Alright so here’s the thing: my swimming has always been kinda… meh. Felt like I wasn’t getting any smoother or faster, just splashing around. Saw these EVA foam floats and paddles online and figured, hey, maybe they’re worth a shot. People keep saying they’re eco-friendly and durable. Ordered myself a set from some online store – those chunky floats and awkward-looking paddles.
The First Try: Pure Chaos
Got to the pool all fired up. Grabbed the float thing first – one they call a “pull buoy”. Stuck it between my thighs. Started swimming… and it shot right out like a torpedo after two strokes. Dude behind me almost swallowed it. Not cool.
Then I tried the paddles. Slipped those floppy foam plates onto my hands. Figured they’d make me stronger. First pull… felt like scooping concrete. Water went everywhere. Couldn’t lift my arms properly. My stroke rhythm? All gone to crap. Pissed me off.
Figuring It Out (The Hard Way)
Went home soggy and annoyed. Dug up some old swim videos online. Watched folks actually using this stuff without looking like a drowning cat. Realized a few things:
- That pull buoy needs locking in tight. Squeezed it hard with my upper legs, not just plonked it down loose. Felt weird at first, like squeezing a watermelon, but it finally stayed put.
- Paddle placement is key. Had them too high on my fingers. Shifted them lower, closer to the palm base. Made the pull feel less like wrestling and more like grabbing water.
- Baby steps with paddles. Used just one on the left hand first for like 5 minutes. Then switched to the right. Took forever, just slowly churning down the pool lane. Focused on feeling the water “catch” instead of smacking it flat.
Finally Clicking
Went back after a few days. Started simple:
- Squeezed the pull buoy hard right from the wall push-off. Kept my legs almost glued together. Focused on twisting my body smoothly.
- Added the paddles slowly. Did maybe two lengths normal freestyle, then one length with just the left paddle. Rest. Repeat on the right. Felt my shoulders talking to me.
- After like half an hour, dared to try both paddles together. Took it super short. Maybe just 25 meters. Felt heavy, but my hands weren’t flapping wildly. Progress!
The big moment? When I swam with the pull buoy and paddles together later that week. Legs not sinking. Arms moving smoother. Felt… longer somehow? Still not winning any medals, but man, moving through the water felt way better. Less splashing, more gliding.
Takeaway
Honestly? These foam blocks and plates aren’t magic. Took me nearly getting kicked out the pool lane to make them work. Had to:
- Focus on squeezing things. Like, really squeezing.
- Start slower than a lazy turtle. One paddle at a time? Yeah. Needed it.
- Forget about speed first. It was all about how the tools felt in the water. Awkward at first, then it just kinda clicked.
They’re helping now. My stroke feels less rushed. Still got miles to go, but it’s the first time my swimming gear didn’t feel like useless junk. Worth the hassle? Yeah, surprisingly. Just don’t expect miracles on day one. Dude, buy these foam sticks. And squeeze like your life depends on it.