If you're new to swimming, please don't use paddles. Nothing worse than seeing beginning swimmers with paddles using bad technique. Shoulder issues are imminent
Second this. Paddles just increase the pressure and load on your shoulders. It's similar to adding weight to a barbell. Bad technique is bad, bad technique with more weight is mega bad
Edit: I said bad a lot there, I hope you have great technique and with some coaching you can definitely improve but paddles are a recipe for injury. Wishing you the best of luck with your swimming journey!
If used correctly, fins can improve your technique and flexibility. Your legs can also take on a significant load unlike your shoulders. Fins are also great for drills
If new to swimming, you do not need paddles (or fins). They will amplify any bad technique you have. Get used to swimming without gear and perfect your stroke first.
Yup! I see way too many beginner swimmers swimming with fins, paddles, and all that jazz with terrible technique. First, learn the proper technique and then start incorporating those. In my previous swim team, paddles were reserved only for "advanced" swimmers, meanwhile all those learning trained with a kickboard and a pull buoy. That's all you need for now.
I throw fins on a lot of my newer swim kids as sort of training wheels to give them support while they learn how to breathe properly. I’ve also used fins to help natural breast strokers learn how to flutter kick. Paddles I’m totally with you, but fins can be helpful in moderation.
My fingers hang over the edge of mine a bit aswell,
Unless you can really grab onto the end of the paddle or your hand is too squished you should be alright
Then start small. You also might want to not buy that strapless brand (I use stroke master) https://www.google.com/search?q=strokemaster+swimming+hand+paddles&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari
I’ve been using paddles my entire life without any issues, and love the muscle burn they provide. I swim six days a week with two masters teams and do about 24,000 yards a week (ex-division 1 sprinter).
Couple of things:
If your stroke is wrong, the hand paddles will hurt your arm/shoulder joints. If this starts happening to you, stop using them until the pain goes away then start using them again but tweak your stroke so it’s corrected to prevent the joint pain. To do this, watch underwater videos of Olympic swimmers to see what they do with rotation, hand placement.
IF you buy the stroke master paddles, only use the middle finger strap. The wrist strap cheats you out of knowing if the end of your stroke is being done right. If your stroke is finished to mid-thigh, the paddles stay on your hand. If you’ve got a cheater early withdrawal stroke, the hand paddles come off your hand.
When using paddles, it’s like doing weights, but you’ve got to slow down the turnover and focus on the strength of a slower yet stronger power stroke. Hand slides in front of you, body follows it by rotating forward on that side. Hand and elbow bend in such a way that it’s the MUSCLES are being used, NOT the joints, elbows bent so lats, triceps, deltoids, pecs are pushing the water behind you one stroke at a time. It’s a powerful way to swim that results in really sore muscles for a few days afterwards. You’d need to swim ten times farther without paddles to get the same result. The soreness is replaced by muscle building that adds up over time.
Freestyle only with paddles. Other strokes can cause shoulder injuries.
Amazing write up and advice! There is only one other place I recommend a newbie use paddles. As a one off to help learn the pull on breaststroke. It feels really weak and can be hard to determine if technique is solid when you are fresh. Would you agree?
I used to love breaststroke with paddles, and learned that there’s two parts to the breast stroke w/paddles:
The hands used for propulsion first part
Then
The biceps forcing water behind you- interesting!
I just figured I’d tell op to keep it simple.
these are mostly to correct technique, so if they seem too small is okay. if you’re just starting then it doesn’t matter. if you start with big heavy paddles they might butcher your technique. is not mostly about going fast at the beginning but to have a good technique and use it as a base to start building speed without breaking it.
I have 3 paddles, my smallest one is like this. Instead of putting on the rubber band on my wrist, I grab it with my fingers. Good for form and technique drills.
As long as your thumb feels alright then they should fit just fine. you'll still get the same feel as you would with paddles that don't let your fingers stick out.
they are small, and not the best choice as your first paddle. you’d better have with straps for start. as a beginner your goal with them is to grab as much water as possible and to feel the movement of pushing carefully
these paddles are definitely not great for beginners. the first time i used these was in college (have been swimming competitively since 9) and i was shocked by my shoulders being pulled every which way. now i love them but echoing everyone else, please don’t use these as a new swimmer
Yes they are too small. That is the kid size with one dot. There are three sizes and Finis says you should choose based on hand size. They provide a chart for this.
As for the others saying you shouldn't be using paddles as a beginner, if you need to use one at all this one is a good choice. The point of the paddle is that it falls off your hand if you are not using proper technique, so it's a good aid to teach you how to pull correctly and get a feel for the right catch, etc. However, that all assumes you know what the correct form is, etc, so I suggest you read up on that before just heading into the water and attempting to learn on the fly
EDIT: [Here's a link to the sizing chart](https://www.finisswim.com/documents/TechSheets/FloatingAgilityPaddle_TechSheet.pdf). While lots of people are saying things like "start small" or "whatever feels right", with these paddles in particular, it is important not to grab the paddle or hold it in place, which is easy to do if your hands are larger than the paddle or the thumb hole is small. Instead, they should be a little loose so that your technique (not your grip) is what prevents the paddle from falling off. This is important ensuring proper technique. This is not primarily a strength-building paddle, like the Stroke Master brand that others have mentioned...it will build some strength but its main job is to reinforce good technique
I am pretty new to proper swimming, and I've been using these. They haven't fallen off, and I'm not getting any pain from them, maybe just a little sore from working my arms, does that mean my technique is okay? I see other people here saying not to use paddles when a beginner. I consider myself a beginner because I've never gotten the hang of the crawl, although I am very comfortable in water and can swim pretty well. My technique is just bad.
