Nose Clip

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:56:25 GMT

I had literally given up swimming (what I call swimming) and really missed it terribly, especially open water on a specific lake (Boerne) near here. Then the miracle, nose clips. Rapture, ecstasy, epiphany. I became complacent and used them always. Two days ago I lost them crossing back from the other shore (freestyle, 800 meters over, then 800 back). I have had sleepless nights of suffocating, days of sinus congestion and burning. I will never, EVER EVER swim without clips, EVER again... as in NEVER EVER!

RE: Nose Clip

__steve__ — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:04:00 GMT

Started using them about a year ago for backstroke. Don't know if it's a good thing, but I am now 100% dependent on them for all swimming. Don't use them in the shower, yet. Sporti are the best for me

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:37:57 GMT

Hi, Gerdrick. Nose clips aren't so bad to compete with. You get a definite advantage over your competitors off the walls. If you want a stylish nose clip, check out this site www.swimoutlet.com/.../333.htm . Speedo makes some cute ones. Good luck!

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:51:39 GMT

I have recently (as in a few workouts ago) converted to the Nose Clip club. I positively look like a witch but I'm going to stick with it as I can't really do dolphin kicking without it comfortably. Welcome to the club. Be aware that they are addictive!

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:32:56 GMT

I have recently (as in a few workouts ago) converted to the Nose Clip club. I positively look like a witch but I'm going to stick with it as I can't really do dolphin kicking without it comfortably.

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:19:32 GMT

Right now I am sitting at my desk at work realizing that I forgot to do my flFnase this mornig. My sinuses are draining yet they feal as if there is a gallon of water in them. This can only mean that polyps are enlarged. The only good thing about going to the ENT is that she will deaden my sinus cavities & I will be able to breathewith my mouth closed.

RE: Nose Clip

AnnG — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:51:48 GMT

Fortress, this may sound really basic but make sure you have the noseplug on facing the right way, with the rubberized flares facing away from you and the wire flush against the bridge of your nose. When I first started experimenting with the nose plug it was hurting me and I had trouble keeping it on my nose. I happened to see a synchro demonstration (at the 99 SCY nationals at Santa Clara) and saw the swimmer up close and realized I had been wearing the clip backwards - a real "a-ha" (or maybe "duh") moment for me. Also try the different sizes to find the one that works for you. I like the Speedo clips because they are smaller. Also when its not on my nose I wear it on my left ring finger with the wire tucked underneath my wedding ring, I can swim fly or sprint free and not worry about losing it. Works great for meet warmups too.

RE: Nose Clip

The Fortress — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:01:28 GMT

I have been trying to use a nose clip to cut down on sinus infections because swimming has definitely been making me ill. (Don't have one now, thankfully.) I've used them with very limited success. When they stay on, I can definitely stay underwater longer on backstroke. No contest. But I can't seem to keep them on at all. I've tried the synchro and speedo ones. They don't stay on my nose. I'm not wearing a strap. What the heck am I doing wrong?

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 06:47:36 GMT

Leslie- if you would stop snorting underwater in response to remembering forums hilarity your noseclip would probably stay on instead of becoming a high velocity projectile...

RE: Nose Clip

Muppet — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:28:59 GMT

Have you ever tried it that way? I had some lower back issues a few months a go and it hurt to flip turn so I did open turns instead ... it was SO tiring ... I don't know how people do it. It takes longer (duh!) and takes so much more energy ... blech I think the last time I did that many open turns at once was back when I was 16, literally just getting into swimming. I joined this program to swim 1-2 times a week the fall before I started my first year of HS swimming. One night, they had us doing a T-30. I had never done anything longer than ~150 or so at a time to that point. It was exhausting and I started doing a lot of open turns. It was a long swim - i got lapped at least 4x by these 11-12 year-old bimbos in my lane.

