Fins as a Learning Aid, Not for Temporary Speed

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The most common use of fins I’ve seen is by those who want a dose of instant speed. So they put on fins and instantly can swim much faster laps. But, as with buoys and paddles, that’s precisely the problem with fins. They’re a temporary and artificial aid that helps you swim easier or faster while you have them on, but the effect disappears as soon as you take them off. No learning happens. None. Wearing fins to be faster is like wearing platform shoes to be taller.

What fins might do, when used this way, is interfere with your ability to develop a fluent, relaxed, efficient stroke into a reliable habit. Short-blade fins, in particular, are specifically designed to help you kick faster than you could with full-blade fins. And the faster your legs move, the faster your arms have to move to keep up. Isn’t faster turnover (i.e., higher SR) precisely what we’re trying to avoid? Short fins were designed originally to help sprint swimmers achieve high stroke rates while swimming with fin-aided speed—and to condition a swimmer’s legs for the hard kicking that is typical when sprinting. Again, that’s precisely the kind of thing a TI swimmer wants to avoid.

There are exceptions with fins as well. As I explained in chapter 8, they can be very helpful to anyone whose rigid ankles make drill practice an ordeal. Using fins to preserve your energy and allow yourself to focus on smooth, more controlled movement is an aid to mastering skills. For the most part, even if you use fins judiciously to improve your drill practice, it’s best to take them off as soon as you shift to whole-stroke swimming.