The Speedo Power Plus Paddles are the most popular “power” paddle for swimmers looking to build a stronger stroke in the pool.
Designed for brute force pulling, the large surface area, ergonomic design, adjustable straps, and vents mimic a larger version of the hand, holding and displacing more water with each stroke.
Compared to other paddles that are designed to address specific technique concerns, the Speedo Power Plus Paddles are designed for upper body endurance and building a stronger pull.
Having used them for years, here’s a review of the paddles, how they compare to other power paddles, and tips for getting the most from them.
Let’s get to paddling!
For a detailed comparison of the top paddles for every kind of swimmers, read our detailed roundup of the best paddles for swim training.
Speedo Power Plus Paddles – Overview
The Speedo Power Plus paddles at a glance:
- Made by Speedo, the GOAT swim gear and swimwear manufacturer
- Four different sizes (Small to XL)
- Two adjustable and removable straps
- Lots of vents to allow for water flow
- Scalloped edges for a more natural pulling motion
- Inexpensive and durable
- Retails for around $20
Here’s a closer look at the paddles, what I like about them, and how to use them for faster pulling and swimming.
Speedo Power Plus Paddles – The Pros
Let’s start off with the reasons why these paddles belong in your swim bag:
Performance-Driven paddle shape
The biggest reason to swim with the Speedo Power Plus is that they are designed like an overshaped hand.
Instead of other paddles, which look like dinner plates or are rectangular, additional surface area is added around the natural contours of your hand.
This subtle design difference makes it so that your hand more naturally engages with the water—it basically just scales up what your hand is already doing instead of creating a large un-hand-like blade.
The first goal of any swimming equipment is some measure of transferability—the Speedo Power Plus paddles are a great example of doing this correctly.
Vented design for gradual loading
The Speedo Power Plus paddles have a bunch of small vents in the plastic. This is good for a couple of reasons.
First, it more closely mimics how our hands catch water. When we take a stroke, the hands should be partially relaxed with slight spacing between the fingers. The vents in the paddles mimic this, again checking that transferability box.
See also: How Paddle Size Changes Technique and Speed
And second, it means you aren’t fully loading the shoulder during the hand entry and catch. This part of the stroke is not meant to be propulsive anyway, so forcing swimmers to try and create a ton of force here doesn’t make sense.
The vented design means swimmers build load progressively through the pulling motion, reducing unnecessary shear on the shoulders.
Strap versatility
The paddles have multiple holes for positioning the straps so that you can secure them to your hands comfortably. Whether it’s the finger or wrist strap, they can be configured along three different holes for proper fit.
The wrist straps can also be completely removed for a more technical focus when swimming. Removing them means you need to have the correct hand pitch on the entry at the top of the stroke—otherwise the paddle will snag on the water.
The strap tubing of the Speedo Power Plus are also less slick compared to other power paddles that I’ve tested and reviewed, as we’ll see later.
Price/durability
These paddles will basically last you forever. The hard plastic won’t degrade from long, repeated exposure in chlorinated swimming pools.
I’ve had my set for the better part of ten years, and outside of a little bit of fading on the paddles, they’ve handled countless meters and pull sets in both indoor and outdoor pools.
The only thing you will have to do every few years is replace the tubing—rubber isn’t as resilient when it comes to being exposed to pool chemicals.
Speedo Power Plus Paddles – The Cons
Alrighty, well nothing is perfect.
No elevated palm rest on the paddle
Swimmers who want a more ergonomic palm on the paddle won’t find any comfort with these paddles. They are as flat as a kickboard.
Power paddles that do have a raised contour include the A3 Performance Power Paddles and the Sporti Power Paddles.
Paddles Similar to the Speedo Power Plus
There’s no shortage of paddles on the market for swimmers. From a pure power-paddle perspective, here are the main competitors to the Speedo Power Plus Paddle:
Sporti Power Paddle
The Sporti Power Paddle is a budget-friendly power paddle—reviewed them here—that has a more rounded paddle design and fewer vents.
One advantage over the Speedo paddles is a raised contour where the palm rests that some swimmers might find more comfortable.
These paddles are much cheaper than Speedo’s—by about half—and are the same shape and design as the A3 Performance Paddles and Zone 3 Power Stroke Paddles.
My only complaint about the paddles is that the rubber straps tended to slide in and out of the paddle when swimming, whereas the Speedo’s straps stay firmly in place.
FINIS Manta Paddle
FINIS makes some of the coolest gear for swimmers. Their Agility Paddles broke the mould with a strap-less paddle that is great for all-stroke swimming and immediate technique feedback (e.g. the paddle falls off with sloppy hand entry).
The FINIS Manta is a power paddle that is also strapless. Your middle finger and constant pressure with the palm keeps the paddle in place when swimming.
The good news is that with no straps, you never have to worry about replacement parts for the paddle.
While I really enjoyed swimming with them, if you aren’t maintaining that constant pressure with your palm against the paddle, the paddle bangs against your middle finger, leaving it a bit sore after longer swims.
They are also a bit pricier compared to other power paddles.
The Bottom Line
The Speedo Power Plus Paddles are the top all-around power paddle for swimmers looking to get stronger in the water.
The hand-shaped paddle loads the shoulders more naturally than a lot of the other paddles on the market, the vents keep the catch honest, and the adjustable straps keep the paddles in place stroke after stroke.
Whether you’re stacking meters on meters of pull sets, sharpening your hand entry and catch with straps removed, or looking to build epic upper body endurance, the Speedo Power Plus is a no-brainer addition to your mesh bag.
Get your set today and get to pulling!
