, btw.)
Increasing angle flexibility and leg strength are two fine reasons to use fins.
All I would say is, don't come to rely on them. Do some sets without them.
And I recommend tracking improvement in your kick by using your times without the fins; you don't get to use them in a race, after all. If your times with fins are improving but not your times without them, all you are doing is learning to use fins more effectively.
As far as what kinds of fins to get, I'm going to defer to an avid user.
Yes, I'm one of those that don't agree with Ande.
Bob Strand's suggestions are solid. Most of my fin work for kicking is hypoxic and/or very fast. Fins are awesome for breaststroke as well (dolphin kicking or flutter kick drills).
Leg strength is an absolute payoff. I can leg press almost 3x my body weight.
