Should Beginners Use Swimming Paddles?
When it comes to learning how to swim, the use of swimming paddles often sparks debates among aspiring swimmers and swimming instructors. While some advocate for using paddles to enhance hand strength and coordination, others believe that beginners are better without them. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of using swimming paddles for beginners and provide insights based on the experiences and advice of seasoned swimmers and professionals.
Benefits of Using Swimming Paddles for Advanced Swimmers
The Main Benefits of Using Paddles for Advanced Swimmers
For more experienced swimmers, swimming paddles can significantly enhance hand and arm strength, which is crucial for maintaining a strong and efficient swimming stroke. They can also help in perfecting the hand and arm angles during the stroke, leading to better technique and performance in the water. However, for beginners, these benefits might not outweigh the challenges and potential drawbacks.
Hindered Learning for Beginners
Why Beginners May Struggle with Paddles
Beginners who are still learning the basics of swimming often find swimming paddles to be redundant and even hinder their progress. The main issue is that the additional resistance created by paddles can make it harder for novices to understand when to exert and when to relax, leading to fatigue and confusion. Additionally, some beginners might struggle with proper hand and arm technique with paddles on, making it difficult for them to develop a natural and effective swimming style.
Supportive Aids for Nervous Learners
Using Aids to Build Confidence
For very nervous beginner swimmers, supportive aids such as swimming paddles can be invaluable. They help provide a sense of security and confidence in the water. These swimmers can use paddles to assist in their initial swimming lessons, gradually learning how to move through the water effectively. As their confidence grows, they can then move towards removing the aids and focusing on developing their own technique. This approach helps ensure that the swimmers are not overly reliant on the aids and can ultimately swim without them.
Self-Teaching Techniques
Self-Learning and Independence
Some advocates of self-learning highlight the importance of letting beginners swim without any aids to develop natural hand and arm techniques. By doing so, they can learn how to cup their hands properly and understand the right hand angles. This approach tends to make swimmers more independent and less dependent on aids for support. As an example, one individual taught themselves to swim by kicking across the corners of the deep end of the pool. This hands-on learning method helped them develop the necessary skills without the need for additional equipment.
Professional Guidance is Best
Learning from a Coach
Many swimming professionals strongly recommend learning from a swimming teacher or coach. They can provide individualized instruction and direct feedback, ensuring that the swimmer adopts the correct technique from the outset. Using your own body for swimming initially allows you to understand and feel the correct movements and positions, which forms the foundation for a solid swimming technique.
Main Considerations for Beginners
Right Start for Beginner Swimmers
The consensus among many experts is that beginners are better off learning without swimming paddles. This approach allows them to focus on mastering the basic techniques of breathing, kicking, and kicking off from the pool side. Encouraging beginners to let their natural arm and hand movements lead the stroke helps them to find the right way to cup their hands and maintain proper hand angles. It is crucial to avoid becoming reliant on aids and to develop a strong, independent swimming technique from the start.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while swimming paddles can be useful for more advanced swimmers looking to enhance their technique, beginners are typically better off without them. This allows them to develop a natural and efficient swimming style, free from the distractions and potential hindrances posed by external aids. Whether you are a nervous beginner or just starting out, focus on using your own body as a guide and seek professional advice to develop the right swimming technique.