by Todd Raubenolt

Created on: May 19, 2009

If you have spent any time on a swim team or at the pool while they practice, you have probably noticed swim paddles. You may also have been introduced to them in an advanced swim class. Strange rectangles of plastic you strap to your hands. You were told they would make you a stronger, faster, more efficient swimmer. Solid instruction or a load of hype? Well, when used properly, paddles deliver as advertised. Their use will help the competitive swimmer develop a stronger stroke and the student of the stroke more proficient.

The swim paddle is a very simple apparatus, basically a plastic rectangle with a strap made of surgical tubing or fabric that you slide your hand into. The simple attachment method provides one of the first benefits of the paddle. The proper swim stroke requires that you keep your fingers tightly together and slightly cup your hand so that you are afforded the best grip against the water. The paddle encourages this form, the tubing holding your fingers together and your hand naturally cups against the plastic paddle to force it through the water. Regular use of a swim paddle will ensure you will develop this ideal hand form when swimming without it.

The paddles are also larger than your hand, so there is naturally more resistance encountered by the swimmer when wearing them. This enhanced resistance gives the swimmer a better feel for their stroke. Instructors describe the ideal stroke motion and the swimmer can then work on perfecting the motion with the exaggerated resistance of the paddle. Having a paddle on your hand also ensures proper clearance of the water during the recovery portion of the stroke. Some swimmers tend to drag the tips of their fingers along the surface of the water during recovery. With a paddle attached, the additional resistance encountered by dragging the plastic would stop most swimmers in their tracks. They are forced to ensure their recovery stroke is clean. Again, when the paddles are off, this learned behavior results in a more efficient and faster stroke.

The added resistance of the paddle during the stroke also will generate a stronger swimmer. As the swimmer fights to push the paddle through the water, they are building strength in their stroke that is almost impossible to achieve without the paddle. The swimmer will also end up with a faster stroke action once the paddles are off and the "feel fast". This is a very important psychological component of competitive swimming. Generally, when you feel fast, you are fast.

Use of the swim paddle regularly as part of your training will improve your technique and power. This is a fairly simple training tool that yields powerful results.

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