Fist gloves are a swimming aid meant to increase your natural feel for the water. While many naturally-gifted swimmers have a strong sense of how to use their full arms and body to power their strokes, most swimmers need to learn how to use more than just their hands. Fist gloves remove your hands as part of your stroke, forcing greater use of your forearms and body rotation. When you use fist gloves, it's similar to swimming with a closed fist, but the lack of sensation from your hands is initially disorienting.
Step 1
Find the right size glove. Fist gloves are available in sizes from small to extra large. An incorrect fit will either feel uncomfortable or slip off in the water.
Step 2
Get into the water, making sure you can stand, before you put on the gloves. Since fist gloves eliminate the use of your hands in swimming, they can throw off your stroke initially. Be safe by entering the water in a shallow area.
Step 3
Slip on the gloves. Place your gloved hands in the water while still standing to get a sense of how they change the sensation of the water against your arms to prepare for your initial laps.
Step 4
Swim one lap, focusing on perfecting your arm position and forearm pull.
Step 5
Continue swimming using the gloves for up to 50 percent of your workout. If you focus on drills, use the gloves during your drill swims. If you're swimming laps to prepare for competition, vary the use of the gloves. Start by using the gloves in 70 percent of your swims, and then reduce to using them in 30 percent during the mid-season. Use them more as the season closes -- in 50 percent of your swims.
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