By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam
Courtesy of FINIS, a SwimSwam partner.
A closer look at what happens when a fin adds speed without changing the kick
Coaches have used fins for decades for a simple reason: they work.
They add propulsion, increase speed, and create training conditions that are difficult to reproduce without equipment. But every fin also changes the way a swimmer moves.
More blade and resistance can slow the kick and change the rhythm being trained. That can be useful when the goal is strength or maximum propulsion. But what about the sets where the goal is speed without moving too far away from the swimmer’s natural kick?
That was one of the questions behind our latest SlipFin Pro testing.
FINIS conducted a six-month comparative study involving high-performance swimmers across Junior National, Sectionals, and Futures levels, evaluating SlipFin Pro alongside barefoot swimming and more traditional fin styles.
The results helped define where SlipFin Pro fits.
The Number That Stood Out
One of the clearest findings was the speed of the kicking movement.
The study measured this as angular movement speed, expressed in degrees per second (°/s). Put simply, the higher the number, the faster the kicking movement was occurring.
Barefoot: 72.7°/s SlipFin Pro: 73.0°/s Railed + long-blade fins tested: ~37–38°/s
SlipFin Pro was within roughly 0.4% of the barefoot measurement, meaning the speed of the kicking movement remained almost unchanged when swimmers put the fin on.
By comparison, the railed and long-blade fins tested reduced that movement speed to roughly half the barefoot rate.
That distinction matters because the fin that creates the most propulsion is not necessarily the right fin for every set.
A coach may want resistance. They may want maximum propulsion. But for race-pace, rhythm, and technique work, there is value in adding assistance without dramatically slowing the movement the swimmer ultimately needs to reproduce without equipment.
That is the space SlipFin Pro was designed to occupy.
Train with speed. Keep the movement.
Interested in bringing SlipFin Pro into your program?
Qualifying teams can receive 20% off SlipFin Pro and other training gear.
[SHOP SLIPFIN PRO] [GET TEAM PRICING]
More From Each Kick
Keeping the kick close to barefoot tempo is only valuable if the fin is also helping the swimmer move faster.
That is what the testing showed.
Compared with barefoot swimming, SlipFin Pro produced 18.3% more distance per kick, along with a calculated 11.7% increase in propulsion.
In simple terms, each kick moved the swimmer farther through the water, while the speed of the kicking movement remained almost unchanged from barefoot swimming.
That combination is what makes the result interesting.
SlipFin Pro is not simply adding propulsion. It is adding assistance without requiring the swimmer to slow down the movement of the kick to get it.
For swimmers and coaches focused on race rhythm and tempo, that creates a different training environment from a larger fin designed primarily around resistance or maximum blade-driven propulsion.
Where a Traditional Power Fin Fits
SlipFin Pro was also evaluated against the FINIS Edge, a more traditional power-fin style training fin.
The Edge produced greater short-distance propulsion, while SlipFin Pro maintained movement much closer to barefoot tempo.
That comparison is useful because it reinforces something coaches already know:
Different fins should do different jobs.
There are times when resistance and greater propulsion are exactly what you want. A traditional power fin can be a great tool for that.
SlipFin Pro is intended for a different purpose: adding speed while preserving more of the rhythm and movement the swimmer will eventually need when the fins come off.
It is less about asking, “Which fin is better?” and more about asking:
“What am I trying to train?”
Movement That Stays Consistent
Another finding that stood out was repeatability.
SlipFin Pro recorded:
97.7% acceleration repeatability 97.0% overall movement repeatability
For coaches, that consistency creates a more predictable environment for technical work.
If the equipment behaves consistently, it becomes easier to watch the athlete. Timing, amplitude, ankle movement, and rhythm become easier to observe and reinforce. Those were among the practical coaching applications identified through the testing.
It also creates a simple opportunity for transfer work:
Use the fin to reinforce a movement. Take it off. Ask the swimmer to reproduce the same feeling barefoot.
The research identified this assisted-to-unassisted approach as one potential application for SlipFin Pro in technique training.
So Where Does SlipFin Pro Belong in Training?
There is not one fin that should do everything.
Some sets call for resistance.
Some call for maximum propulsion.
And some call for higher swimming speeds while keeping the kick and stroke mechanics as close as possible to normal swimming.
That is where SlipFin Pro becomes interesting.
Its lightweight, open-heel design gives swimmers a very different feel from a traditional full-foot fin, while the testing supports the central idea behind the product:
Add propulsion without asking the swimmer to completely change the way they kick.
The Numbers at a Glance
73.0°/sSlipFin Pro movement speed vs. 72.7°/s barefoot +18.3%Distance per kick vs. barefoot +11.7%Calculated propulsion vs. barefoot 97.7%Acceleration repeatability 97.0%Movement repeatabilityTrain With Speed. Keep the Movement.
For coaches focused on race rhythm, technique, and transferring movement from assisted to unassisted swimming, SlipFin Pro creates another option in the training toolbox.
Not more fin for the sake of more fin. A different tool for a different training objective.
[SHOP SLIPFIN PRO] [GET TEAM PRICING]
About the Testing
These findings come from comparative testing conducted as part of a six-month study involving high-performance swimmers across Junior National, Sectionals, and Futures competitive levels. The research evaluated movement characteristics including speed, propulsion, repeatability, balance, and stability.
Results reflect the specific fins and testing conditions included in the study and should not be interpreted as a comparison against every fin available on the market. FINIS continues to collect and evaluate data as we explore additional applications for SlipFin Pro in training.
About FINIS, Inc.
Founded in 1993, FINIS is a worldwide leader in technical swimming innovation. From industry-first gear like the Swimmer’s Snorkel to elite-level racing suits like the HydroX, FINIS develops products that empower swimmers of every level to train smarter and swim faster.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: What Makes the FINIS SlipFin Pro Different?
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