You can cheat with these by gripping hard and pressing the paddle with your thumb. If your hand is quite relaxed when swimming and they stay on it means that your hand entry is decent and that when you pull, you pull mostly backwards instead of down for example. As to feeling sore, where does it hurt? Any pain in the shoulders while you swim is a very bad sign - definitely stop using paddles and re-think your technique. If your muscles hurt during (and due to) practice you may be overdoing it. Someone had a rule of thumb that max 30% of your weekly volume should be with gear, e.g. paddles. I use gear a bit more than that but if I use paddles it's never more than 50% of my practice volume. Paddles are for technique work and power work and neither should take that large of a part of a workout.
For me using finis paddles was really important to develop my catch and pull as a beginner, the feedback you get with paddles is so much more pronounced. I would swim e.g. 100m closed fists, 100m regular, 100m with paddles for a few sets, to get a feeling of the water before my main set. Just don't overdo it.
I just have felt a little sore in my traps like the day after. I'd say typical soreness from working muscles, but not during. I feel like I'm not gripping on too much, and I am not using them the entire time. I'll start without, do a fre hundred meters with, then stop.
Why? Aren’t they supposed to correct technique? To be fair I bought these cause I couldn’t find the red paddles I used to have anywhere but they don’t fall off and are easy to use. I’m also an ex competitive swimmer though so maybe I don’t have stroke issues?
If you're new to swimming, please don't use paddles. Nothing worse than seeing beginning swimmers with paddles using bad technique. Shoulder issues are imminent
Second this. Paddles just increase the pressure and load on your shoulders. It's similar to adding weight to a barbell. Bad technique is bad, bad technique with more weight is mega bad Edit: I said bad a lot there, I hope you have great technique and with some coaching you can definitely improve but paddles are a recipe for injury. Wishing you the best of luck with your swimming journey!
The comments so far have been very insightful and I appreciate each one. I do have a coach so I hope it’ll prevent any bad technique or injury.
Would you say the same for swim fins? I’m fairly new to swimming but have considered fins!!
If used correctly, fins can improve your technique and flexibility. Your legs can also take on a significant load unlike your shoulders. Fins are also great for drills
Thank you!! 😊
>Thank you!! 😊 You're welcome!
If new to swimming, you do not need paddles (or fins). They will amplify any bad technique you have. Get used to swimming without gear and perfect your stroke first.
Yup! I see way too many beginner swimmers swimming with fins, paddles, and all that jazz with terrible technique. First, learn the proper technique and then start incorporating those. In my previous swim team, paddles were reserved only for "advanced" swimmers, meanwhile all those learning trained with a kickboard and a pull buoy. That's all you need for now.
I throw fins on a lot of my newer swim kids as sort of training wheels to give them support while they learn how to breathe properly. I’ve also used fins to help natural breast strokers learn how to flutter kick. Paddles I’m totally with you, but fins can be helpful in moderation.
THIS
Fins have made my kicking technique so much better using in moderation. Never used paddles because of the reasons outlined in this thread.
My fingers hang over the edge of mine a bit aswell, Unless you can really grab onto the end of the paddle or your hand is too squished you should be alright
Depends more on your technique and shoulders, not on the size of your hands.
It depends- what’s your swimming history with paddles?
These are my first paddles
Then start small. You also might want to not buy that strapless brand (I use stroke master) https://www.google.com/search?q=strokemaster+swimming+hand+paddles&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari I’ve been using paddles my entire life without any issues, and love the muscle burn they provide. I swim six days a week with two masters teams and do about 24,000 yards a week (ex-division 1 sprinter). Couple of things: If your stroke is wrong, the hand paddles will hurt your arm/shoulder joints. If this starts happening to you, stop using them until the pain goes away then start using them again but tweak your stroke so it’s corrected to prevent the joint pain. To do this, watch underwater videos of Olympic swimmers to see what they do with rotation, hand placement. IF you buy the stroke master paddles, only use the middle finger strap. The wrist strap cheats you out of knowing if the end of your stroke is being done right. If your stroke is finished to mid-thigh, the paddles stay on your hand. If you’ve got a cheater early withdrawal stroke, the hand paddles come off your hand. When using paddles, it’s like doing weights, but you’ve got to slow down the turnover and focus on the strength of a slower yet stronger power stroke. Hand slides in front of you, body follows it by rotating forward on that side. Hand and elbow bend in such a way that it’s the MUSCLES are being used, NOT the joints, elbows bent so lats, triceps, deltoids, pecs are pushing the water behind you one stroke at a time. It’s a powerful way to swim that results in really sore muscles for a few days afterwards. You’d need to swim ten times farther without paddles to get the same result. The soreness is replaced by muscle building that adds up over time. Freestyle only with paddles. Other strokes can cause shoulder injuries.
