5 Top Pieces of Gear Competitive Swimmers Use to Train

Ask any competitive swimmer and they’ll tell you that swim practice isn’t just about swimming lap after lap or staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool for a few hours. Training gear is essential if you want to improve your times, strength, endurance, and technique. 

Swim Shops

When swimmers first start using swim equipment, it becomes fairly clear where any weaknesses may lie and what areas of their stroke could use more attention. Fortunately, proper use of training gear is an effective way to improve your swimming technique. Here are the top five pieces of training equipment competitive swimmers often use throughout their season and all year long.

Pull Buoy

For swimmers who want to work on upper body strength, a pull buoy is an essential piece of equipment. A pull buoy is a leg float held between the thighs to provide buoyancy to the lower body. This simple piece of foam equipment is used for arm pulling drills and stroke correction. A pull buoy encourages you to focus on your arm stroke and make adjustments for a more efficient stroke. When you don’t have the ability to kick, you are forced to use your arms in a smarter way, especially if the coach is on deck analyzing your stroke.

Hand Paddles

Another tool used during drills, often accompanied by a pull buoy, is a set of hand paddles. Hand paddles help determine your hand position in the water. The use of this equipment together offers a tough upper body workout. Hand paddles are designed to improve your stroke technique and the angle at which your hand enters the water. The resistance that paddles provide can also help build arm strength. Hand paddles often come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Swim Fins

Here’s where swimming gets super fun—kicking through the water with a pair of swim fins on your feet makes you speed through the water like a fish. Designed to help swimmers maintain the resistance necessary to build leg power and improve technique, swim fins are an excellent training tool. They deliver maximum load to the leg muscles, resulting in a stronger kick. Fins propel you faster through the water and increase swim speed as a result. For training purposes, be sure to choose the correct length of swim fins for your desired type of training.

Kickboard

A kickboard is another training essential that you use to work on proper kicking technique and foot turnover. A kickboard keeps your upper body above the water while focusing on your core and leg muscles for building strength. The inventor of the swimming kickboard was U.S. Olympic gold medalist Adolph Kiefer, who founded Kiefer Swim Shops in 1947. The brand is still going strong today. Kicking sets are just one more way to make you a better swimmer.

Resistance Cords

Resistance cords can be used for dryland workouts or in the water. They help build strength, stamina, and improve range of motion. They are effective for targeting specific areas, including the chest, biceps, and legs. As competitive swimmers know, the use of resistance cords is an essential part of dryland training. For all of your swim gear needs, be sure to get your favorite products and gear from reputable swim shops that know all things swimming.

About Kiefer Swim Shops

Kiefer Swim Shops has an enduring 70-year legacy in the aquatics industry and is a leader in serving competitive swimmers, lifeguards, and aquatic facilities throughout the U.S. All products, from water weights to swimsuits to rescue gear, are designed and tested for safety, durability, and comfort. Kiefer Swim Shops offers their own high-quality, name-branded products as well as swim products from other trusted brands. Kiefer Swim Shops knows the equipment you use helps you excel and improve your performance in the water. As an industry leader, Kiefer Swim Shops invented many of the tools swimmers rely on today, including kickboards, nylon swimsuits, and racing lanes. Let Kiefer Swim Shops help share your passion for the sport and support your swimming endeavors.

Shop for swim gear, swimsuits, and more from Kiefer Swim Shops at Kiefer.com

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