GEAR THE BEST EQUIPMENT FOR A BETTER SWIM
TRAINING TOOLS
Confused about all the training aids on the market? Speedo advisory coach and Swimfortri director Dan Bullock explains what they are and how to use them…
Once upon a time all you needed to swim was a costume. Then along came goggles, which
allowed swimmers to stay in the water for longer, but life was still fairly simple. This is the case no longer. The quest for swimming speed has resulted in a whole industry of items designed to make you stronger, sleeker and more efficient. Used correctly, many of these swimming toys and floats can help you improve but people are often unsure what the correct procedure is. With a little more understanding of what the various items do and how they can help you, you will get more out of them and get to use them safely and effectively. By explaining the main items and how they’re used, you may also be inspired to try some kit you’ve never used before, and so improve your technique more quickly. A couple of words of caution are necessary here. Firstly, many pools will not like you bringing in paddles, fins and snorkels so it is worth checking with the duty manager first. Get a clear guideline on what is allowed before jumping in and panicking the lifeguards. Often lifeguards will say no just to make their lives easier. If your local pool isn't keen on swim aids then you might contemplate private gym membership, where pool use is usually more relaxed. Alternatively (as gym membership can be costly), consider joining a masters or triathlete swim team that has lanes booked and will use swim aids as a matter of course. Another factor to consider is safe usage. Many
training aids have both a technique and resistance application, depending on the way they are used. As with any resistance training, be careful of overloading various body parts. Always ensure you are fully warmed up before using any swim equipment. You would never lift heavy weights immediately, or start running flat-out without a warm-up; the same applies here. In particular, never use paddles or fins during a warm-up. Many senior swim coaches suggest no more than 25 percent of a session should be attempted with any one item of swim equipment. They, of course, would be referring to swimmers who have grown up swim training. People who do not have a strong swim background should take even more care.
Speedo BioFUSE Power Paddle
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