How often can i use swim paddles?

How do I use swim hand paddles correctly? Which part of my hand enters the water first?

• Answer:

  For front crawl: your thumb should enter the water first, almost inline with the middle of your forehead. you should pull your arm down (still slightly bent) towards your tummy, brush past your tummy with your palm facing your body. Then bring your hand back toward your hip or your 'pocket'. Your arm goes all the way back inline with your body, almost straight and comes out of the water at a slight angle - little finger first. Repeat this on the other side, until you have acheived a pattern that feels comfortable. If you are having to work too hard with the hand paddles, you are not doig it correctly. They are there to offer resistance but not so much that it hurts.