What Coaches think of The Fistglove™

Karlyn Pipes

Karlyn Pipes is the first U.S. masters swimmer in history to hold every masters national record in every stroke and every distance in her age group. She was World Masters Swimmer of the Year in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She’s set over 200 Masters World Records, more than any other masters swimmer and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2015. Pipes swims both competitively and as a triathlete. Pipes currently lives in Hawaii and owns Aquatic Edge, a mobile service that offers Faster Freestyle technique workshops worldwide and is a highly regarded inspirational speaker.

“Fistgloves™ are by far the easiest and most effective way to teach swimmers of all ages and abilities the feeling of an early catch, vertical forearm freestyle. It’s simple . . . put the fistgloves™ on, swim, take them off, immediately you FEEL a change in how you pull. In a matter of just a few minutes you have acquired a new awareness that the power is NOT in your hand or shoulders, but in the wrist and forearm. By becoming “wrist aware” you are activating a FULCRUM in your arm triggering the large muscle groups in your lats, chest and back to create power for your pull. This is huge!”

Cecil Colwin

Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1993, Colwin had a much heralded international coaching career and was known world wide as an outstanding clinician, lecturer, researcher, author, historian, stroke technician, educator, cartoonist and illustrator. He was the first coach to conduct extensive research in the fluid dynamics of swimming ("Vortex Theory" and "Functional Shaping") and wrote hundreds of articles for various magazines and journals. He passed away in 2012.

“It almost miraculously enhances sensitivity to the flow on both the palm and the knuckle-sides of the hand, a reaction that is quite unique, and will doubtlessly cause considerable excitement among coaches who are serious about improving the fluency and dexterity of their swimmers’ stroke mechanics.”

Terry Laughlin

Laughlin was a former swimmer and coach who founded his company, Total Immersion, in 1989, to champion the importance and priority of technique in swimming. In 1996 he published his book of the same name which has become one of the most popular books in the swimming world. Total Immersion has sponsored clinics and camps all over the world and produces books and tapes to facilitate learning to swim with fluency and mastery. Laughlin passed away in 2017.

"The first time I used fistgloves™, I experienced transformative change in awareness. It felt like Alexander Popov's hands had been magically grafted onto my arms. As good as paddles feel when you're using them, I always felt ineffectual after taking them off. Fistgloves™ produce precisely the opposite effect: I struggle to grip the water with them on and feel utterly amazing after removing them. What could be better than a practice aid that makes your 'normal equipment' feel extraordinary?

I can testify that the fistglove™ effect, as I call it, is cumulative and lasting. Until I first used fistgloves™ I had no clue what "feel" felt like. But after using them pretty regularly for years, that feeling - temporary at first - became permanent. I can also say that the heightened sensitivity I now enjoy with my hands has led to being far more sensitive with my entire body. My body is now 'alive' to the water.”

John Leonard

John Leonard is the Executive Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association and founder of the World Swimming Coaches Association.

“Using fistgloves™ causes surprising and dramatic change in the hands’ sensitivity. It’s voodoo. Some day sports scientists will figure out why wearing a fistglove™ produces this effect. As usual, coaches are ahead of the curve in figuring out why things work long before the eventual scientific explanation.”