Seeking a a deFINitive answer

What's the advantage of swimming with fins? I have been of the "fins are useless" school since switching to Total Immersion swimming. But my masters group has "Fun Fin Fridays" occassionally, where all the sets are with fins. I bought myself a pair. It's lots more fun and I can definitely see where it could strengthen my ankles. And my legs were a little extra sore afterward. So I guess that's all good.

But, why swim with fins? Will it really make me stronger? I certain felt a lot slower the moment they came off. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by zia

What's the advantage of swimming with fins? I have been of the "fins are useless" school since switching to Total Immersion swimming. But my masters group has "Fun Fin Fridays" occassionally, where all the sets are with fins. I bought myself a pair. It's lots more fun and I can definitely see where it could strengthen my ankles. And my legs were a little extra sore afterward. So I guess that's all good.

But, why swim with fins? Will it really make me stronger? I certain felt a lot slower the moment they came off. :rolleyes:

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The fins push you faster, but they create more resistance for your kick. I suppose, in theory, they could make your legs/kick stronger. IMO I think you are far better off learning to swim well without fins.

It's not for swimming it's a strengthening exercise, like lifting weights in the gym. And as you said it IS FUN!

I think fins make me use my whole foot more when I'm not using them - kinda like Michael Phelps and his HUGE feet.

Veronica

One of my favorite pool exercises is with fins and a kickboard. I hold the kickboard perpendicular to my chest and facing away from the direction I'm swimming, I hold my legs perpendicular to my torso and kick with nice straight legs. MEGA abs work out!

The fins help me with some drills. They give extra propulsion so I don't sink. I can concentrate on my arms or body position or whatever without having to worry about my kick as well.

Based on the comments in this thread and after talking to someone at the pool, I bought myself some Zoomers! I got the blue ones but hopefully, as my ankle flexibility increases, I'll upgrade to the red ones (stiffer).

I figure I can wear them and do extra laps to work on my form. This will be in addition to my usual workout. Kind of a bonus treat and a way to mix things up a bit.

I've definitely gotten better since I started swimming regularly in May, but I have lots of room for improvement.

Swimming with fins did help teach me about ankle flexing, just like someone else mentioned. That was nice, because my kick was too stiff before. It let me focus on a nice fluid kick. I used them for drills, then took them off, thought about what it felt like, and tried to apply that to my swimming, just like other drills. :)

I don't own a pair, but have used them at the gym. I've considered getting my own (at least I'd know whose feet were in them!!).

When I first started swimming and was taking lessons I was kicking with bent knees; my coach had me wearing fins to help teach me a proper kick. I had some trouble giving them up in time for my first tri.

When I did an OWS at the beach that is notorious for rip tides and cross currents, I wore my Zoomers "just in case." Guess what- they got me out of a pickle. Call them my security blanket. :D

I see why they are called ZOOMERS. I was zooming and not really kicking much at all. Almost felt like I should move to a medium lane (haha!). My first lap with them on, I couldn't believe how fast I was going and I was barely kicking. An excellent purchase---I really was able to focus on my arms, core, balance, body position. Body placement was definitely higher in the water. Did about 12 laps or so w/them on (waited til the lane cleared so I was splitting it w/someone instead of circle swimming). When I took them off, I could notice a difference in my overall form and it was for the better.

Have to admit that when I put some effort into the legs, the zoomers really worked them, particularly my ankles. Weirdly enough, I didn't feel like I was going faster w/more leg action, but that might have been because of the effort w/increased resistance. My initial take on them is they will improve leg strength if you kick harder. Right now, I'm going to use them to help w/my upper body technique and my body placement/balance in the water.

I'm going ahead and getting the red ones because I think my strong legs are might be too much for the blue ones. I'll alternate the blue and red ones, and I found some exercises for ankle flexibility.

As HillSlug said, swimming without them is really the goal. However, I can tell that using them for drills or to supplement my usual laps is going to improve my swimming.

There was a lady wearing them who was circle swimming w/me and two other slow pokes today, and she kept lapping us. She wore them the entire time. Without the zoomers, she'd had slowed down significantly!