My teammates and I were discussing the following apparently inane topic, and I thought it would make a good poll question. To wit, during practices, which of the following apply to you:
1) I swim with my eyes open pretty much all the time, except for regular blinks.
2) I close my eyes when my head is underwater, but open them during breaths.
3) I close my eyes during breaths, but open them when my head is under water to make sure I am not wandering off track.
4) I close my eyes much of the time on each length, and try to remember to open them before crashing into the wall.
Note: just realized I don't exactly know how to format this as a poll. If anyone else does, please feel free to do so--or send me a note about how to do it myself.
BTW, I often swim with my eyes shut; not quite sure why, other than swimming practice seems to induce a mild level of narcolepsy in me. Or perhaps it is a reflex action from the pre-goggle days when closing your eyes during practice was necessary to keep your corneas from being eroded by chlorine.
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Former Member
Like Jim, I live in "land of the callypgean swimming nymphs, probably wearing the latest in California skin tight female swimming apparel" and it is true, I spend a lot of time with my eyes looking around during boring distance sets. We have had several of our "babes" on the cover of Swim magazine. Thus the absolute requirement for a good set of goggles and Eyes Wide Open. Do we have a great sport of what? Has anyone else noticed the best babes wear worn out - see through suits?
Like Ion, I really need a set of goggles with Horse Blinders so I won't look around during races. Breaststrokers who look around lose half a second or more for each peak at our competitors.
But the real reason I wear goggles and Eyes Wide Open is that breaststroke and butterfly have no leway on turns, you have to look for the wall five yards out so you hit the wall on a kick and not a pull.
Wayne
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Former Member
Like Jim, I live in "land of the callypgean swimming nymphs, probably wearing the latest in California skin tight female swimming apparel" and it is true, I spend a lot of time with my eyes looking around during boring distance sets. We have had several of our "babes" on the cover of Swim magazine. Thus the absolute requirement for a good set of goggles and Eyes Wide Open. Do we have a great sport of what? Has anyone else noticed the best babes wear worn out - see through suits?
Like Ion, I really need a set of goggles with Horse Blinders so I won't look around during races. Breaststrokers who look around lose half a second or more for each peak at our competitors.
But the real reason I wear goggles and Eyes Wide Open is that breaststroke and butterfly have no leway on turns, you have to look for the wall five yards out so you hit the wall on a kick and not a pull.
Wayne
