I am a new Masters swimmer, 48 years old, who will be competing in my first meet on March 27 & 28. I haven't competed since 1979 and wasn't that fast then (100yd breaststroke 1:19.6). I don't know my current 100yd breaststroke time, however, my timed 50yd breaststroke diving in from the edge of the pool (no blocks available) was :42.
It has been suggested to me in another thread that I purchase a tech suit for meets. How much time will this save me in short races? I am on a budget and would like use my Speedo Endurance Training suit I purchased on clearance, at least until I get better!
Thanks!
For what it's worth, the high tech suits have made about a 2 second difference per 100 for me--reducing my best 100 free, for instance, from mid 54s to mid 52s. It's probably a percentage thing, so if you are swimming a 1:30 100 breaststroke, you may see more of a drop. My *** stroke is awful, and unlike Allen, I find the tech suits help my *** a lot.
All this aside, I would NOT get a soon-to-be-illegal suit. If you do, and get great times in it, you will then have to try to better these times in future years without the suit's help.
Women, in my opinion, are not going to be hindered nearly as much as men by the FINA ruling.
I highly recommend getting a cheap legal kneeskin made from an older generation material--Aquablade by Speedo, or Aquapel by Tyr. The only difference between women's legal suits here and the soon-to-be illegal ones is that they must stop at the knee, and they can no longer have zippers.
I think you will find such suits give you almost as much help as the soon to be banned kinds. And with these, times you set this year will be comparable in years to come.
As many here have heard me whine, I only wish men were allowed to wear the FINA legal women's suits, too! I may just try this next year, knowing I will be dq'd, to see if my theory of unfair gender bias holds true!
For what it's worth, the high tech suits have made about a 2 second difference per 100 for me--reducing my best 100 free, for instance, from mid 54s to mid 52s. It's probably a percentage thing, so if you are swimming a 1:30 100 breaststroke, you may see more of a drop. My *** stroke is awful, and unlike Allen, I find the tech suits help my *** a lot.
All this aside, I would NOT get a soon-to-be-illegal suit. If you do, and get great times in it, you will then have to try to better these times in future years without the suit's help.
Women, in my opinion, are not going to be hindered nearly as much as men by the FINA ruling.
I highly recommend getting a cheap legal kneeskin made from an older generation material--Aquablade by Speedo, or Aquapel by Tyr. The only difference between women's legal suits here and the soon-to-be illegal ones is that they must stop at the knee, and they can no longer have zippers.
I think you will find such suits give you almost as much help as the soon to be banned kinds. And with these, times you set this year will be comparable in years to come.
As many here have heard me whine, I only wish men were allowed to wear the FINA legal women's suits, too! I may just try this next year, knowing I will be dq'd, to see if my theory of unfair gender bias holds true!