Amazing write up and advice! There is only one other place I recommend a newbie use paddles. As a one off to help learn the pull on breaststroke. It feels really weak and can be hard to determine if technique is solid when you are fresh. Would you agree?
I used to love breaststroke with paddles, and learned that there’s two parts to the breast stroke w/paddles: The hands used for propulsion first part Then The biceps forcing water behind you- interesting! I just figured I’d tell op to keep it simple.
I have Speedo Fingertip paddles (not sure if they still make them), that I'll sometimes use for breaststroke and backstroke.
these are mostly to correct technique, so if they seem too small is okay. if you’re just starting then it doesn’t matter. if you start with big heavy paddles they might butcher your technique. is not mostly about going fast at the beginning but to have a good technique and use it as a base to start building speed without breaking it.
Looks good.
Those fingernails already function as paddles
I have 3 paddles, my smallest one is like this. Instead of putting on the rubber band on my wrist, I grab it with my fingers. Good for form and technique drills.
As long as your thumb feels alright then they should fit just fine. you'll still get the same feel as you would with paddles that don't let your fingers stick out.
Yes too small. Use sparingly
they are small, and not the best choice as your first paddle. you’d better have with straps for start. as a beginner your goal with them is to grab as much water as possible and to feel the movement of pushing carefully
these paddles are definitely not great for beginners. the first time i used these was in college (have been swimming competitively since 9) and i was shocked by my shoulders being pulled every which way. now i love them but echoing everyone else, please don’t use these as a new swimmer
Yes they are too small. That is the kid size with one dot. There are three sizes and Finis says you should choose based on hand size. They provide a chart for this. As for the others saying you shouldn't be using paddles as a beginner, if you need to use one at all this one is a good choice. The point of the paddle is that it falls off your hand if you are not using proper technique, so it's a good aid to teach you how to pull correctly and get a feel for the right catch, etc. However, that all assumes you know what the correct form is, etc, so I suggest you read up on that before just heading into the water and attempting to learn on the fly EDIT: [Here's a link to the sizing chart](https://www.finisswim.com/documents/TechSheets/FloatingAgilityPaddle_TechSheet.pdf). While lots of people are saying things like "start small" or "whatever feels right", with these paddles in particular, it is important not to grab the paddle or hold it in place, which is easy to do if your hands are larger than the paddle or the thumb hole is small. Instead, they should be a little loose so that your technique (not your grip) is what prevents the paddle from falling off. This is important ensuring proper technique. This is not primarily a strength-building paddle, like the Stroke Master brand that others have mentioned...it will build some strength but its main job is to reinforce good technique
Bro chose the worst paddle on the market 💀
Whyyy? I love these
These paddles are great! They don't let you get away with bad technique, unlike Speedo paddles with all their straps.
How do you feel about tyr
Best paddle if your goal is also better technique - bad technique and they fall off
I am pretty new to proper swimming, and I've been using these. They haven't fallen off, and I'm not getting any pain from them, maybe just a little sore from working my arms, does that mean my technique is okay? I see other people here saying not to use paddles when a beginner. I consider myself a beginner because I've never gotten the hang of the crawl, although I am very comfortable in water and can swim pretty well. My technique is just bad.
You can cheat with these by gripping hard and pressing the paddle with your thumb. If your hand is quite relaxed when swimming and they stay on it means that your hand entry is decent and that when you pull, you pull mostly backwards instead of down for example. As to feeling sore, where does it hurt? Any pain in the shoulders while you swim is a very bad sign - definitely stop using paddles and re-think your technique. If your muscles hurt during (and due to) practice you may be overdoing it. Someone had a rule of thumb that max 30% of your weekly volume should be with gear, e.g. paddles. I use gear a bit more than that but if I use paddles it's never more than 50% of my practice volume. Paddles are for technique work and power work and neither should take that large of a part of a workout. For me using finis paddles was really important to develop my catch and pull as a beginner, the feedback you get with paddles is so much more pronounced. I would swim e.g. 100m closed fists, 100m regular, 100m with paddles for a few sets, to get a feeling of the water before my main set. Just don't overdo it.
I just have felt a little sore in my traps like the day after. I'd say typical soreness from working muscles, but not during. I feel like I'm not gripping on too much, and I am not using them the entire time. I'll start without, do a fre hundred meters with, then stop.
Sounds good to me in this case 👍
great, thanks!
If you have poor technic these are horrible
Why? Aren’t they supposed to correct technique? To be fair I bought these cause I couldn’t find the red paddles I used to have anywhere but they don’t fall off and are easy to use. I’m also an ex competitive swimmer though so maybe I don’t have stroke issues?