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!
...I got through a "connection".
Lump makes a good point here. There are a ton of very slightly used suits out there. If you swim at a club with a big kid's team, there are a bunch of connections there to mine.
Former Member
Using a tech suit to improve your time is a factor that does not increase your personal skill at swimming.
Therefore I'd just forget about the whole idea of shelling out the extra $$$ for an expensive suit and concentrate on making some real improvements. :)
D2
Former Member
If you're just starting out I don't think it's worth it.
Cheers.
try Finis www.finisinc.com they had some suits left for $20 - $50, and the Yingfa suits are reportedly good and inexpensive. Might as well give it a shot while they are still legal to use.
Maybe 1 sec per / 100 yards - but they will only be good till June/july. Save the $$$$ & work on technique.
Former Member
In reply to Ande, I used my Speedo Endurance Training suit, the only suit I currently own that's any good for swimming...
Thanks for your opinion on the B70! That's good to know! :)
I've been wearing the same Speedo Endurance suit (until recently when I got a FS Pro Jammer for meets) in practice, OW events, and meets for over a year! They do last forever.
If you want to use a tech suit before the June 1 cutoff see if you can find the $20 FINIS or a $100 B70. Personally, I just ordered a B70 Nero Comp and I also have a Speedo LZR Full Body I got through a "connection".
Thanks for everybody's input so far! I definitely lean towards the idea that it's "not worth it" and I especially agree that I have a lot of work to do on my stroke and speed, tech suit or not! But, I was curious as to exactly what kind of time tech suits can shave off of a short race.
I will look forward to more opinions, but I appreciate your posts so far!
Thanks!
$20 for a Finis suit usable until 6/1/2010 - you cant afford not to get one.
I am still undecided about how much they help. Last year I decided to really prepare for a meet. At LC Nationals, I swam the 50 fly in a speedo brief from the bargain rack at D & J Sports ($15) and had my best time by 2 seconds. On the last day of the meet, Blue 70 was discounting their suits to $150. I bought one and went my best time by 5 seconds. I like to think that the improvement was my effort and not the suit, but you can feel a difference in the resistance in the water when you wear them. It reminded me of the first time I shaved for a meet.
If you have to ask the question, I think you already know the answer.
Rather than dwell on costs, legal -v- illegal suits, etc I'd back up and ask why you're doing the meet in the first place? Is it more to get times, have a little fun? Is it because you think you've made some breakthroughs? Answering this will probably answer your suit question.
You bring up an excellent point! To be honest, I'm too new at this to have made any breakthroughs! I just joined Masters this month and have not competed in any meets since 1979 (high school)! I'm definitely in it for fun and personal challenge- and to see if I can get my times back down to my high school times using the newer stroke techniques.
The main answer I asked the question in the first place is, because it was suggested by somebody in response to another thread I posted that I get a tech suit. It was in response to my request for general advice to a new Masters swimmer... So, it got me thinking about how much of a benefit it really is to a newbie like me. It was more out of curiosity than anything.
Thanks to all of you who have posted responses to my thread thus far. I appreciate the input and advice very much! For now, I think I'll stick with my sturdy ol' $35 Speedo Endurance Training suit and see how I do for the year. Perhaps I'll set a goal of buying a new LEGAL competition suit, if I can bring my times down to my goal (TBD) in my current suit.... :D
Perhaps I'll set a goal of buying a new LEGAL competition suit, if I can bring my times down to my goal (TBD) in my current suit....
Our suits are legal in SCY. You must be talking about post 6/1 suits. I always feel the need to point this out since the haters call people wearing legal tech suits cheaters.
Tech suits are very fun. But it may make sense to just swim with your poly suit to get some baseline times. Whatever you're most comfortable doing.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I think I will wear my current suit for the remainder of the year to get my baseline times, then work on getting my times down, before I consider a post-6/1 suit in the future. If I reach my goals this year, I can treat myself to a new competition suit for 2011. :D
