Is it possible to compete with a nose clip on?
Due to some sinus problems (so the doc thinks) I need to swim with a nose clip which is ok if I swim just for me, but a couple weeks ago our coach mentioned something about a some competition in the summer...... I feel so stupid wearing this thing on my nose..... Am I the only one? If there a better way to fix my sinus problem? Can it be related to the pool water or am I just making it up? :frustrated:
Parents
Former Member
Skip,
Rob's observation is right on the money for my experience with backstroke. When I don't exhale, water flows right in. When I do exhale it keeps out the water but shortens the breakout.
With freestyle, I don't have to exhale and water doesn't flow into the head. I'm presuming that this is purely the orientation of the body and how the water pressure acts in the nasal passages. When you are on your back, water can easily displace the oxygen in your nose and get into the head.
When you are on your stomach, the trapped air bubble is much harder to displace from the nose, so freestyle is easier without the need for a nose clip.
You can think of this as an open jar submerged: If the mouth of the (open) jar is down (toward the bottom), the air trapped in the jar will remain (like freestyle). If the jar mouth is pointed up, the air escapes and water enters.
-- mel
Skip,
Rob's observation is right on the money for my experience with backstroke. When I don't exhale, water flows right in. When I do exhale it keeps out the water but shortens the breakout.
With freestyle, I don't have to exhale and water doesn't flow into the head. I'm presuming that this is purely the orientation of the body and how the water pressure acts in the nasal passages. When you are on your back, water can easily displace the oxygen in your nose and get into the head.
When you are on your stomach, the trapped air bubble is much harder to displace from the nose, so freestyle is easier without the need for a nose clip.
You can think of this as an open jar submerged: If the mouth of the (open) jar is down (toward the bottom), the air trapped in the jar will remain (like freestyle). If the jar mouth is pointed up, the air escapes and water enters.
-- mel
