Meets: How many to go fast?

Do we have to swim in a lot of meets to go fast? Of people that compete, it seems like there is a wide variance among forum members on meet attendance. Some go to many meets and some go to only a few a year. It seems like some people only attend the big meets or nationals. It obviously helps to get experience at meets, but how many do you need to compete in ideally to (1) swim fast and improve, and/or (2) do well at major competitions such as zones or nationals? i think it is important to get some meet experience prior to the "big one" (zones for me this year) ideally, i would like to get 3 within the 5 weeks prior to be sharp on my racing strategy. my problem is taper.....how does one taper for the 1650 and the 100 fly? (decisions, decisions) also OW season kicks in 4 weeks after zones.

Do we have to swim in a lot of meets to go fast? Of people that compete, it seems like there is a wide variance among forum members on meet attendance. Some go to many meets and some go to only a few a year. It seems like some people only attend the big meets or nationals. It obviously helps to get experience at meets, but how many do you need to compete in ideally to (1) swim fast and improve, and/or (2) do well at major competitions such as zones or nationals? i think it is important to get some meet experience prior to the "big one" (zones for me this year) ideally, i would like to get 3 within the 5 weeks prior to be sharp on my racing strategy. my problem is taper.....how does one taper for the 1650 and the 100 fly? (decisions, decisions) also OW season kicks in 4 weeks after zones.