How to Train With Swim Paddles

Swim paddles are small, hand-sized piece of plastic that fit over your fingers with straps. They are used by swimmers for working on the arm portion of various strokes and to allow for a stronger pull through the water. Swim paddles are a part of a larger workout in the pool, and used properly, can improve your swimming in many ways.

Things You'll Need

  • Swim paddles
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Instructions

  1. Training with paddles

    • 1

      Warm up in the pool. Moderate-pace swimming in a variety of styles will allow the body to be ready for a harder workout. Swim freestyle and backstroke to allow the body to move in both a prone and supine position.

    • 2

      Put the paddles on your hands. The straps will fit over your thumb and fingers. The paddles will sit on the back of your hands. They should fit securely against your hands.

    • 3

      Push off the wall of the pool and begin swimming. The paddles will exaggerate the movement of your arms and hands through the water. Be sure to lift your arms high out of the water and reach ahead to begin your pull through the water. Notice how each hand pulls with the paddle.

    • 4

      Take one paddle off. Swim with only one paddle on so that you can determine if you have a stronger side. Then switch hands. If one arm is stronger than the other, it will be difficult to maintain even strokes. A weak arm will let the stronger arm take over and you will not be able to swim in a straight line but will wander toward the strong side. Swim several lengths of the pool alternating the paddle from hand to hand.