Testimonials
16 of 20 gold medals and 43 of 60 medals at the last games were won with an Early Vertical Forearm (EVF) position or "high elbow stroke". The former president of the American Swimming Coaches Association said that the EVF is the component that separates every level of swimmer. At the US Nationals, 11 national coaches were asked what part of the stroke was the most important and 9 of the 11 said EVF. Early Vertical Forearm (EVF) Swim Training is a sure-fire way to get faster.
Dave Stebbins — 2006 Hawaii Iron Man Qualifier
“The swim was my best by 1 min. over the last 2 years. (31:17) for 1.2 miles. Thanks to the (EVF trainer) techpaddles." (August 2006)
Tom Trout — USA Certified Triathlon Coach — Tri Tip of the Week (August 7, 2006) "Swimming Faster"
“I've enjoyed moving to a new level in swimming this year, which I believe is due (in part) to a few minor changes to my swim training. First, I have incorporated a new swim device into my drills. The device is called a "techpaddle", which assists swimmers with developing what is called an"Early Vertical Forearm" or EVF. EVF allows the swimmer to keep their elbow high in the water when beginning their pull. In doing so, more surface area from the arm is used in the pull...allowing for a more efficient and more powerful stroke.”
John Leonard — American Swimming Coaches Association (Current President)
“Tried them (techpaddles) with a good 14 year old female distance swimmer and a good 9 year old. The paddles perform exactly as you say they do in your materials.”
George Block — American Swimming Coaches Association (Former President) Head Swimming Coach NISD
"They are INCREDIBLY cool. We played with them with some chronic elbow-droppers or straight-armers. They all found the EVF position very quickly. It's the single most important skill (Early Vertical Forearm Position) that differentiates every level. For the first time they were able to accelerate from the EVF position. They took them off and still "kept the feel."
Bob Steele — Swimming Coach of five NCAA II National Swimming Championships
"One of my new swimmers had been on a plateau, the result of difficulty overcoming a dropped elbow and catch-up freestyle. After one season of mornings, using the (EVF trainer) techpaddles, he improved in the 200 by 3 seconds, 500 by 7 seconds, the 1000 by 17 seconds, and the 1650 by 26 seconds. While he did many things to improve his events, the (catch training) techpaddles forced him to generate more power by pushing with a high elbow for the front to the back of his stroke."
Dean Hawks — Swimming Coach Casper Wyoming
"I used the EVF techpaddle with David for most of the high school season. David swam freestyle with almost a straight arm. After 3-4 weeks using the (forearm trainer) techpaddles, there was a noticeable difference in his strokes. After 8 weeks his times dropped substantially. 100 Fly dropped from a 1:10 to a: 55, 200 Free from a 1:59 to a 1:54, Breaststroke from a 1:10 to a 1:04, 200 IM from a 2:10 to a 2:02.”
Mary Reily Magee — Owner of The Love to Swim School
"I found the (EVF trainer) techpaddle to be useful in teaching the feel of the Catch / Catch Phase of the freestyle stroke. It is an invaluable tool."
Tom Trout — USA Certified Triathlon Coach
"I've been using (EVF trainer) techpaddles consistently for about three weeks, and I am already noticing a difference in the angle of my elbow as I begin my catch. My elbow is higher in the water than it had been previously. This effect is even more pronounced immediately after swimming a set with the (EVF )techpaddles.”
Stu McAllister — Triathlete
"I have found that the (EVF training) techpaddle has helped with my form and in helping to strengthen my shoulders." Libby Westrate — H.S. Swimmer "Using the (catch trainer) techpaddle made me feel like my stroke was smoother and faster."
Elizabeth Vaughn — H.S. Swimmer
"I could really feel a difference in my stroke when I was using the techpaddle."
Zing Allsopp — Master’s Swimmer
“I really like my Techpaddles, even if they're rather "funky" looking. Some of my friends have even described them as my "paddle thingies." I gave up my hand paddles a while back simply because they were clutsy and worked my shoulders more than I cared for. The Techpaddles may be "clutsy" looking, but they've made me more aware of my forearms -- and that's a good thing.“
Jennie Piche — Coach
“I received my techpaddles near the end of our swim season so haven’t been able to put them to good use. I have had some of my swimmers swim with the techpaddles for a 25m, walk back, then swim 25m without them trying to keep the same feel. It was like a light bulb went on!! They were feeling the water better and swimming faster! Even the parents watching could see a difference in their speed. The swimmers' I've run into over the summer, have already asked if they can use the paddles during practice in the new season. I’m looking forward to seeing improvements not only in technique but times dropping too.”
