What Stiffness Monofin to Get?

[giddyuptiger]

As we all know it's hard to know what stiffness monofin to get if you don't have the opportunity to try before you decide.

Here's my conundrum.

NB: I use a monofin mostly for dynamic pool training/competing.

I have been borrowing my friends leader fin for some months. The stiffness of the blade has me doing small constant kicks, I've heard people say my kicks are small enough to where people wonder if I'm actually kicking. I do about 30 kicks/ 50m but it works well for me.

My friend also has a Glide #2 stiffness fin he uses for competition. I assumed that this is the fin I should purchase. But when I use it, with the same technique I've been using, I go nowhere. So much so that I've had to switch to a much bigger double kick glide action to get the same speed.

(Interestingly my friend uses the leader fin for training and the glide for competition and he doesn't have a problem at all of switching from one to the other).

The problem I'm having, is do I get the #2 stiffness and adapt my technique or do I opt for a stiffer blade, say #3 and take the gamble?

It's a big financial purchase for me and one I really can't afford to mess up.

 

[Andrew the fish]

from my little experience - stiffer blade gives you some room to grow. I bought #2 stiffness and its already a little too soft after one year of occasional training. It still works but I am eyeing a stiffer blade for my next purchase. I also think stiffer blade "teach" you better technique, I could be wrong though, its just my feel after borrowing a really stiff blade once.

 

[Mullins]

I also think stiffer blade "teach" you better technique

Tends to be the other way around. If you use a blade that's too stiff you just end up doing leg-kicks. Anybody can swim with a #5 mono if they pretend they're doing squats. Best way to train technique is to use very soft fin/s or no fins at all.

I've got a waterway #2 and it's too stiff for me in the pool. Ok if I want to sprint up from 100m but that's about all.

 

[giddyuptiger]

Tends to be the other way around. If you use a blade that's too stiff you just end up doing leg-kicks. Anybody can swim with a #5 mono if they pretend they're doing squats. Best way to train technique is to use very soft fin/s or no fins at all.

I've got a waterway #2 and it's too stiff for me in the pool. Ok if I want to sprint up from 100m but that's about all.

Yes, I'm suspecting the same thing. I've done quite well with the leader fin as I think it lends to my lack of technique. I'm scared that a softer fin will hurt me to the point where if my form doesn't improve I wont be able to do the same distances.

 

[Mullins]

It sounds like there are some pretty serious problems with your technique - might want to get those sorted out rather than persevere with stiff fins.

 

[Simos]

Yes, I'm suspecting the same thing. I've done quite well with the leader fin as I think it lends to my lack of technique. I'm scared that a softer fin will hurt me to the point where if my form doesn't improve I wont be able to do the same distances.

If you are serious about competing/improving, I think you should postpone buying a monofin (or training with one) and try soft rubber fins for a while until you get the technique right as Dave said.

I have a horrible monofin technique and some of the same issues as you have but apart from strength/flexibility exercises, you would probably benefit from practicing with rubber fins on the surface but 'sideways' (if that makes sense) - that way you can get a nice big amplitude which you seem to be lacking, might be good to try exaggerating the movement during training...

Otherwise, maybe get a hydrofoil lol

 

[giddyuptiger]

If you are serious about competing/improving, I think you should postpone buying a monofin (or training with one) and try soft rubber fins for a while until you get the technique right as Dave said.

I have a horrible monofin technique and some of the same issues as you have but apart from strength/flexibility exercises, you would probably benefit from practicing with rubber fins on the surface but 'sideways' (if that makes sense) - that way you can get a nice big amplitude which you seem to be lacking, might be good to try exaggerating the movement during training...

Otherwise, maybe get a hydrofoil lol

Thanks for the tips.

I've been working on my technique for the past couple of weeks, lots of kickboard work and exaggerating the movement as you suggested. I'm slow but steady progress. I think it's going to be one of those two steps back three steps forward sort of thing.

 

[Simos]

Thanks for the tips.

I've been working on my technique for the past couple of weeks, lots of kickboard work and exaggerating the movement as you suggested. I'm slow but steady progress. I think it's going to be one of those two steps back three steps forward sort of thing.

Get a front snorkel, it helps - then you can do countless lengths lol. Also vertical monofinning at the edge of the pool trying to keep as much of your body out of the water helps.

Post a video when you can - might inspire me to get off my lazy a$$ and start working on improving my pathetic technique.

 

[giddyuptiger]

Post a video when you can - might inspire me to get off my lazy a$$ and start working on improving my pathetic technique.

Ask and ye shall receive. Here's a vid of me from yesterday. I focused on trying to isolate the hip movement, intention was to keep it small and just get the hips rolling. It's the first little bit of success I've had in a couple of weeks.

Kickboard work is second half of video.

[ame=http://youtu.be/KrdtCfXY7Bs]Dolphin Technique - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Simos]

D4mn I have no excuse now

Dave and others can offer a lot more advice but you definitely need more amplitude from the hips and more even kick (up and down). Do you get more amplitude if you try with the arms by your side?

I wouldn't go down the route of stiff fins of any sort - I'd go the other way and practice with very soft fins (eg rubber) so that they don't give you much propulsion without a decent hip movement. I think you are using stiffness to compensate for hip movement.

Oddly, I do know what you mean about using many tiny kicks - does feel efficient in terms of relaxation and not using much energy per kick. The thing is though that you get next to no glide and have to keep kicking whereas with a decent technique you'd be able to do those lengths with a handful of kicks.

 

[giddyuptiger]

D4mn I have no excuse now

Dave and others can offer a lot more advice but you definitely need more amplitude from the hips and more even kick (up and down). Do you get more amplitude if you try with the arms by your side?

I wouldn't go down the route of stiff fins of any sort - I'd go the other way and practice with very soft fins (eg rubber) so that they don't give you much propulsion without a decent hip movement. I think you are using stiffness to compensate for hip movement.

Oddly, I do know what you mean about using many tiny kicks - does feel efficient in terms of relaxation and not using much energy per kick. The thing is though that you get next to no glide and have to keep kicking whereas with a decent technique you'd be able to do those lengths with a handful of kicks.

Everything you say makes perfect sense.

Next training session I'm gonna work on bigger stroke, amplifying kick.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Simos]

By the way, the lack of movement (especially on the 'down') becomes more evident on the kick work when the fins are much below the surface of the water and the knees are up to the surface. If you get someone to film your kickboard work from above the water you should be seeing your hips breaking the water and the tips of the fins (but not the knees).

I have the same issues but worse but if it's any consolation, I've seen people that had much worse technique than me who trained regularly (rubber fins) go to having an awesome technique so it's definitely possible but they did work pretty hard/consistently at it.

The best way is to forget about the distance for a while and try and make each stroke 'count' (ie right technique) but it's exactly the one step backward and two steps forward situation you mentioned.

 

[Simos]

Everything you say makes perfect sense.

Next training session I'm gonna work on bigger stroke, amplifying kick.

Thanks for your help.

I'd post that video as a separate thread if I were you and get some advice from people that can actually monofin. I'm probably the last person to be giving advice on this

 

[giddyuptiger]

I'd post that video as a separate thread if I were you and get some advice from people that can actually monofin. I'm probably the last person to be giving advice on this

Then the challenge becomes discerning between those who know what they're talking about and those who don't. Probably best just leave it where it is.