Swimming with a Weight Belt

Don't know if I buy this argumentSo try it before you buy it.:D:D Find a SCUBA buddy and borrow his dive belt and 10-20 pounds of lead. Swim 10 X 50’s on 1:30 fast, maintaining proper body position and then let me know if you see the benefit of this as a training tool. Weight training, sprint work, stretch cords, drag chutes can all be incorporated into a workout. So can weighted swimming. Note a properly cinched up weight belt produces no more drag than your typical heart monitor. The drag/resistance come in from falling hips, so keep those hips up.

I felt like "Bambi on the ice" when the weight was removed.More like Little Nemo on HGH (or would that be FGH?)

So try it before you buy it.:D:D Find a SCUBA buddy and borrow his dive belt and 10-20 pounds of lead. Swim 10 X 50’s on 1:30 fast, maintaining proper body position and then let me know if you see the benefit of this as a training tool. Weight training, sprint work, stretch cords, drag chutes can all be incorporated into a workout. So can weighted swimming. Note a properly cinched up weight belt produces no more drag than your typical heart monitor. The drag/resistance come in from falling hips, so keep those hips up. I wonder if it's like running with ankle weights. I used to train for football (soccer) with ankle weights and then remove them when we had the training matches...I felt like "Bambi on the ice" when the weight was removed.

Drag (resistance) swimming and weighted swimming have 2 distinct training purposes. The weight belt is not used as a drag. I don’t have Colwin’s book with me, so I can’t respond to his comments. However in general weighted swimming forces the swimmer to exert more power (specifically in the kick) to maintain proper body position. Typically sprinters will do this more than distance swimmers and this is usually not a drill for swimmers who are trying to develop streamline swimming. Weighted swimming can be grueling, depending on how sadistic the coach is and how much weight you are saddled with. The concept of swimming with a weight belt is similar to the concept of kicking with a cinder block (al la Gary Jr.).

Don't know if I buy this argument the weight belt would create greater resistance and more drag but it would be pretty much impossible for the swimmer wearing it to maintain perfect body position, that's why a belt with no weight and stretch cords or weight baskets might work better. actually weight training and sprint training work best ande I just finished reading Cecil Colwin's book, "Breakthrough Swimming" (very good book). In his chapter on stroke technique, he states that swimming with a weight belt is an effective means for a swimmer to learn how he or she can best exert maximum leverage in the water, and thus generate greater propulsion. Has anyone tried this? If so, how much weight did you use, and what kind of sets did you do? Did you find it beneficial? Thanks, Dan

I guess it never amazes me that people experiment with about anything. I have never heard of anyone using an actual weight belt and using it with the same word "propulsion." Just out of common sense, it wouldn't seem like a good idea because the weight is not distributed throughout the body; it is at mid-section only. If the weight belt is to be used as "drag", I'd much rather wear a sleeveless T-shirt to add drag than an actual weight belt. I sure hope the swimmer has flawless technique if they are swimming with a weight belt; shoulder problems come to mind. And the weight belt can't have much weight built in or the swimmer will have to work with all their might to stay horizontal. Unless this was the point (?). donna

I'm swimming with enough extra weight around my waist. Thanks, but no thanks. :coffee:

Don't know if I buy this argument the weight belt would create greater resistance and more drag but it would be pretty much impossible for the swimmer wearing it to maintain perfect body position, that's why a belt with no weight and stretch cords or weight baskets might work better. actually weight training and sprint training work best ande Interesting responses -- thanks, everyone. I may give it a try and let you all know how it works. Ande -- I agree with you; weight training and sprint training are a good combination. I've noticed that, the day after I do a sprint set, my energy level seems to go way up. Regards, Dan