Speedo Breaststroke Fins

[shuumai]

What do you think of these fins? (I found them for $34 on SwimOutlet.)

[naj]

What the flim-flam! How in the heck are you gonna be able to stand up in the shallow end with those things on?!

[shuumai]

Originally Posted by naj

What the flim-flam! How in the heck are you gonna be able to stand up in the shallow end with those things on?!

I don't...know...yet. Maybe just float and scull instead. I thought the same thing about pushing off the wall. I should have them next week, so I'll find out.

[madvet]

You could check out this video. I don't know if there was any change in the before and after but I didn't really try too hard. Does he go any farther per kick??http://www.shark-bait.com/blog/2008/...t-stroke-fins/

[shuumai]

Originally Posted by madvet

You could check out this video. I don't know if there was any change in the before and after but I didn't really try too hard. Does he go any farther per kick??http://www.shark-bait.com/blog/2008/...t-stroke-fins/

Can't tell. I'm really distracted by the kicking error.

I was thinking that the support inside the blade might slow the glide.

(I do know that his foot size is between 7 and 9 based on the colour of the fins.)

[CoachEricDeSanto]

I have never used them. But I have tried a cheesy cheap alternative I saw in an Ed Moses breast stroke video. He just strapped his hand paddles to the inside of his ankles. I laughed, then tried it. You are right. You can't push off the wall. You can't stand up. But, I fixed, in 50 yards, a problem I had not been able to fix in 4 months (I could not get myself to push straight back and keep my feet a little apart in streamline.) And after taking the paddles off, I have never gone back to over whipping since. I just had to feel the correct motion. I imagine, these fins would do the same for you.

[shuumai]

Originally Posted by CoachEricD

I have never used them. But I have tried a cheesy cheap alternative I saw in an Ed Moses breast stroke video. He just strapped his hand paddles to the inside of his ankles. I laughed, then tried it. You are right. You can't push off the wall. You can't stand up. But, I fixed, in 50 yards, a problem I had not been able to fix in 4 months (I could not get myself to push straight back and keep my feet a little apart in streamline.) And after taking the paddles off, I have never gone back to over whipping since. I just had to feel the correct motion. I imagine, these fins would do the same for you.

Wow, brilliant! I wish I knew about that sooner! Would you mind sharing a screen shot of the paddle-fins in action?

My current technique is to bump the feet together, then relax and let them drift apart.

I'm wondering if prolonged use of fins could hurt the knees or something.

[shuumai]

Originally Posted by shuumai

Would you mind sharing a screen shot of the paddle-fins in action?

Found a shot.

[shuumai]

Got my fins today. Testing is tonight. I can say a few things though. You can stand in them or tip-toe. If you stand or maybe push off a wall, the fin compresses. If you tip-top, the edge of the fin compresses imperceptibly.

The dry fit is very tight. I take a US 11.5 wide shoe usually and these fins are size 10-12. They need to be tight to prevent twisting, I suppose.

[shuumai]

The fins wet-fit perfectly. They work great. One thing I didn't expect was the fact that, while they make the frog/whip kick very powerful, they take all power away from the flutter kick. Tip-toeing to push off works, but I had to be careful when pushing against the smooth tiles of the black cross due to slipping. The fins float even though they have mass to them.

Tomorrow I'll get to find out if my legs or knees hurt. Can't wait. heh

A few times I kicked incorrectly with my left leg and felt the fin just slip. The fins should help with developing a symmetrical technique by emphasising the asymmetries. In a short time I think they will really help with keeping the knees closer and getting the lower legs turned out. The fins respond well when I focus on kicking my heels back. They might make me lazy about positioning my feet though.