Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the performances of free-diving fins

  • Published:
Sports Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Free diving is a sport that in the past few years has increased in importance, in terms of the number and the level of practising athletes. To reach depths close to 100 m in constant ballast, new physical and mental training techniques have been developed, and innovative materials and new shapes have been adopted for the fins. Usually the introduction of such improvements is based on manufacturers’ experience, while their evaluation is remitted to athlete’s opinions and not to quantitative measures. The aim of this study is to assess a new simple methodology to determine quantitatively the performance of free-diving fins. This methodology is shown in detail and the results of an analysis on a very popular fin are reported.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atzori, B., Petrone, N. & Zanatta, D. (1997) Analisi biomeccanica e simulazione numerica del movimento di pinneggiata subacquea. Atti del XXXVI Convegno Nazionale AIAS, Catania, Italy (in Italian).

  • Christianson, R., Weltman, G. & Egstrom, G. (1965) Thrust forces in underwater swimming.Human Factors, December 1965, pp. 561–8.

  • Ecott, T. (2001)Neutral Buoyancy, Penguin Books, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyttle, A. & Blanksby, B. (2000) A look at gliding and underwater kicking in the swim turn. ISBS 2000 Applied Proceedings of the XVIII International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports Swimming, Edited by Ross Sanders and Youlian Hong.

  • Minak, G. (2003) Experimental analysis of free diving fins. Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Mechanics, Bizovac, Croatia.

  • Pendergast, D. R., Mollendorf, J., Logue, C. & Samimy, S. (2003a) Evaluation of fins used in underwater swimming.Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine,30 (1), 57–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pendergast, D. R., Mollendorf, J., Logue, C. & Samimy, S. (2003b) Underwater fin swimming in women with reference to fin selection.Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine,1 (30) 75–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pendergast, D. R., Zamparo, P., di Prampero, P. E., Capelli, C., Cerretelli, P., Termin, A., Craig Jr, A., Bushnell, D., Paschke, D. & Mollendorf, J. (2003 c)European Journal of Applied Physiology,90, 377–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picken, J. & Crow, C. T. (1974) Performance efficiency of swim fins.Ocean Engineering,2, 251–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rejman, M. (2001) The dynamic and timing criteria for assessing the single fin swimming technique.Acta Bioengineering and Biomechanics,3 (2), 67–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamparo, P., Pendergast, D. R., Termin, B. & Minetti, A.E. (2002) How fins affect the economy and efficiency of human swimming.Journal of Experimental Biology,205, 2665–76.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department DIEM, Universitá degli Studi di Bologna, Via Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    G. Minak Ph.D.

Authors
  1. G. Minak Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Minak Ph.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Minak, G. Evaluation of the performances of free-diving fins. Sports Eng 7, 153–158 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02844053

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02844053

Keywords

Search

Navigation