I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
I think that shoe technology has been a part of basketball long enough that no one really thinks about it. Suit technology in swimming is still relatively new.
This is not entirely accurate, or accurate at all. Speedo has been innovating since the 50s and suit technology has changed over the years. Up until the mid to late 70s every basketball team wore Chucks and hot shoes didn't hit the market until the early 80s. This makes me wonder why people are sticking their heads out of the mole holes now and complaining about suit technology.
And, ironically, what was the big problem when AJ's came out, the price, about $100 a pair. Just like the LZRs now, the price is the issue to many, although they disguise it in some sort of purist nonsense.
I think that shoe technology has been a part of basketball long enough that no one really thinks about it. Suit technology in swimming is still relatively new.
This is not entirely accurate, or accurate at all. Speedo has been innovating since the 50s and suit technology has changed over the years. Up until the mid to late 70s every basketball team wore Chucks and hot shoes didn't hit the market until the early 80s. This makes me wonder why people are sticking their heads out of the mole holes now and complaining about suit technology.
And, ironically, what was the big problem when AJ's came out, the price, about $100 a pair. Just like the LZRs now, the price is the issue to many, although they disguise it in some sort of purist nonsense.
