The correct paddle for an athlete depends on what their stroke is actually doing underwater. The only way to determine this accurately is to watch them swim. I'm looking at arm turnover, body position, body type and size, kick pattern (2-beat vs 6-beat), whether they have a good press (what most call catch) at the front, whether they're pulling their hand out before finishing the back end of the stroke, and their mechanics through the whole pull phase.

Traditional drills were designed for swimmers who grew up in water. Most of the age-groupers I coach didn't grow up swimming. They came to it as adults, and for them, traditional drills are largely a waste of time. The transfer to actual swimming is minimal.

The athlete who trains intelligently for 90 days will beat the athlete who trains brilliantly for 10. But it does require patience, structure, and the willingness to trust a process that doesn't always feel like enough in the moment. However, the compounding effect of many tomorrows is where real performance is actually built.