Web Gloves - A good choice for your first piece of equipment

What they are:



 

Web Gloves are gloves with extra material (webs) between the fingers and are usually made of chlorine resistant material. 

Some gloves may be a closed mitt and others are open at the ends of the fingers. 

Gloves may have a rubber palm. 

Why use them:

• Gloves are used as an aid for balance and stability and to introduce drag and resistance. 
• They can be used alone or as a compliment to other equipment.
• Webbed gloves can be used in deep or shallow water.

Remember: 

• Remove gloves during cool down.  You don’t want the added resistance after this section. 

• Put the gloves on before you get into the pool.
• Remove them by peeling back from the wrist, not by pulling from the fingers

• Wash them after each use. (Don’t put them in the dryer). They will last much longer.

Basic Techniques:

There are three basic techniques that I teach my classes when they put on their webbed gloves.  They vary the resistance level. Any of these three techniques can present a greater challenge by increasing the speed of the movement.

Slice – This is the easiest.  Lead with the edge of the glove in any direction.

Cup – By cupping the hands or making a loose fist you increase the resistance by presenting a bigger object moving through the water

Web - Spread the fingers out wide and push the water with either surface of the hand (top or palm).  This is maximum resistance and the most difficult.