Recommended Items For At Home Swimming
I am constantly asked about a number of swimming related items I use for lessons or recommendations for other swimming related items. I thought it would be helpful if I just create a post where I can list the most commonly asked about items. Most items I purchase are from Amazon.
Not every item on this page is recommended for every student. This is just a reference in case you decide to buy any of these items for yourself or your child.
I am not compensated for any recommendation. Prices may change at any time. Just Google or Amazon search the product name to find a current supplier.
The desert sun, heat and pool chemicals will destroy any item no matter how high the quality. All items should be rinsed with fresh water and stored out of the pool and out of the sun when not in use.
Aqua Disks, AKA “Happy Faces!” Kids love these and so do I. I use them to teach a lot of skills. The multiple holes allow for several different grips. Availability for these constantly changes as does the price. Average price is $25. Green is small, so get green for kids. Orange is large, so only get orange for adults. Orange is too big for kids. The student in the blog picture is using green Aqua Disks. I’ve found them on Amazon and TheLifeguardStore.com
Synergy Hand Paddles for Swim Training. Hand paddles provide resistance which will slow down the arms and require a perfect technique to get them to work properly. They are a struggle to use if technique is poor, thus an ideal tool to motivate swimmer to improve their technique. Order small for kids and medium for adults. Large are just for professional athletes. Several colors to choose from. $17 average price. These provide resistance which increases strength and improves form.
These Finis hand paddles are another excellent option. I love these because they can be worn on either hand, which results in different muscles being worked. You want small or medium for kids depending on their hand size and skill level. If you are not sure start off with small and then they can graduate to large. Medium size is shown here. They have a simple dot code: 1 dot = small, 2 dots = medium, 3 dots = large.
Pull buoys are great for isolating the arms to focus on arm position and strengthening arm muscles. I recommend a pull buoy that is larger on one end than the other. Speedo is always a reliable brand, but there are many brands and color options to choose from.
Poolmaster 50509 Advanced Kickboard Swim Trainer and Swim Aid, Small There are hundreds of kickboard options out there, but for anyone learning how to swim this is one of the best designs. It has two sets of handles which helps as the swimmer graduates from beginner to intermediate to advanced. This is so durable it will last generations for only $15. It may not have trendy character on it, but it also won’t break after a week like the Styrofoam ones in the big box stores. Order SMALL for kids.
These are Churchill fins. I LOVE my Churchill fins. I recommend them for anyone with larger feet. For kids with smaller feet Finis makes fins like these in those sizes. You want soft rubber/silicone fins, not hard plastic. Hard plastic will cause discomfort, blisters and cuts. That is NOT FUN!
