Agility Paddles are an excellent technical tool for a number of reasons. Not only do they promote Early Vertical Forearm in Free, but they are extremely useful for all four strokes. They have a particularly relevant application to Backstroke, as the pressure needed to hold the paddle in place forces the user to catch water immediately following their overhead entry. You can see the difference as the swimmer anchors the elbow earlier in the stroke than before using the paddles. Try using the Agility Paddles to swim Backstroke with a fairly brisk tempo and you will literally see the stroke change before your eyes.