Dave Joensen — Coach
“I've been very pleased with the paddles. It's helped my stroke immensely. I've gotten stronger and my stroke is more balanced. I've noticed an improved ability to keep my stroke together during a practice. Most important, is I've gotten faster. It's very tiring to use, but the benefits are worth it. The swimmers I've had use it have noticed similar improvement. It's a way for them to understand what is meant by a high elbow catch and pull. Thanks for your work in developing this paddle."
Jack Fabian, Ph.D. — National Development Coach
“I am very impressed with the techpaddle. I am using these last few weeks of August to test them out with some of my age group elite swimmers during some optional practices I am running--- during what is usually a break for the team. We did some head up swimming with and without the paddles using a waterpolo ball. The set was challenging and the swimmers felt it was very useful with regards to improving their catch. I have also been using them for long slow swims at the beginning and end of practice.”
David — H.S. Swimmer
“I had been notorious for leading my strokes with my elbows, but after using the Swimming Stroke Trainer multiple times, my swimming felt far more efficient. One thing when using the stroke trainer is that you have to be self-conscious of how you are setting-up in the water (it won’t do all the work for you).”
Kevin McCormack — Master Swimmer
“I love the paddles! I am a 53yr.old who has competed in Masters for 19 years. I am usually ranked in the top 10 in the USA in my age group for sprint butterfly; however, my freestyle has always been non-competitive. The paddles are allowing me to focus on the catch. After using them regularly for a couple of months, my freestyle seems to be improving. As you noted in your article, I need to race to see where I'm at. By the way, my teammates tease me about buying every swim toy that comes out. Often I use the item for a day or week and then give it away after I realize that it won't help me. Your paddles are still in my bag and I'm careful about lending them to others.”
Tom Nickoloff — Masters Swimmer
“Prior to the techpaddle, I had a very good EVF (according to my coach), but still found that the techpaddle is a great warm-up aid... it conditions my muscle memory at the beginning of a workout, and that links with my brain, so as the workout goes on (without the techpaddles) and I'm getting tired (when our strokes normally start to break down), it's easier for me to keep good stroke posture, rotation, EVF etc... bottom-line is that when used as a warm-up aid, they allow me to focus even longer on great stroke work... I must confess they're a little funky to use the first time or so... we're so conditioned to go faster that the whole sensation is strange... but tell your future clients/users to stick with it... after a few workouts, they'll love it.“
Connie Jackson — Coach/Instructor/Master Swimmer
“I would use the techpaddles during my warm-up, again in the middle and usually during my cool-down. I mainly concentrated on freestyle, but did attempt some breaststroke and some fly. I definitely will use the techpaddles and/or fist gloves before or after practice or while swimming on my own. I also give swimming lessons to a few summer swim league kids. I bought a pair of child's techpaddles as well. My youngest student is 5 years old and I like the idea of using the boogie board. While there has been improvement in the kids’ strokes I am very excited about them using the techpaddles during their lessons.”
Dr. Kemp Battle MD — Master Swimmer
“I've struggled for years to develop a more dominantly EVF stroke. To have the message delivered authoritatively in a way that appeals to the need for reasonable explanations and an immediate tactile feedback has made this a valuable tool.”
Chris Price — Master Swimmer
“At first they felt very weird, in fact I felt like I was slowly drowning. That is when I realized I was not in good form. It is a very slow process, however once I got the "" Feel "" of the water I notice my "" drowning "" sensation abated and I felt a better forward movement. When people use to talk about feeling the water, I had know idea what they where talking about. Now in my regular work outs I try and slow my stroke down and really reach for the water. I have been keeping up with my lane partner (who is about 10% faster than I am without the usual exhaustion I felt before working on the EVF.”
Scott Kerr — Coach
“This is my second order of the paddles. I got some this summer, and they where great! I think these paddles work great.”
Heinz Dittrich — Coach
“This is Heinz from South Africa starting to use your tech paddles and to control the speed I use a pacer system, setting 120. So far all the swimmers are giving me positive feed back. Great invention.” |
