paddles

I swam first with the softer glove-like 'frog hands' and then switched to the ridgid plastic ones. The harder ones have you pull more water and seem to work those muscles harder. They also seem to demand better hand technique than the softer ones, which are more forgiving.

I agree with monkeyboy - with my hard paddles, I'm pulling much more water than with the gloves, and I need to be more in tune with my stroke technique. Each have their place, but I put more emphasis on the paddles.

I use the paddles and take the wrist strap off...just the finger strap..makes you keep your form otherwise they twist off..

Aren't the gloves more for a workout and the paddles more for technique?

Just be careful. I hurt my shoulder using them (paddles) and I was warned. I only use them for a few 100 meters after warming up.

If I don't have time for weight training I use the gloves and get a pretty good workout.

I was told not to exceed 10% of my total yardage with the paddles. I use them as much as the kick board.

Not to hijack, but ....

Will the smaller paddles help you build swimming strength safely? I haven't integrated weights into my training yet, and have been warned about over using the large plastic paddles. Oh, but I can fly (for me) when I do use them for a few hundred meters.