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:05:17 GMT

There is another reason water gets inthe sinus cavities. During a flip the water pressure changes. If you flip too slowly, the water pressure change will push water into your nose. Most people breath out through their nose at this tiem. If you don't, the water rushes in. hmmm Wise men say only fools rush in.... :rofl: "Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week."

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:57:27 GMT

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:53:21 GMT

I am still not sure about the nose clip because even though it provides relief when having difficulty in balancing the pressure of air inside your nose with that of water outside the nose, when swimming on the surface you cut off that oxygen that you could generate thru the nose making it kind of an unnatural breathing technique that your not used to doing when swimming at high speeds. I guess it is naturall for me to breath through the mouth only - it's a professional flutist's thing. :)

RE: Nose Clip

FlyQueen — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 05:06:08 GMT

hmmm, maybe thats why i got a sinus infection... well that settles it. no more flip turns! from now on, my 500 will feature 19 open turns. :wiggle: Have you ever tried it that way? I had some lower back issues a few months a go and it hurt to flip turn so I did open turns instead ... it was SO tiring ... I don't know how people do it. It takes longer (duh!) and takes so much more energy ... blech

RE: Nose Clip

Muppet — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:20:57 GMT

There is another reason water gets inthe sinus cavities. During a flip the water pressure changes. If you flip too slowly, the water pressure change will push water into your nose. Most people breath out through their nose at this tiem. If you don't, the water rushes in. hmmm, maybe thats why i got a sinus infection... well that settles it. no more flip turns! from now on, my 500 will feature 19 open turns. :wiggle:

RE: Nose Clip

Frank Thompson — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:56:21 GMT

Hello Muppet: I am very well aware of Michael Ross or "Lets Race" as he is called on these forums and you couldn't pick a better example in USMS of someone perfecting undulation speed through breakout and SDK for maximum breakout. I saw both his 50 Back and 100 meter back at the World Meet. I have not seen him in a 200 meter back and would be interested to see if he could hit the 15 meter mark with all of the turns. I also remember when he was the fastest 50 yard backstroker in the world in 1990. He swam for Princeton and there 200 Medley relay repeated as NCAA Champions in 1989 and 1990. What I remember is that he swam the whole race underwater and came up for a breath at the 25 turn and at the finish. Back then you could do this because there was no 15 meter regulation. I remember that relay well because he was 4th in the 100 Back and beat the 3 guys (Rouse,Thibault, and Zubero) in the 50 in the relay by almost a half a second by going :21.81 and getting Princeton a nice lead to break the US Open record going 1:27.31. I believe for the 50 back he was easily the equal of David Berkoff because I believe his best time was :21.6 and I don't think Berkoff was much faster than that for a 50. Berkoff, also know as "Blastoff" on the college swimming forums and righly so, revolutionalized backstroke technique by racing the first 35 to 40 meters of the 100 meter backstroke underwater, becoming the first swimmer ever under 55 seconds. These two are about as good as it gets and there are others out there that have mastered this style with the new regulations. The point is that not all masters swimmers can be like Mike or David for that matter, but can try to incorporate techniques for improvements. One point that swimmers must accept is that lung capacity diminishes with age so that is one inhibitor that we must accept while trying to perfect this. I think one has to know what there limits are with there VO2 Max and be able to keep there stroke smooth and stable in the face of anxiety and physiological adversity. Maybe a lot of hypoxic training along with doing a lot of SDK in practice can help with extended dolphin kicks of the wall to 15 meters. I have also heard that fin kicking is great for this and forces flexibility with the body staying horizontal through the breakout making it easier for streamlining while increasing core body strength. I guess the best way to test this is to experiement in practice and re-create the stress that the body experiences during a race. I am still not sure about the nose clip because even though it provides relief when having difficulty in balancing the pressure of air inside your nose with that of water outside the nose, when swimming on the surface you cut off that oxygen that you could generate thru the nose making it kind of an unnatural breathing technique that your not used to doing when swimming at high speeds.

