Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:33:01 GMT

LOL There are some SF Bay swimmers who use the flower caps to swim to Alcatraz and across the Golden Gate. The bubble strap caps work very well in open water either over or under a race cap. Several SF bay swimmers use these. as well as some Catalina Channel swimmers/English Channel swimmers. www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html www.geocities.com/.../scg.html

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:30:22 GMT

SF Bay Swimmers have lots of fun YouTube - South End Rowing Club (Merry-Go)Roundtrip Pier 39 swim 6-26-09 YouTube - SERC Golden Gate Swim 2009

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

FindingMyInnerFish — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:58:46 GMT

It definitely helps me swim faster, mainly because it keeps my hair out of my face so I can breath:) Agree... of course, I learned the hard way that it REALLY helps if the cap stays on! Recent open water swim: I expected to be slow, just wanted to swim the distance, get a baseline time for how I'm handling two miles these days. Well, slow would have been acceptable, instead of which due to a cap sliding off every several minutes, I had no real sense of how I'd have done without equipment interference, and my finish set a new standard of slow. :cane: (Well, at least it set a new standard of something....) The cap was issued by the race, but I don't blame them b/c caps they've given me in other races stayed on. The swim went partly against the current, partly with, and it seemed as if I had more of my trouble when swimming against the current. Note to self: do this swim with short hair next time--or request a cap with a chin strap, maybe one of those floral models. ;)

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

orca1946 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:56:53 GMT

Never in practice, but in big meets - yes.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Muppet — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:03:26 GMT

i did a test on this a few years ago, and for a LCM 50m free, i was about a quarter second faster with a cap.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:46:17 GMT

For most people yes. For Geek its a way to cover up his early onset balding and sport his Tri entry number (he doesn't wash the marks of his legs and arms for weeks either). Geek doesn't bath but twice a year. Once at Christmas and once in the middle of the summer.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:35:39 GMT

That rule 102.15.9 which says swimmers can't wear a device that helps their speed- then why doesn't it apply to caps?

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:05:34 GMT

It definitely helps me swim faster, mainly because it keeps my hair out of my face so I can breath:)

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Paul Smith — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:36:22 GMT

For most people yes. For Geek its a way to cover up his early onset balding and sport his Tri entry number (he doesn't wash the marks of his legs and arms for weeks either).

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:14:36 GMT

If you have long thick hair like I do, it helps a bit. It also seems to help me with my neck position for some reason.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Bobinator — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:42:53 GMT

Good point! I may get a dorsal fin attached instead of a facelift this month! :afraid:jk!

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

__steve__ — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:11:40 GMT

Does rulebook state anything about plastic surgery to make you faster?

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

knelson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:45:59 GMT

I really have no idea how much it helps. When you swim your hair tends to get plastered down to your head. Is this really less slippery than covering your head with a latex or silicone cap? I'm not sure. I never wore a cap until this year (unless required in an OW swim or something). I finally figured if I was going to wear an expensive full body suit it would be sort of silly to not wear a cap, too, if it could possibly help make me faster.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:24:08 GMT

I don't notice much drag reduction with the cap, but if I swim breaststroke without one the water runs down my face and makes it harder to breathe. Kind of strange.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

rtodd — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:18:20 GMT

Nice race, He did the "Cavic" but it worked.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:35:22 GMT

Then again, you can swim without a cap AND goggles and win gold! Hey, it was good enough for Pablo. YouTube - Pablo Morales 100m Fly Finals at the 1992 Olympic Games

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Chris Stevenson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:52:19 GMT

Then again, you can swim without a cap AND goggles and win gold! Hey, it was good enough for Pablo. I never get tired of watching that race.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:17:44 GMT

My hair is thick but medium length. I train without a cap but race with one. I notice immediately that my distance off the wall is greater when I have a cap on. Even more so with the new Speedo thick/stiff cap.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:33:34 GMT

ok, it's not a device- thanks. I've been reading through various threads trying to get up to speed on this tech suit issue, and the other day I thought, "What about caps?" We wear caps to reduce drag so we can go faster- doesn't this go against that rule that says no device allowed? But it sounds like because a cap is not defined as a device, it can't be seen as illegal even though it helps a swimmer swim faster than he would without it. Is this why the situation with the tech suits was able to go on as long as it did? Tech suits weren't "devices" so they couldn't be declared illegal even though swimmers were swimming faster with them than they were without them?

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:14:20 GMT

Rule 102.9.1 Swimwear - Design A. Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles. "Swimwear" is clearly defined, so I'd assume that any "device" describes something that is not one of these three above.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

ande — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:03:46 GMT

A cap is an approved device that can help some swimmers go faster. Swim Faster Faster Tip 228 is V-lieve it or Not I'd go further to say it's a good idea to have short hair because wet hair is weight. Caps hold hair still, they trap heat (which can be helpful or not depending upon water temp), they can conceal goggle straps. ( Strap under Cap. ) Some swimmers wear 2 caps, usually a latex cap under an Aqua V or a silicone. I prefer the aqua V for Sprints because it has fewer wrinkles. I don't like to wear a cap in warm water or on long swims, I keep cooler without a cap. Some swimmers shave their heads for BIG meets. Some swimmers race with giant google straps dangling all over the place, snip em short.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Bobinator — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:28:43 GMT

Double capping w/silicone base layer definitely keeps you warmer in ow!

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Former Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:46:31 GMT

depends on how much hair you have.

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Glenn — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:54:24 GMT

I don't think it "makes " you swim faster, but it may allow you to swim faster. According to Ernest Maglischo's book, "Swimming Fastest", hair is a source of frictional drag. So anything that will reduce frictional drag will allow you to swim faster. That could be a cap or as someone else has suggested, shave your head. I believe I read that shaving down can improve your time by .5 - 2 seconds per 100. Thus the advantage of the "old" tech suits!

RE: Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

__steve__ — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:49:42 GMT

Popov wasn't concerned about needing one. But studies show they help.