Best Swim Paddles: 2020 Top Picks and Buying Guide

Being a better swimmer starts with the right training. From your strokes to your kicks, there are many things you have to learn.

To make things easier, you need to invest in swimming aids. Among others, some of the most important are the best swim paddles.

Whether it is for building strength, increasing endurance, and improving speed, swimming paddles can be beneficial in more ways than one.

Looking for the best swim paddles? Keep on reading and we’ll help you come up with the right choice.

Product	Image	Price	Our Rating
Finis Agility Hand Paddles		$$		Our Detail Review
Speedo Nemesis Contour Paddle		$$		Our Detail Review
Synergy Hand Paddles for Swim Training		$$		Our Detail Review
Aqua Sphere Ergoflex Hand Paddle		$$		Our Detail Review
HEAD Contour Swim Paddle		$$		Our Detail Review

Best Swim Paddles: 2020 Top Picks and Buying Guide

What Are the Benefits of Wearing Swim Paddles?

Our Top Picks for the Best Swim Paddles

1. Finis Agility Hand Paddles

2. Speedo Nemesis Contour Paddle

3. Synergy Hand Paddles for Swim Training

4. Aqua Sphere Ergoflex Hand Paddle

5. HEAD Contour Swim Paddle

How to Choose the Best Swim Paddles

Type of Swim Paddles

Size

Material

Design

Strap

Compatibility

Final Verdict

What Are the Benefits of Wearing Swim Paddles?

Need compelling reasons to incorporate paddles into your swimming training? Below are some benefits that can convince you to invest in one.

• Promotes Proper Hand Position: The hand is one of the most important parts of your body when swimming. By wearing paddles, you are training your hand to maintain the optimal position in such a way that it can propel your speed.
• Allows You to Grab Water Better: Another good thing about wearing swim paddles is that it allows you to grab more water. In turn, this improves your progress rate per stroke.
• Builds Strength: You can also enjoy better strength-building when you wear swim paddles. The resistance is increased, and hence, your muscles are working double time. This can increase the strength of your upper body and arms.
• Improves Technique: It improves the distribution of water pressure. In turn, it helps you build better swimming techniques. This can also be effective in adding variety to your swimming routine. This also improves your speed and efficiency.

Our Top Picks for the Best Swim Paddles

Clueless about the best product to buy?? Here are the best options that should be on your list! Let’s also look at their notable features.

1. Finis Agility Hand Paddles

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One of the most common problems you will encounter in swim paddles is that they have straps that can easily break. That won’t be the case with the Agility Hand Paddles as it comes with the strapless design.

It is designed to deliver an ergonomic fit. It follows the natural contour of the hand. With this, you can expect the highest level of comfort. Nonetheless, there are some complaints about how it exerts pressure on the thumb. This might make it quite painful to wear.

If you are not doing the proper technique, the paddles will fall off. This encourages swimmers to practice the right techniques so that the paddles stay in place.

With the concave shape of the paddle, it corrects your early vertical forearm position. This is also the one responsible for making your strokes more efficient.

With the use of these paddles, you can significantly improve your upper body strength. This is also effective for promoting proper catch position.

It is also a good thing that it is made using a floating material. This makes it easy to chase the paddle once it gets out of your hand.

Pros:

• Comes with a low-resistance design
• Paddle stays secure on the hand
• Promotes proper hand placement

Cons:

• Rigid plastic can easily break
• Can be painful on the thumb

Overall

The strapless design of this swimming paddle promotes the proper position of your hand. It has a versatile design that makes it perfect for all swimming strokes.

2. Speedo Nemesis Contour Paddle

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The brand name itself is already a good reason to consider this over its competitors.

One of the best things about this swim paddle is the contoured design. This makes it stay on the hand regardless of the intensity of your stroke. Some users, however, revealed that the integrated wristband can make the paddle a bit uncomfortable.

It comes with tubercles, which increases the surface area around the edge. It allows you to push more water. This also makes your trajectory smoother.

Like the paddles mentioned above, plastic is the main material used. Unlike in its cheaper counterparts that are brittle, the plastic used in this product is durable.

For the best outcomes, the manufacturer recommends that you use this with the Nemesis Swim Fins.

Pros:

• Made of durable materials
• Effectively adds power in every stroke
• Available in a variety of sizes

Cons:

• The wristband can be quite uncomfortable
• The grip could be better

Overall

This paddle features innovative tubercle technology for smoother trajectories and better control. It also has improved tubing straps and a contoured shape.

3. Synergy Hand Paddles for Swim Training

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Available in small, medium, and large, this is suitable for all levels. There is a size that will fit your hand perfectly.

Even better, it also comes with an adjustable strap. You can tighten or loosen the fit depending on what you are most comfortable with.

However, there are some reviews about how the straps can cause too much pressure on the wrist. This can make it quite uncomfortable.

Some noted it is quite bulky. This is because it mimics the shape of a large hand. This improves adaption and performance.

It also comes with strategically positioned water channels. This makes your strokes smoother. This also improves your control when swimming.

Unhappy with the purchase? You don’t have to waste your money. Within 30 days, you can return it to the manufacturer and they will issue an unconditional refund.

Pros:

• Suitable for all levels
• Comes with adjustable straps
• Designed with a broad blade

Cons:

• Straps can cause too much pressure
• Some might find it to be quite bulky

Overall

This paddle comes with an ergonomic shape and a wrist cutout, which will make it comfortable. It also has soft silicone straps, although, some people noted that it can exert too much pressure on the skin.

