There is a thread on benefits of using snorkels in swim training. I have seen debates in the past on effectiveness of various other swim aids - fins, pull buoys, tempo trainers, etc. The list of available gear is long.
My question is - If I am using some piece of equipment as part of my training, how can I objectively determine if it is helping?
If my times improve it may be due to other factors such as more training sessions per week, better designed sets (such as specific sets instead of "garbage yards"). Again a long list of possible factors.
Love to hear some thoughts on how you determine if something is helping you. Can it be objectively determined with some reasonable method that does not require tons of measurements and equipment?
Is it good enough that you feel subjectively that it helps, and that provides more motivation to work a little harder? I don't discount that factor. Sometimes if you believe it helps then it helps.
Wondering how everyone else approaches this.
someone responded that, with certain exceptions, instead of using various toys/drills that they'd rather spend that time actually swimming and perfecting/improving their stroke(s). Not that I'm an expert in these forums, but I mostly agree with that.
I'm also on this page. I have tried and used various toys, including paddles, buoys, and fins. While I can see value in all of them, I feel like I benefit more from swimming without any of those items and just focusing on perfecting my stroke. Specifically, I've pretty much sworn off buoys and fins. Since ditching the fins, my kick has gotten much better. I think I was using them as a crutch to swim faster but not really focusing on having good kicking technique. And using a pull buoy for freestyle sets is cheating as far as I'm concerned :) I have started using a buoy for breaststroke training, to help get the technique correct, but not for flotation purposes.
A snorkel is something I haven't yet tried, but plan to do so soon. It seems as though a snorkel could really be beneficial by allowing one to focus on perfection of the stroke because it eliminates the need to turn one's head to breathe. Of course, when we race we can't use snorkels, but if it helps correct our body position and allows us to focus on a perfectly balanced stroke and develop a feel for that, I can see the value in that.
I'm primarily focused on swimming fast and racing. So keep that in mind.
I can also see value in swim aids for others if they have different goals, such as just getting a good workout or just keeping themselves in the pool.
someone responded that, with certain exceptions, instead of using various toys/drills that they'd rather spend that time actually swimming and perfecting/improving their stroke(s). Not that I'm an expert in these forums, but I mostly agree with that.
I'm also on this page. I have tried and used various toys, including paddles, buoys, and fins. While I can see value in all of them, I feel like I benefit more from swimming without any of those items and just focusing on perfecting my stroke. Specifically, I've pretty much sworn off buoys and fins. Since ditching the fins, my kick has gotten much better. I think I was using them as a crutch to swim faster but not really focusing on having good kicking technique. And using a pull buoy for freestyle sets is cheating as far as I'm concerned :) I have started using a buoy for breaststroke training, to help get the technique correct, but not for flotation purposes.
A snorkel is something I haven't yet tried, but plan to do so soon. It seems as though a snorkel could really be beneficial by allowing one to focus on perfection of the stroke because it eliminates the need to turn one's head to breathe. Of course, when we race we can't use snorkels, but if it helps correct our body position and allows us to focus on a perfectly balanced stroke and develop a feel for that, I can see the value in that.
I'm primarily focused on swimming fast and racing. So keep that in mind.
I can also see value in swim aids for others if they have different goals, such as just getting a good workout or just keeping themselves in the pool.
