Are swim paddles for your hands really that helpful?

Helpful

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by Sarah Michelson

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Swim paddles, large, plastic, generally uncomfortable. And do they really do anything? As a matter of fact, they do. An important element of swimming, like many sports, is strength. The stronger you are, the faster you go. Its just that simple.

However, there is only so strong you can get with water alone; the resistance never varies, once you reach a certain point you are likely to plateau, and, unfortunately, your times will likely do the same. That's where the paddles come in. Paddles, by increasing the surface area of your hand, increase the resistance and the amount of force needed to pull yourself through the water, strengthening your arms. And as your arms get stronger, your strokes get faster, and your times improve.

Swim paddles can also help fix problems with technique. Timing is a key element in swimming; in freestyle, one arm should be mid-recovery (the above water portion of the stroke) as the other starts its pull. If you have this wrong with paddles, you will not be able to keep your hips straight, and while you may not have noticed the problem before, it is suddenly glaring. They also highlight problems with entry; if your hands enter the water wrong, you will either struggle noticeably or your hand will turn, making the pull impossible. Using paddles, especially those with lower resistance, is a great way to fix this if you know you have this problem. And, like most changes in technique, fixing either timing or entry will work wonders for your times.

Generally, paddles are harder to manage then hands; even more so if they are constantly slipping off. The straps or strap of the paddle should be fairly tight, though not enough to cause any damage. If your finger is turning blue, loosen the cord. If you are only using a finger strap, the paddle may separate from your lower hand as you begin your recovery. Try to cup your hand tightly to prevent the paddle from slipping off, as though it were an oversized sandal with a broken strap. The smaller the paddle that you use is, the easier it will be to pull, and the less likely it will be that the paddle slips off. Though streamlining with a paddle can be difficult, if you squeeze your hands together tightly they are unlikely to be forced apart. If the paddle does slip off, either grab it and carry it to the wall or slip it back on as you go.

Paddles, though a pain in the neck, are vastly useful, and are one of the many training tools swimmers can use to get faster and stronger.

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