**Oct 15, 2024 - Paddles**

**Let’s Talk Paddles!**

**Links to paddles we talked about during the meeting. Also, if you're looking at any FINIS paddles, use promo code "goswimtv" at checkout for 20% off.**

*   [**Anti-Paddle**](https://www.shop4swimming.com/en/anti-pt-paddle-anti-hand-paddle-009821)
*   [**AquaVolo Voloblades**](https://aquavolo.com/products/voloblades/)
*   [**FINIS Bolster Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Bolster-Paddles)
*   [**FINIS Forearm Fulcrum**](https://www.finisswim.com/Forearm-Fulcrum)
*   [**FINIS Manta Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Manta-Paddles)
*   [**FINIS Agility Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Agility-Paddles_Floating)
*   [**FINIS Freestyler Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Freestyler-Hand-Paddles-Adult)
*   [**FINIS Jr. Freestyler Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Freestyle-Hand-Paddles-Jr-)
*   [**FINIS Iso Paddles**](https://www.finisswim.com/Iso-Paddles)

Hand paddles, invented by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, have been in our gear bags for nearly 250 years.  Once made of wood or metal, paddles nowadays (thanks to plastic) can be molded into any shape, for any purpose.  We have flat paddles, curved paddles, finger paddles, sculling paddles, forearm paddles, paddles with holes, freestyle-specific paddles, strapless paddles, and even anti-paddles.  Every swimmer should have AT LEAST one pair, so this week we’ll help you decide which paddles should be part of your everyday gear.

**Monday**

**Steve Haufler Tools:  Strapless Paddles**

Strapless paddles are universally useful.  For beginners, they teach feel and connection.  For backstrokers, they help imprint a bent-arm pull.  For breaststrokes they reveal where to catch and hold water.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1274-strapless-paddles>

0405 - strapless paddles

0865 thumb up on the way in thumb down on the way out

1850 Pitch don’t push

3231 Focus on elbow bend

3769 hold the paddle in the recovery

3851 release the paddle on the catch

4784 holding the paddle 

4846 release the paddle

5992 paddle should be facing flat against the back wall

10559 grip the paddle to get out of the water

10918 arm perpendicular to the body at the shoulder line

**Tuesday**

**Martyn Forde:  Dog Dig with Paddles**

Paddles, especially strapless paddles, can heighten the value of any sculling that you do.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1367-dog-dig-with-paddles>

0559 working on the initiation of the catch

0711 using fins to help push the athlete forward

0914 snorkel to isolate Head position

0994 hand slightly inside of the elbow

1087 creating a linear path of the hand

1798 focusing on initial high elbow

2510 slight articulation of the wrist to get the paddle flat to the back wall

2782 hi elbow catch

4047 Because of the flat body, I would have the elbow closer to the surface on the catch

4662 good head position

**Wednesday**

**Freestyler Hand Paddles**

While most paddles are designed for resistance and strength training, the FINIS Freestyler Hand Paddle is designed to improve freestyle technique and efficiency.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1947-freestyler-hand-paddles>

0311 various sizes of the freestyler paddle

0735 the unique design of the paddle

1149 helps the hand go directly forward

1423 focusing on extension

3929 not focusing on extension

5944 focusing on extension

5986 the cut out allows for slight wrist articulation

10837 over exaggerate the articulation of the wrist

11979 internal catch

12912 a fairly direct path of the hand

14118 working on stabilization

15458 the junior paddle to teach extension in line to younger swimmers

22722 the tapered shape allows for a higher speeds

23176 resistance training

**Thursday**

**Carlos Almeida:  Small Paddles**

When it comes to paddles, bigger is not necessarily better!  Olympian Carlos Almeida turns to small paddles – almost fingertip paddles – to work on his breaststroke pull.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1248-drill-small-paddles>

0755 Zura team paddle

1971 smaller size more feel

2366 playing with feel

3619 keeping the hands in front

3878 allows for faster recovery

4942 fast extension

10714 big pull

10885 allow some time in between each action

**Friday**

**James Guy:  Freestyle Hands – Agility Paddles**

FINIS Agility Paddles are shaped with a slight curve to subtly guide your hand into an effective catch.  UK Olympian James Guy demonstrates.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2610-freestyle-hands-agility-paddles>

0528 soft hands

0876 relaxed fingers

2283 relaxed fingers

2438 relaxed fingers

2575 elbow articulation for catch 

2798 EVF

3475 Full arm becomes a paddle

3972 hand inside elbow

4298 hand inside elbow

4843 Full extension

5020 Front quadrant swimming

5436 really cool

**Saturday**

**Glenn Mills:  Tools – FINIS Iso Paddles**

Glenn demonstrates how to use the FINIS Iso Paddles for freestyle and breaststroke.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2885-tools-finis-iso-paddles>

0283 iso paddles

1598 Wings on the outside

2473 Wings on the inside

3408 Wings on the outside freestyle

3865 watch the path of the left hand

4418 switch the paddles

5756 Watch the path of the left hand

10322 Wings on the outside breaststroke

11750 big pull

12079 switch the paddles

13526 focuses more on the sweep

14178 Play and experiment

15243 Wings on the outside freestyle

20071 Study the mirror

20731 Wings on the inside freestyle

20945 study the mirror

**Sunday**

**Training:  PT Paddles**

Sometimes called the “anti” or “negative” paddle, PT Paddles help you find the REST of your arm (as well as your lats, core, and legs) when you pull.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1055-training-pt-paddles>

0405 Standard paddles

1256 no paddles

2258 playing in discovering the arm

3552 PT paddles

10229 forcing the use of the rest of the arm

10950 search and discovery

12472 the shape of the paddles

Must focus more on EVF

22491 take the paddles off and the hands feel huge

23066 PT paddles or fists

23496 move to small paddles

23746 moved to larger paddles

23858 move to larger paddles

24199 back to hands

24535 continue to experiment

**BONUS**

**Kara Lynn Joyce: BONUS – Pull Buoy and Paddles**

Three-time Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce demonstrates beautiful use of paddles.  Also, note that it IS possible to streamline off the wall with paddles.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/673-bonus-pull-buoy-and-paddles>

**Scott Tucker: BONUS – Paddles**

Scott Tucker demonstrates beautiful use of paddles.  Streamlined hands off the wall.  Appropriate size of paddle considering the strength of the swimmer.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/691-bonus-paddles>


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Oct. 15, 2024 - Let's Talk Paddles!