| The Anti-Paddle | |
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Ever use hand paddles when working out? They come in a variety of styles and
sizes, and can help you to develop strength in the same motion as you use for
your regular swimming stroke. But some experts claim they hurt technique by
decreasing your ability to feel the water as you muscle the paddle through the
water. And - using paddles too soon or too often, with too much force can lead
to nagging shoulder soreness. There is a new paddle out there - the
Strokestar Anti-paddle. It's convex
instead of flat or concave, curved to displace water around the hand, preventing a strong catch
phase (Another product designed to increase feel by decreasing the hand's catch
is the Fistglove). The idea is that by preventing a strong catch, you'll be forced to focus
on every part of your stroke. To move forward while wearing paddles (not
counting your kick's contribution), you'll need to put out a little extra energy
and you'll need to perform correct stroke movements. Strokestar claims
that you can do this without risking shoulder injury since resistance is reduced
by up to 17%. The result - better technique, increased strength, and faster
swimming. In addition, when the paddles are removed, your hand will feel the
water better; wearing the paddle kept you from making a good catch; now you can
catch and hold the water. This allows for improved tactile input as you perform
your stroke. It feels like you are wearing traditional paddles. Another
interesting idea that can be tried with this product is injury rehabilitation.
Since the training load is reduced while wearing the paddle, it should be
possible to do some swimming as part of the rehabilitation process after a
shoulder injury. This assumes the swimmer is smart about it, and does not try to
power through the swim! I use fist swimming drills on a regular basis with
similar results, but they are not always effective; cheating is too easy. I'm
always looking for easier and better ways to help technique - the x-factor in
swimming - and the Strokmaker looks like another answer. if you are looking for
a way to improve your strength and technique, the Strokestar paddle might be the
way to go.
Swim On! Mat
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remember - consult a physician before beginning any fitness routine or activity
