From year to year, paddles for swimming become one of the most indispensable tools for swimmers who need to improve technology, develop endurance, strength and increase speed results. The proper use of such equipment allows you to more quickly develop muscle memory and hone a wide range of other useful skills.
Operating principle
The operation of such an indispensable simulator as swimming blades is quite simple. The main emphasis here is on increasing the area of the palms. The result is the implementation of more efficient strokes, which allows you to accelerate the development of the right techniques. Subsequently, it becomes much easier for an athlete to swim correctly without shoulder blades, thanks to the development of appropriate muscle memory.
Often, swimming blades are used together with the so-called sausages, which are a fixator for the legs. The combination of these types of training equipment makes it possible to make the main emphasis on hand strokes. For the accelerated development of swimming muscle groups that are crucial for swimming, the shoulder blades can be used along with elements that inhibit movement.
The form
Choosing the appropriate shape of the blades, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that rectangular products can significantly increase the resistance indicators, due to its non-streamlined shape. A more convenient option for the average user may be models that maximize the shape of the palm of your hand. In turn, products with protrusions increase the amount of water entrained during the stroke. The presence of holes in the swimming blades contributes to an overall reduction in load.
Development of the correct swimming technique
As noted above, the shoulder blades are able to increase the area of the palms when performing strokes. To feel the difference between the technically correct execution of movements and the wrong one, swimmers are advised to initially use the shoulder blades without fixing the clamps on their wrists. When the palm enters the water at a verified angle, the shoulder blade, fixed only on the finger, will remain on the hand. If you use the wrong technique, the product will hang and jump off your palm.
To develop muscle memory, it is enough to use adult or children's shoulder blades for swimming over a period of time that is about 25% of the duration of the workout. Too frequent use of the blades without expert supervision leads to the appearance of small inaccuracies, errors in the stroke technique.
Power training
Progress in increasing power capabilities will be observed only when the athlete performs the correct strokes that correspond to the chosen swimming style. In this case, the selection of suitable blade models is also of importance.
Classes with the use of incorrect equipment can not only not affect the increase in the necessary indicators, but also cause injury to the elbow or shoulder joints.
Sprint training
To increase speed indicators, swimming blades are used along with means that can increase resistance to movement: parachutes, "brakes", rubber pads. It can also be used equipment to increase traction, such as flippers.
The presence of suitable blades allows you to develop a speed equal to the maximum that is demonstrated by athletes during serious competitions, and even higher. Particular attention is paid to performing strokes with a high frequency, which contributes to the progress of the athlete.
Types of swimming blades
Today, sports shops are able to offer swimmers a wide range of specialized swimming blades, ranging from models of anatomically calibrated shapes to specific wedge-shaped and rectangular products. To understand the whole variety of individual types of this sports equipment, you need to pay attention to the following varieties:
- Classical models - are one of the most used when practicing swimming. They differ in a rectangular shape, which contributes to an increase in resistance when the palms move in the water column and, accordingly, increase speed.
- Anatomically shaped products - provide maximum comfort due to perfect grip with the palm of your hand. They are used in training for the development of strength, high-speed qualities and the development of swimming techniques.
- Finger blades - allow you to exert increased loads on the tendons of the fingers. Contribute to stretching and strengthening the small muscles of the hand and fingers.
- Fulcrum shoulder blades - the application is aimed at preventing injuries of the elbow and shoulder joints. The main advantage is the movement of the force vector on the wrist, which reduces stress on the upper regions of the forearms.
- Speedo Swimfoil - designed specifically for professional athletes who want to hone their own rowing technique to perfection. They allow you to increase the lifting force of the athlete, which is created when performing wrist movements. Speedo swimming blades often fly off the hands of athletes during the first training session, as they are practically not fixed to the palm of your hand. However, this problem disappears in the process of developing technical skills.
- Shovels-eights for swimming - have two closed loops. One contour is worn on the fingers, and the other is placed on the forearm. During swimming in such shoulder blades, the correct retention of the forearm and wrist in a certain position is required. Such models are mainly used when it is necessary to improve the technique of swimming the crawl on the back or chest.
- Models in the form of gloves - give a small increase in speed. Mostly used by amateur swimmers. Regular use can significantly impair stroke technique.
More is not always better
Most swimming enthusiasts prefer large blades. In fact, Mad Wave’s large swimming paddles and similar equipment from other popular manufacturers are being developed for all-rounders, for which swimming is not a decisive form.
When resorting to buying large blades, unprofessional athletes rely on the possibility of applying maximum strength to develop high speed. After all, the larger the surface area of the scapula, the stronger the repulsion.
At the same time, using the largest Arena swimming blades, other brands of such products, it turns out to be much more difficult to perform movements, following the correct technique of stroke. Plus, the probability of accidental injuries increases significantly.
Useful Tips
There are a number of recommendations, following which contributes to a more efficient, rational use of swimming blades. Particular attention to swimming enthusiasts should be focused on the following:
- pick the blades should be a size that only slightly exceeds the parameters of the palm;
- the best in terms of working out the correct technique is the option of using blades in the absence of attachment to the wrist with their retention only on the finger;
- to practice the movements with the blades should be carefully, slowly, only gradually increasing speed and increasing the volume of training;
- do not use shoulder blades in the presence of a feeling of fatigue;
- during classes, the main attention should be focused on the development of technical skills, shifting to the background the increase in power and speed qualities;
- in order to avoid injuries it is recommended to use Sportmaster swimming blades and any other common products only after a good warm-up.