[1Topodope]

Hi Kicksters!<br><br>
Not too long ago some very smart Kicksters told me I should stop working on endurance and focus on drills/technique. I have actually listened <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="huh"> Although I still don't understand how drills with 15-20 sec breaks will help me with endurance...but I have faith.<br><br>
A tri friend of mine suggested fins as a way to enhance my training. So, here are my questions:<br><br>
Are there different types of fins? Is one type better than another for training? Is there a wrong way to use fins?<br><br>
Any help for this newbie would be greatly appreciated! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

 

[kburnell]

First, the reason we suggested drills, if I remember correctly, was that you were having some difficulty with your technique. It's really important to develop a sound stroke before moving to more advanced sets in swimming, because the entire sport is about efficiency and reducing drag. Trying to power through a set without the technique to back it up would really be the wrong way to go and almost always ends with an injury and/or burnout. Now, that doesn't mean that you need to continue doing JUST drilling, but technique should remain a big part of your (and everyone's) training.<br><br>
Now, on to your actual question. There are different types of fins and they can be used in a variety of ways for your training. A lot of people use fins to aid with their drills. You're not really looking for speed here, instead it's to help you focus on the purpose of the drill. For example, check out what they say for this drill on the catch... <a href="http://www.goswim.tv/entries/5484/freestyle---practice-the-catch.html" target="_blank">http://www.goswim.tv/entries/5484/fr...the-catch.html</a><br><br>
You can also use them for kick and swim sets to help with strength and power, to get "higher" in the water without the effort you'd normally need / to teach what that feels like to someone who hasn't done it before (more important for pure swimming competition), and to increase ankle flexibility/build a more efficient kick. Once you know what it is you want to work on in one of these areas, you can find sets using fins to help.<br><br>
The key is to know why you are using fins and what purpose they are serving. Some people fall into the trap of using them as a crutch because they have the ability to make things easier on occasion. One of the things that makes me cringe as a coach is to see people using training aids without any purpose - for example, if a kid asks me to use a PB when it isn't on the workout, I make them tell me what they are trying to address with it. If they can tell me and it's solid reasoning, then they get to use it. If the answer is, 'cause.....' then they don't. Things like fins can be a great tool to help you develop better position and a more efficient stroke, but the end goal is to transfer these skills to swimming without fins. Throw them on to help with those drills that either call for them or where they can help you achieve the purpose of the drill where you can't w/o and when you have a specific need that can be addressed by using them during a set.<br><br>
A good all-purpose sort of fin is something like this: <a href="http://www.trisports.com/tyrcrfin.html" target="_blank">http://www.trisports.com/tyrcrfin.html</a><br><br>
Something a little more advanced and my personal favorite is this: <a href="http://www.trisports.com/zoomers.html" target="_blank">http://www.trisports.com/zoomers.html</a>

 

[1Topodope]

Thanks, k! I have some work to do on my technique - for sure! I have been using swimplan.com for my swim workouts. After reading your post, it occurs to me that the drill description tells me what to do but not why or what to concentrate on.<br><br>
For example, one of the drills from my workout today had me put the fins on and swim 100 M with the last 25M just using my legs w/ arms outstretched. Fine - I did it. I don't know why or what I am supposed to learn from it or what to watch for while I am doing it or if I am doing the drill correctly.<br><br>
Are there other sites that provide more descriptive drills?<br><br>
I really appreciate all the help I get from this forum. One day I hope to learn enough to pay it forward!

 

[Yo Sake]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kburnell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1891234"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">A good all-purpose sort of fin is something like this: <a href="http://www.trisports.com/tyrcrfin.html" target="_blank">http://www.trisports.com/tyrcrfin.html</a><br><br>
Something a little more advanced and my personal favorite is this: <a href="http://www.trisports.com/zoomers.html" target="_blank">http://www.trisports.com/zoomers.html</a></div>
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Sorry to hijack.... what makes the 2nd one more advanced? You get less help from shorter fins?

 

[kburnell]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>1Topodope</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1891305"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Fine - I did it. I don't know why or what I am supposed to learn from it or what to watch for while I am doing it or if I am doing the drill correctly.<br><br>
Are there other sites that provide more descriptive drills?<br><br>
I really appreciate all the help I get from this forum. One day I hope to learn enough to pay it forward!</div>
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My favorite as far as drills are concerned is <a href="http://www.goswim.tv/" target="_blank">http://www.goswim.tv/</a>. On the right hand side of the page you'll find a section for freestyle drills - both on general technique and some stuff for open water swimming, etc. What I like most is that the videos and written descriptions they provide do a great job of telling you how and what each drill should accomplish/the area of the stroke it addresses. They also have articles, question/answer threads, ideas for workouts/sets, etc. that I find helpful.<br><br>
This site also has some good articles: <a href="http://www.swimsmooth.com/" target="_blank">http://www.swimsmooth.com/</a>. I refrence it a lot - especially the kicking and breathing articles.<br><br>
If you know what areas you need to work on, throw them out there and I'm sure a few of us on here will be able to give you some drills to take a look at!

 

[kburnell]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Yo Sake</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1891322"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Sorry to hijack.... what makes the 2nd one more advanced? You get less help from shorter fins?</div>
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Maybe more advanced isn't the best way to put it. Different kinds of fins serve different purposes and in the ideal setting we'd all have access to a number of different sets. I just like the Zoomers because, for me, they just seem the most practical and provide many of the same benefits of larger fins while staying relatively close to the non-fin-wearing technique we're shooting for. I have no need for a slow/relatively large kick that is often promoted with larger fins. I like the idea behind the zoomers - that being to have a short, quick and efficient kick. They'll add propulsion, but not in the same way as larger fins. When you're swimming rather than just kicking you can, with larger fins, just sort of kick and go through the motions with your upper body. With zoomers, you get some overload (but no too much) on your legs and you'll surely have extra propulsion from the kick, but the pull still plays an important role. In the ideal setting we'd all have access to a number of different sets of fins becuase they all serve different purposes.<br><br>
They do make different versions of zoomers - pretty much one for people with flexible ankles and one for everyone else!

 

[Dougie Fresh]

You move them to the left and you move them to the right <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
Sorry. I couldn't resist. It was the first thing that popped into my head.<br><br>
Back to serious triathleting...

 

[1Topodope]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kburnell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/1891327"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My favorite as far as drills are concerned is <a href="http://www.goswim.tv/" target="_blank">http://www.goswim.tv/</a>.</div>
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This is a fantastic website! Thank you so much <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/banana.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banana">