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:31:15 GMT

From all of the research I've done, I am convinced that many of the people who have nasal problems when swimming are either blowing out too hard through their noses, ... Now that I read this Craig, I think that is exactly what I had been doing. AND I thought it was what I should be doing. So thank you for clearing this up! Nose clips are it!!:bow: :bow:

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:34:53 GMT

www.outdoorplace.org/.../Nose-clips.htm you can make'em yourself! :2cents: Why on earth would you go to that much trouble?

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:33:45 GMT

Craig: I have been doing some research on the website since I've been having a lot of trouble with my sinuses since I starting swimming again. (I also have terrible allergies.) I see that you have always answered everyone's questions on every new thread on this topic. I've concluded that I need to use saline sprays/rinses and try nose clips. I just wanted to thank you for all the advice that you've given over and over. Thank you, few people realize that I know everything, except how to type well. The reason I respond is because I know that many doctors don't understand allergies nor nasal pasages, let alone us common swimmers. From all of the research I've done, I am convinced that many of the people who have nasal problems when swimming are either blowing out too hard through their noses, have mild sinus infections, or have polyps in their sinus cavities. Last spring my ENT put me on antibiotics for about one month & prednisone. My polyps shrunk and I still don't have any problems.

RE: Nose Clip

Muppet — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:23:58 GMT

When I was at the World meet this summer I saw very few people do this in the 200 meter backstroke on the 2nd and 3rd turns. For that matter on the 200 fly, I didn't see anybody go the maximum 15 meters on all three turns and I specifically watched for this.\ Frank, you should come to Colonies Zone meets. I missed his worlds race, but Michael Ross from New England Masters (he's 38 I believe) seems to be a BIG proponent of taking the max underwater. Only on the last 25 of his 200s does he seem to come up any earlier than the 15 meters. I used to be a big fan of backstroke, gave it up and am kinda getting back into it again, and have been secretly (until now) watching most of his races for tips. He's got an amazing stroke, is incredibly powerful underwater, and also seems like a nice guy.

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:01:58 GMT

www.outdoorplace.org/.../Nose-clips.htm you can make'em yourself! :2cents:

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 06:25:12 GMT

Thank you all for your support and great information! :applaud:

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:23:39 GMT

Nose plugs,swimcaps goggles , real swimmers use them all. Yes, just yesterday I chuckled to myself as I went through the inventory of what I was putting on... Heart Rate monitor (check); swim cap (check); ear plugs (check), goggles (check); nose clip (check); (newly:rolleyes: ) SwiMP3 (check)... What a simple sport! No wonder those runners seem to have such an easy start!

RE: Nose Clip

Former Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 14:54:36 GMT

Nose clips are goofy.. so are my swim goggles or for that matter any swim goggles! But I wear them as I am not a "Hollywood" heads up swimmer. I have used a nose clip plenty of times. Its for the pool not going to the supermarket! LOL! Don't worry lots of us have the same troubles time to time. Nose plugs,swimcaps goggles , real swimmers use them all.

RE: Nose Clip

AnnG — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 11:42:36 GMT

I have been using a nose clip for several years, primarily so I could swim longer underwater on my back. I am able to keep my air longer and my legs don't give out on me as quickly in a backstroke race. While it did take me a while to get used to breathing differently, ie not using my nostrils, I have been able to get much farther underwater on my back. The surprize benefit is the health of my sinuses, I don't feel all plugged up and sneezy after practice as before. I only use it for backstroke (and IM's) and take it off for other events and during practice unless I am swimming backstroke. I don't need it unless I am inverted underwater. I put a nose clip on my 10 year old daughter who would not put her face in the water at all, she then whipped through all the swimming lessons the pool offered in one summer. Maybe I can keep my mind on other things when I don't have to worry about a nasal flush, yech! Call me a convert, at about three bucks for a good synchro clip its worth a try for anyone.