4. Aqua Sphere Ergoflex Hand Paddle

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The highlight of this swim paddle is the innovative construction. It has stiff bones made of polypropylene. This is combined with a flexible frame made of rubber. This is responsible for the exceptional resistance while allowing you to feel the water.

With the contoured fit of the paddle, this can effectively mimic the proper position of the hand. This makes it an effective addition to your swim routine.

It also comes with a wide and adjustable strap. This allows you to easily customize the fit of the strap depending on your hand.

Lastly, it is available in two sizes – small and regular. Most of the options included in this guide, however, are available in three sizes – small, medium, and large.

Pros:

• Comes with an adjustable rubber strap
• Has a contoured design for proper hand position
• Made using durable materials

Cons:

• Resistance may not be suitable for beginners
• Strap can easily snap

Overall

With a rubber frame and interconnected bones, this can provide a good feel of the water. This demonstrates excellent resistance on the water while promoting the proper position of your hand

How to Take Off Late on A Wave: Surf Like an Expert

In surfing, you must be knowledgeable about where to position yourself in a wave. Doing so allows you so maximize your tube time, whether you’re behind the peak, on it, or under it. Admit it, late take offs can be too complicated to perfect. On most occasions, late take offs are likely to result in painful wipeouts. However, what you can do is to quickly pop up to be able to optimize the bottom turn.

In this post, we will be discussing the three scenarios, in which you can fully utilize the late take offs. These can be very useful, especially if you want to master the skill of positioning yourself properly in a wave. By the end of this article, you must be able to know which one works best for you. Keep on reading if you want to know more.

How to Take Off Late on A Wave: Surf Like an Expert

Late Take Offs Behind the Peak

Late Take Offs on the Peak

Late Take Offs Under the Lip

Tips on How to Take Off Late on A Wave

Conclusion

Late Take Offs Behind the Peak

Late take offs behind the peak happen when you’re surfing a wave that has an A-frame and when you’re just behind the section that is breaking. Whatever direction you’re going, either left or right, keep in mind that you must never take off at the wave’s center top. The reason is that you’re likely to stall into the barrel if you’re closer to the peak. However, you must remember that it all depends on the wave’s size.

For instance, you might want to get closer to the peak as it allows you to take off and stall into the barrel. Therefore, maximizing your tube time in the shorter section. For bigger and heavier waves, on the other hand, you might want to position yourself a little farther from the breaking lip, where you’ll find it very easy to take off. What you need to do in these scenarios is to do one pump to be able to shoot through faster. Then, you may backdoor the whole section after.

Late Take Offs on the Peak

Via: http://surfersheaven.com/news/how-to-take-off-late-on-a-wave/

While late offs on the peak is very common, it’s not the situation you would want to be in. While it’s not an easy thing to do, taking off on the peak can still be perfected with practice. When forced into an airdrop, keep in mind to apply pressure on your toes, back foot, and tail. You know that the wave only wants to suck you up. What you can do is to lean back on your toes. Doing so allows you your board and fins to dig right in. In turn, you may also be able to catch the face and therefore, slow down up the wave.

Late Take Offs Under the Lip

Taking off right under the lip of the wave probably is one of the most challenging drops you can do. As you may already know, you need to be quick and precise when you’re under the lip of a wave that is steep. Here’s what you need to do:

• The first thing that you need to be doing is paddling as fast as you possibly can. Also, it may help you if you try to beat the wave’s speed and stay just beneath the lip.
• As the wave only wants to suck you up to its face, you must be able to position yourself in the middle or somewhere farther down the wave to the best of your abilities.
• After, remember to keep your shoulders and arms parallel to the wave as soon as you’re standing up on your surfboard.
• Once your surfboard is done with the drop and the fins finally engage, try pumping and pulling the surfboard beneath you. You might also want to avoid the foam ball that’s likely to be moving fast.
• Lastly, keep in mind that with the freight train waves, you will be required to paddle as fast as you can at an angle. Try to catch up with the wave’s speed before you pop up and ride down the line.

Tips on How to Take Off Late on A Wave

• The key to dropping in on steep waves and riding down the line is to angle your take offs. In fact, popping up with an angle allows you to get up on your feet with the right amount of momentum when you encounter a fast wave face while you beat a fast first section.
• In most cases, not angling your take off can only end your ride before you even start.
• When you feel as if the wave is getting away or it’s moving too fast, you might want to try moving your chin toward the surfboard. Doing so will provide you with additional paddling power when you apply more pressure down; thus, creating a planning surface.
• You must never paddle at too much of an angle, as you are only going to come off your shoulder instead of into the wave. It would also be helpful if you don’t angle little too early.
• You also need to remember that if you angle your take offs too slightly, you’re only going to end up dropping straight down the wave and back to the whitewater.
• You must also never paddle into the wave and start angling your surfboard. The reason is that the surfboard won’t start turning until you start to move.
• Leaning on the rails as you begin to drop down isn’t enough to angle your surfboard. If you want to create momentum, you must be able to make the last three paddles, as it encourages your body and board on the angle you want to accomplish.
• Remember to keep your feet in the correct position. Not doing so would only cause your surfboard to go in a different way.
• If you look down, you are also likely to go down. With this, never look down to your feet as you try to pop up. You must be able to look where you want your surfboard to take you.
• Lastly, never arch your back little too much. The reason is that there’s no place your momentum should go but forward. If you do, you are only going to disrupt the forward motion.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve reached the end of the discussions, it’s now up to you to apply this new knowledge to your next surfing session. Taking late take offs, even when it takes a lot of time to master, is very doable and can be perfected with practice. You only need to remember to refer to what we have discussed in this post to be able to master the skill of taking late take offs