fins?

[mikeall08]

Ok when i swim every once in a while i will use fins.. but when i take them off and do sprints right after it feels as tho my lgs move faster... is it just the wait difference? or am i actully moving faster because i want to go the speed i was with the fins?

either way. would t be smart to say warm up before a meet with fins so that in our race you will feel/ even go faster?

[milkman21]

Don't use fins for a pre-meet warm-up. It's a good way to tire your legs and disorient yourself in the water, because you lose your "feel".

Fins are best used as a leg-strengthening tool in training. It's kind of like "weight training" in a swimming-specific way, because it keeps (essentially) the same movement pattern as a standard flutter/dolpin kick while adding more of a load to the muscles involved.

[gottalovelattes]

I agree with milkman21 - you definately do not want to use fins in a warm-up for a meet.

In addition to fins being great for strengthening your legs, they are also a good tool for increasing ankle flexibility which will make you more efficient with your kick.

I just posted a drill on my blog which uses sneakers while kicking...really helps with your kick and endurance.

[Q.]

gottalovelattes, do you realize you're responding to a year old post??? I don't know if they'll see your post but it's still good info to have in case someone else comes along.

Re: goggles link, didn't work for me.
Re: kickboard, I just kick on my back one or both arms extended in front of me instead of putting myself in the unnatural posture of my head in the air while swimming. I wouldn't say it translates 100% into freestyle either but my best laps are immediately after I flip back over!