Last year I swam the 50m long course free in 30.5
The conversion charts convert that to about 26.5 for
50 yard short course free, but I'm about 27.9 on this.
I think I'm losing time on my turn. How long should turn
take? Thanks.
They tend to have accuracy over a large number of swimmers. Obviously, the turns are a big part. If you have fast turns, you will be better in short course. If you have bad turns, you will be better (generally) in long course.
The other important aspect is what you are familiar with. If you train exclusively in a short course pool, and then race in a long course pool, it will be very hard. 50 meters is a long way to go without a "rest" on the turn.
Similarly, if you only train long course, and then go swim a short course race, you may feel like the walls come way too quickly, and you're not ready for them.
I prefer training long course for just that reason. In a SCY pool, I take 8-9 strokes per length swimming freestyle. Sometimes in a long set, it feels like I'm spending all of my time either turning, or getting ready for the next turn. (I.e., making sure my strokes line up for the next wall correctly.) In long course, there's a lot more room in the middle of the pool to just swim, and not worry about the walls.
-Rick
They tend to have accuracy over a large number of swimmers. Obviously, the turns are a big part. If you have fast turns, you will be better in short course. If you have bad turns, you will be better (generally) in long course.
The other important aspect is what you are familiar with. If you train exclusively in a short course pool, and then race in a long course pool, it will be very hard. 50 meters is a long way to go without a "rest" on the turn.
Similarly, if you only train long course, and then go swim a short course race, you may feel like the walls come way too quickly, and you're not ready for them.
I prefer training long course for just that reason. In a SCY pool, I take 8-9 strokes per length swimming freestyle. Sometimes in a long set, it feels like I'm spending all of my time either turning, or getting ready for the next turn. (I.e., making sure my strokes line up for the next wall correctly.) In long course, there's a lot more room in the middle of the pool to just swim, and not worry about the walls.
-Rick
