There are many tools competitive swimmers can use to strengthen their swimming skills and improve their chances of winning in a race. One of the most common types of tools to use is the swim paddles. These paddles are a great way to strengthen the arms, shoulders and upper body so swimmers can more easily propel themselves through the water. However, there is an incorrect way to use these paddles, making it important for all swimmers to learn the proper way.

Master Your Stroke

One of the biggest mistakes swimmers make when they attempt to use swim paddles is using the paddles as a way to build on their swimming skills. However, paddles can actually cause injury if the swimmer does not already use the proper technique. Swimmers who use the paddles without the proper technique will definitely feel it when they aren’t swimming properly, but this will lead to pulled muscles and other injuries that can be detrimental to the long-term success of a swimmer. Only swimmers who have mastered their swimming techniques should use this training tool in their daily work.

Keep It Short

Swim paddles are a swim tool that are not meant to be used for a long period of time. While you may use the paddles as part of your daily routine, you should only use them for a small portion of your practice time. They can build up the strength in your upper body and arms, but using them too much can again lead to injuries. This is because the paddles put a lot of stress on the arms and shoulders and will cause fatigue much more quickly.

The Right Paddles

There are many variations of swim paddles. Not all of them are designed to do the same things. For starters, the paddles should only be about 10 percent larger than your hand for the best results. Secondly, you need to pay attention to the type of paddle. For a beginner, a freestyle paddle is one of the best options. However, for someone who is a good swimmer, a catalyst paddle can be a better choice. Always talk to your coach about which type of paddle is best for your level of expertise.

Choosing the right swim paddles and knowing how to use them properly is essential to your success. Failure to use the right paddles or misuse of this training tool can lead to injuries and a poor performance when race time approaches.