FINIS Agility Paddles Floating

– Great tool Great Training Tool – If You Have the Right Technique I’ve had a pair of these paddles for years. I swim at least a mile a day, and they’ve been a huge help in improving my stroke and efficiency. A few key things to know: No straps – which is great because there’s nothing to break or adjust. But with that comes zero forgiveness. If you’re not pulling straight back with a high elbow, these will fall off—and you’ll hate them. If your stroke involves waving your hand under you or pulling with a straight arm, these can actually lead to injury. So make sure your technique is solid before using them. Here’s my suggestion: Start by swimming without paddles, using a closed fist drill. With proper form—a high elbow and early catch—you should be able to swim at about ¾ speed, even with your fists closed. Focus on using your entire forearm as a paddle. Your fingers should point down toward the pool bottom, and your hands should never cross your centerline. Once that feels solid, add the paddles. Swim slowly at first. Keep your arm bent right after you extend it in front of you. Watch your bubbles—if you’re entering the water cleanly, you shouldn’t see any around your hand. I swim hard and fast with these (I’m a 62-year-old male, swimming 1:40/100M) and I’ve never had shoulder pain. My chest and back feel the work, but not my shoulders—which tells me these are doing their job without stressing the wrong muscles. If you know how to swim with a high elbow and solid form, these paddles are fantastic. If they keep falling off, that’s your stroke talking. Slow it down, focus on form, and use them to reinforce good technique. When you first go to use these do not put your thumb through the hole. Instead, make a fist and put the paddle up against your wrist, so your fingertips are just wrapped around the edge of it. You’re basically making your arm into a paddle. When you stroke work on your entry, extending your hand away in front of you. An early vertical forearm. And then the catch. It’ll feel strange at first. You should feel pressure on your wrist and forearm. As you get your stroke better then eventually you can put your thumb in the hole and wear it properly. But if your stroke is not proper, it is not forgiving.