Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

Bobinator — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 02:21:48 GMT

I used to swim in an outdoor, 50 meter pool with a water slide on the far end. I was always amazed at the effect the forces created by the flowing water would have on swimming times. Our team would practice with the slide turned off obviously, but when we'd have late practices it was on and made the workouts quite interesting.

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

Former Member — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:38:30 GMT

Not sure why there would be a difference in speed. Sent from my SPH-L710T using Tapatalk

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

srcoyote — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:28:49 GMT

I've noted this in a number of pools in which I swim regardless of depth. For instance one pool in which I swim, if I choose of the lanes in the center (constant depth for whole lane), I have to take an extra stroke in one direction. I do believe it is a water flow issue as the intakes for the circulation system seem to be stronger in those center lanes nearest the pumps.

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

Allen Stark — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 09:50:45 GMT

Currents from the water circulation can certainly be an issue. There was a mess at FINA Worlds a few years ago when it appeared that some lanes were faster than others. I believe in most pools that have a shallow end, that it is faster to go from shallow to deep. That way the waves in front and under you dissipate instead of being reflected back at you.

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

ForceDJ — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 02:26:48 GMT

Hmm. The difference and what might be causing it is interesting. I found this article that may explain. coachrickswimming.com/.../ The pool I swam in up until a couple of years ago was a very old pool/building (it's now closed). The water return nozzels were all around the shallow end. A couple on the sides, but the other were every-other lane, just below the surface, and pointed directly out into the lane. And the pressure of the water coming out was really strong, and very noticable to swimmers. There was definately a difference in speed between the lanes that had the return nozzels, and those that didn't. Lanes 1 and 6 didn't have the nozzels at the end, but they did have them on the side. In those lanes you would actually notice yourself being pushed toward the center of the pool and into the laneline. But in the article linked above you'll see that pool shape is one factor that will affect swimmer speed. Dan

RE: Slow Direction and Fast Direction Pools

m2tall2 — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 01:46:17 GMT

I may have figured out my own mystery. In the "icky warm pool", from shallow to deep, the pullout occurs in the shallow portion. This is mostly streamlining. So the swimming takes part in the deep end and isn't affected as much by waves. Pretty much the optimum for as fast as possible except that I practically skim the bottom of the pull on the pullout. From the deep to shallow end I'm mostly streamlining through the optimum part of the pool and when I start swimming, the waves start beating me up from below. In my happy pool, the shallow end must be deep enough that I don't get as much wave problem but if it was overall deeper, maybe I could swim even faster? Hmmm...