There are so many new products on the market, oddly shaped paddles, gloves - I even saw this contraption where you connect a tube from your waste to your ankles so that kicking is more difficult.
I do not think that this equipment is effective - particularily paddles - unless you are a very high lever swimmer and you only use it spottingly. Unfortunately ussage tends to be most common with LOW level swimmers and these swimmers use the equipment far too much durring each workout.
My advice to those returning to the pool is to avoid all of this stuff - it will only lead to injuries.
Former Member
Shakey/ShariL,
Guys, I have to tell you that the situation is just as bad over here in England regarding lane etiquette.At my pool we have three designated lanes for lap swimming,but you can bet that one will always be in use as a teaching lane for lessons.There is already a teaching pool that is separate,so that kind of niggles.What happens here is exactly as Shakey says happens over there.Once there was even a fight between two guys because one felt that the other was swimming too fast in the fast lane.What he meant was that his male pride was hurt and he couldn't stand being overtaken by the other guy.Don't you just hate it when you are in the fast lane coming up to the 100m split in a 200m freestyle set and some idiot decides that they will push off the wall and start doing the slowest breaststroke ever seen.:cool:
I can second that, Mark!
I also have horror stories from when I was swimming in inner-city London- some just too nasty to recount here! I'm very fortunate now- It's a bad day when I have to share a lane with anyone...
Try not to quit, Shaky-
Shakey,
Where you at? Sounds like a place to AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE, when I come up for orders. I've been lucky. I've always found a decent Masters team wherever I've gone (and everyone understands the ground rules there), and when I use lap swim time, I have not had the crowding or doofus issues you have encountered. Of course, I have also found that most people tend to get out of my way during lap swim. Is it because I am fast (my history at SCN's would indicate otherwise), or maybe because I am the doofus?
Matt
P.S. What is the plural of doofus, anyway? Doofuses? Dooffi?
Eliana,
How did you manage to quit London and end up in Florida with a lane all to yourself.I am now very envious of you.What Shakey says is true though.Forget going at a regular time,ie evenings ,weekends if you want to have a decent space between you and the next person in your lane.All of a sudden shift work where I would be free in the late morning/early afternoon starts to sound appealing.In fact the session that has the laest number of swimmers per lane is when my Masters club meet.
