Speedo Tech Paddle Size Guide

Measure the width of your hand across the widest part of your palm, just below the knuckles and excluding your thumb. Compare your measurement to the size chart above. If you are between sizes, we recommend sizing up for greater comfort. The paddle should sit flat across your palm with the finger holes sitting comfortably over each finger without pulling or bunching. Speak to a member of staff at Allens if you are unsure.

Tech Paddles are a training tool designed to improve your pull technique and develop upper body strength and endurance. By increasing the surface area of your hand in the water, they add resistance to each stroke, forcing your arms, shoulders and back to work harder. The flow holes in the Speedo Tech Paddle also enhance your sensitivity to the water, helping you develop a more refined catch and feel for the pull phase of each stroke.

Tech Paddles are most commonly used in freestyle and backstroke, as both strokes have an extended underwater pull phase where the paddle can add the most resistance and feedback. They can also be used in butterfly, though caution is advised as the technique demands are higher. Tech Paddles are not typically used in breaststroke due to the different nature of the pull pattern in that stroke.

Tech Paddles can be used by swimmers of all levels, but are most beneficial once you have developed a reasonable baseline technique. Beginners may find that paddles reinforce poor technique if used before the catch and pull phases are well established. If you are new to paddles, start with shorter sets and focus on maintaining correct technique throughout. Speak to your coach for guidance on introducing paddles into your training.

The unique air foil shape of the Speedo Tech Paddle is designed to improve your hand lift motion at the end of the pull phase. As your hand exits the water at the hip, the curved profile of the paddle promotes a cleaner, more efficient exit — helping to develop the upward and outward motion needed for a high-elbow recovery in freestyle and backstroke.

Yes — Tech Paddles are commonly used in combination with a pull buoy, which supports the legs and isolates the upper body, allowing you to focus entirely on your arm pull technique. Using paddles and a pull buoy together is one of the most effective ways to develop pull strength and refine your catch. However, paddles can also be used without a pull buoy if you want to train the full stroke with added resistance.

Rinse your Tech Paddles in fresh water after every use to remove chlorine and salt. Allow them to dry fully before storing — avoid leaving them in direct sunlight for extended periods as UV exposure can degrade the plastic over time. Check the finger and wrist straps regularly for signs of wear and replace if they become brittle or lose their elasticity.

Standard hand paddles are typically flat and rigid, designed primarily to add resistance and build strength. The Speedo Tech Paddle goes further with its unique air foil shape and flow holes — the air foil improves hand lift motion at the exit, while the flow holes enhance your feel for the water (aquatic sensitivity) during the catch and pull. This makes the Tech Paddle as much a technique tool as a strength tool.