Two main benefits that shinfinTM fins give Paraic, are a more streamlined body position and a more efficient stronger kick. Most importantly, these benefits transfer to give him a better swim style without fins too. So he uses them for his Masters swimming training and swim technique improvement. He also bought a second pair for another Masters swimmer.
Paraic’s review from Portmarnock, Ireland
“I’m using them for competitive Masters swimming. I find my body position has improved significantly when swimming freestyle! Giving a more streamlined position, when I take off the fins I feel my leg kick is stronger and more efficient.”
Pariac’s review: Competitive Masters fins for a stronger kick & efficient streamlined body position
“I’m using them for competitive Masters swimming. I’ve found they streamline my freestyle and improve my kick!”
Reply
You are right about the streamline and kick improvements. We get a lot of feedback like this (more about this below). Is the other pair for a Masters swimmer too?
Streamlined kick
They are designed to work best with a good streamlined kick like swimmers use for freestyle, backstroke or fly (not breaststroke). We get a lot of great feedback from recreational swimmers saying that swimming with shinfinTM fins (especially full stroke swimming) improves their horizontal body position, breathing, speed and overall swimming technique (arms too). The shinfinTM kick does more than just add leg power. It balances your arm pull and supports good breathing technique. For example, in freestyle, there is often a larger kick down with the left leg when the right arm pulls (and with the right leg when the left arm pulls). A diagonal force balance across your body.
Very different to a foot flipper kick
A foot flipper kick is very different, with more knee-bend and power in your calf muscles and ankles. So foot flippers can’t provide the same benefits. Their biomechanics is all wrong for a proper streamlined “no-fins” kick.
Full stroke swimming
I think they work best for full stroke swimming. That is what I really designed them for. For kicking exercises, you might like to keep your arms going but with longer strokes and not pulling so hard. Then your kick technique is most likely to remain the same. So you are strengthening for the right action. Also, you should feel your arm stroke lengthening and becoming smoother, and your breathing nice and regular. Some of the many other benefits of training with shinfinTM fins.
You can use them for kick only exercises, with or without a kickboard. But your body position and hence kicking technique are more likely to change, especially with a kickboard.
Benefits transfer to swimming without fins
Most importantly, the benefits of swimming with shinfinTM fins transfer across to your “no-fins” swimming too, especially if you swim a bit more just after you take off your shinfinTM fins. This is because the shinfinTM kick is very similar to a proper streamlined “no-fins” kick. You feel the shinfinTM power in your thighs, buttocks, stomach and torso, the same muscles as for good “no-fins” swimming.
I have a suggestion for you. Immediately after you have swum with the shinfinTM fins for a while, take them off and swim a bit more. You should find that your body remembers the shinfinTM kick pattern, so your “no-fins” swimming improves too. If you keep doing this each time you go swimming then you should notice continual improvements in your swimming technique. I would be very interested to hear how you get on with this Paraic.
Paraic
“Thanks for that. Yeah that’s fine to use my comments on your website. The other fins are be used for a Masters swimmer as well.”
“I find my body position has improved significantly when swimming freestyle! Giving a more streamlined position, when I take off the fins I feel my leg kick is stronger and more efficient.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind permission Paraic. If you get a chance, please drop me and email to let me know how you are going after another few weeks of training. I’d be very interested to hear your views on your swim technique and muscle development over the longer term with the fins.
Conclusion
shinfinTM fins give you a more streamlined body position and a more efficient, stronger kick, for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Here are more details about the fins streamlining your whole body for faster swimming.
Furthermore, these benefits transfer to give you a better swim style without fins too. This is why they help you with competitive swim training and improving your swim technique.