Just admit it. Almost everyone sandbags from time to time. Look at Ande, entering at 28.9 in the 50 back to have clear water. Bunch of his times look pretty suspect. Peg completely sandbagged the 1000 free at Zones. I entered a coach-approved NT on the 100 IM at Zones and then scratched. Paul Smith is passing on a 100 free duel with evil Smith to save up for his world-record-shattering performance to be in the 200 medley relay. Julie Oplinger sandbagged her 100 fly at Zones. The list could go on forever, so you might as well join the Club.
As for Nats, because of my lack of expertise with sandbagging, I'm over my 25% statistical probability per race of landing in an outside lane.
(Sorry Osterber! :thhbbb:)
Parents
Former Member
Now, Reverse Sandbagging, that is a really effective strategy.
This February, I was watching the 100 back (LCM) and someone (a Masters Master) had entered a seed time of 40 seconds. He was, naturally, in Lane 4 of the last and fastest heat. (Somehow, no one really expected a WR).
He had two "positives" going for him:
a) he was drafting off six, count them six (lane 8 is for warm-ups/downs), faster swimmers, and
b) if they were too far ahead of him for drafting off of, he had clear water almost 92% of the time.
Now, Reverse Sandbagging, that is a really effective strategy.
This February, I was watching the 100 back (LCM) and someone (a Masters Master) had entered a seed time of 40 seconds. He was, naturally, in Lane 4 of the last and fastest heat. (Somehow, no one really expected a WR).
He had two "positives" going for him:
a) he was drafting off six, count them six (lane 8 is for warm-ups/downs), faster swimmers, and
b) if they were too far ahead of him for drafting off of, he had clear water almost 92% of the time.
