Swim Paddle Use

I've read that they are very stressful to your shoulders and I don't use them myself. I swam year round for ten years when I was young and we hardly ever used paddles then either.

I swam competitively for 12 years and used paddles - at most - once a week. Since I started training for triathlons with a different coach I have used them more often, at least once every other workout. Usually, they are used for longer continuous distances.

I think you should simply swim more than you paddle or kick or drill.

Throughout my swimming career I can't recall ever using paddles more than 2x in a week for a workout. I do remember using them for short sets on a more regular basis, such as 5x 150 (50 kick, 50 pull w/paddles, 50 swim) or something to that effect. Similar to using paddles, I used a VASA trainer about once a week during HS swimming.

Paddles are good for building strength, and as you mentioned, overuse can accelerate any possible shoulder problems.

I can recommend paddles for either short or long medium pace sets. However, I would not recommend using paddles during your primary workout set more than 1-2x a week.

I use them in some drill sets, but that is about it.

how fast and how many times a week you swim? (weekly yds/mts)

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Currently, I'm getting about 7000 yards a week in 3 sessions. In races, I usualy swim the 1500 meters in around 27 to 28 minutes.

I use the paddles almost half of each workout.

I'm thinking about cutting back anyway - my left sholder seems to be injured a little. I don't think it is from the swim since I really don't feel any pain. I actualy don't feel any pain during any training, just a twinge or two during day to day activity.

yeah unless you are swimming 15K + a week I would drop'em altogether or use them for a few sets for muscle memory for your hand to develop proper entry, glide and catch, but that’s about it and maybe just once a week.  You have more gains to realize by working on your technique and just swimming…

thanks Jorge,

I think I started to use them as a "crutch" a long time ago. I was able to get my swim workout done a little quicker - that was my least favorite aspect of tri training.

What are your thoughts about zipp fins. I tend to have "runners kick". I don't go backwards, but I barely move when I do kick drills without them. I think I start a new thread.