TECHPADDLE REVIEW: FOREARM BRACES FOR BETTER PROPULSION (EARLY VERTICAL FOREARM TRAINER)

Review Summary: TechPaddle EVF Trainer

Overall Rating

4.5/5

Buy on TechPaddle

A brilliant tool for correcting 'dropped elbows.' Unlike standard paddles that just add resistance, the TechPaddle actually fixes your stroke mechanics by forcing a high elbow catch.

✅ Pros

• Forces correct EVF (Early Vertical Forearm) position
• Secure forearm attachment (velcro)
• Can be used for unique drills like backward swimming
• Lightweight and flexible material

❌ Cons

• Takes time to get used to (awkward at first)
• Paddle width can feel a bit bulky
• Slower to put on than rubber-strap paddles

Detailed Score Breakdown

Usability/Effectiveness

4 / 5

Material

4 / 5

Look & Feel

5 / 5

Value

5 / 5

Getting more propulsion during a swim is a huge problem for many swimmers, and even advanced individuals shouldn't stop exploring their stroke for potential improvement.

If you read this swimming blog regularly, you might notice I do not recommend using too much swim gear unless it has a particular purpose. Not too long ago I was raging about the triathlete community and how using paddles to swim with a bad technique is a really bad idea.

The TechPaddle, however, does not fall into this category. It is no ordinary paddle. It is a tool designed to guide your arm into the perfect position so you get more out of your movements.

Say hello to my little friend the "TechPaddle (Early Vertical Forearm Trainer or EVF Trainer)".

Dive Into: TechPaddle EVF Trainer Review

• What are TechPaddles?
• Specifications and Design
• How It Fixes Your Stroke (The Science)
  • 🎥 Watch: TechPaddle Technique Analysis
• Bonus Drill: Backwards Swimming
  • 🎥 Watch: Backward Swimming Drill
• Summary: Pros and Cons
• Frequently Asked Questions

What are TechPaddles and what do they do for you?

The TechPaddle, also called the Early Vertical Forearm Trainer, encourages the swimmer to keep the elbow nice and high during the initial catch phase of the freestyle stroke.

The EVF (Early Vertical Forearm) is an exceedingly difficult motion to master as it requires strength in muscles you don't even know you have. The TechPaddle will help you strengthen the right muscles and force your forearm into the right position.

In fact, the word "paddle" in the name is probably not the luckiest branding effort. TechPaddles are not used for paddling to make you go faster or to exert more power.

This tool should be perceived more as a very light brace for your forearm that keeps it in the correct motion. Perhaps a name like "Catch Master" or "Extreme Catch" would be more appropriate, but "paddle" is universal in the swimming world.

TechPaddle Specifications

The TechPaddle is made out of a very light and fairly flexible material which is a bit of a change from the regular heavy duty paddles as we know them.

Also, what is different is the attachment that secures these paddles to swimmer's hand. In regular paddles, there is usually rubber tubing that attaches to the swimmer's fingers and wrists. However, in the TechPaddle the attachment is made by a Velcro strap that wraps around the wrist.

I have to say that putting on the paddles is not as quick as with regular rubber tubing, however, the TechPaddle is so much more secure and can be used in other ways than just for the early vertical forearm catch training as intended.

Key Design Features:

• Tilted Grip: The front has a tilted tube-like structure which allows for a nice and relaxed grip.
• Incline: The front part is bent down towards the bottom of the pool to help maneuver the arm into the EVF position.
• Forearm Contact: The paddle snugly touches the inner forearm instead of sitting on the palm.

The TechPaddles come in a nice small mesh bag and with an educational DVD made by the product inventor Coach Tom Topolski who gives a genuinely nice introduction to the strengths and usage of the paddles.

Sizing

The TechPaddle is not a one size fits all product (that does not really work with swimming equipment and do not let anybody tell you otherwise). It comes in three sizes to fit shorter or taller swimmers.

How It Fixes Your Stroke (The Science)

Ordinary paddles focus on generating propulsive power with your palm by increasing its surface.

With TechPaddles, most of the paddle surface is on your forearm and your hand is closed around the front stub, so your forearm is forced to do most of the work.

In a way, the principle is largely similar to the AntiPaddle, however, with the TechPaddle, your wrist is nice and stable since the paddle spans from your hand to the middle of your forearm. This forces you to focus on increasing your underwater forearm catch instead of only the hand catch.

🎥 Watch: TechPaddle Technique Analysis

Muscle Memory:

The TechPaddle helps you get rid of "dropped elbow syndrome" by constantly driving your hand underneath your elbow. The inclined front ledge is responsible for pushing your hand deeper into the water and rotating it so your palm faces rearward sooner.

One thing I have to stress: make sure you swim slowly with TechPaddles. They are not meant for fast swimming. Make every stroke count and move your arm through the water in a nice and smooth early vertical catch. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but trust me, it is all for a good cause.

Ideally, all this happens in front of your shoulder. Otherwise, you will lose the advantage of the early vertical forearm.

Extra Bonus: Backwards Swimming

Interestingly, since the TechPaddle attaches with a Velcro strap to the forearm, it is possible to use them to swim in the opposite (backward) direction.

What I mean is, instead of pushing backward on the paddles with the palm and the inner forearm, turn yourself around with feet first and push forward with the top of your forearm and the top of your hand. Ordinary paddles do not allow for this as the rubber tubes are too stretchy.

🎥 Watch: Backward Swimming Drill

Swimming backward is an awesome way to work on keeping a straight body line and on awareness of what your body is doing in the water.

Summary: Pros and Cons

I think the TechPaddle is a must-have swim gear in your swim bag if you are just starting out in your swimming technique adventures or would like to move into open water or triathlon swimming.

I really like the design and the way the paddle attaches to the forearm. Though, if I were the inventor, I would not make it so wide since it could cause you to feel a bit awkward at the beginning of your TechPaddle training.

Everyone likes to swim faster and win over competitors, however, not that many of us like the hard work which this entails. The TechPaddle might just be the answer to get you swimming faster without having to work very hard.

This is your chance to get on the Free Speed train and swim smarter, not harder :).