Is the SPLITS essential to a competitive swimmer?

It is a really good indicator of conditioning as well as learning how to race competitively. For example: If you are swimming a 100 yd race and your first 50 yd is far more faster than you second 50 yds, you went out too fast and you can look at the splits to know that you should conserve your energy. It is only a measurement, not essential. I am wondering if that is the exact word that you meant to use. Essential no. Knowing what splits are and using them for your benefit, yes. It is just a tool.

It is a really good indicator of conditioning as well as learning how to race competitively. For example: If you are swimming a 100 yd race and your first 50 yd is far more faster than you second 50 yds, you went out too fast and you can look at the splits to know that you should conserve your energy. It is only a measurement, not essential. I am wondering if that is the exact word that you meant to use. Essential no. Knowing what splits are and using them for your benefit, yes. It is just a tool.