How much do tech suits benefit a new Masters swimmer?

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!

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.

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. Tim, you bring up a really good point. My hubby and I were having this conversation last night. I always look to my training times, where I generally don't wear a fast suit, to measure my improvement. I can tell how much I'm improving based on set times, etc. While the tech suits are fun, I don't put don't much stock in my meet performances with these "stupid fast" suits, I rely much more on my training for real feedback. Next year, I will again rely on my training. Hopefully, I will be swimming faster times in practice still.

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. Friends in high places (for once!)....NEW and FREE! :D

My tech suits do my swimming for me. Not to side too much with Dolphin, but it was a bit of a shocker to see that most of my improvement was due to tech suits and not my training/ technique. LOL! It was a bitter pill for me to swallow. I'm sure others have had different experiences but that's my perspective. I do agree with Kirk on the 1-2 seconds per 100.

What is your body type dear girl? I like the idea of setting some fast times in a very tight and buoyant tech-suit. Then coming back after the tech-suit ban and getting in even better shape and building overall athleticism to break those tech-suit times. Regardless, the whole thing should be fun. Wearing a tech-suit is fun - and fast! What a great way to start your masters swimming career! See you at the meets :)

And this brings me to my next question. I wish that the coaches who are advising us masters to now lose weight and train harder could advise us to what that actually means. This direction is so vague it makes me want to pull my hair out. How about some ideal body fat % and BMI ranges for swimmers; distance and frequency of workout goals (doubles? triples? - I hope NOT - seems like too much to me.) I just find it interesting that during the tech suit craze it was all about less is more and now it seems as if I'm being told to train harder and more often. Almost impossible to advise an athlete virtually about these questions. I would like to see all swimmers focus on improving their athleticism in some way. We all have different stories about time availability, injuries, and commitment levels. Can you squat, pull yourself out of the pool, do push ups or sit-ups - or run for your life? Work with your coach or another knowledgeable athlete and find something to improve your basic strength. I am also fairly lean, but could find ways to get stronger and leaner so my body is closer to the state its in when encased in my sensational B70 Nero even after it is banned... This isn't rocket science. It means eating better and training smarter - not longer. (don't get me started on the masters athletes who think they have to swim 5,000+ yard workouts to be fit)

I would like to see all swimmers focus on improving their athleticism in some way. We all have different stories about time availability, injuries, and commitment levels. Can you squat, pull yourself out of the pool, do push ups or sit-ups - or run for your life? Work with your coach or another knowledgeable athlete and find something to improve your basic strength. ) Good points Ahelee. Eliane, I've been swimming masters for 10 years now. I don't nor have I ever worn the "latest and greatest" in tech suits yet my times are dropping and I'm making top 10 every year. I just bought the TYR Fusion 2 for $70 that will be legal after 6/1/10 so to me it was an investment. I will save this suit for Nationals and wear my other, older ones until then. In the mean time, I will work on my body, eating habits, etc to get myself faster. So don't worry about a suit. If you want one, get an inexpensive one just to try it out. But just a basic suit would be good for you, too. And hopefully we'll see you in Atlanta :) I graduated from Norcross so to me, Nationals will be like going "home".

Congratulations! Top ten; I'm impressed! :applaud: Thanks for your practical advice; it sounds good to me. I just want to see how I do at my first meet, at the end of March, and take it from there... But, I will be at Nationals, hoping to improve my times from whatever I do at my first meet- and, I will be in my training suit! Look for me in a purple and white flowered Speedo Endurance Training suit, in the Women's 45-49 breaststroke. I also plan on joining a GAJA medley relay as a breaststroker. What events will you be in at National's? I would like to watch for you! Good luck! Elaine

Almost impossible to advise an athlete virtually about these questions. I would like to see all swimmers focus on improving their athleticism in some way. We all have different stories about time availability, injuries, and commitment levels. Can you squat, pull yourself out of the pool, do push ups or sit-ups - or run for your life? Work with your coach or another knowledgeable athlete and find something to improve your basic strength. I am also fairly lean, but could find ways to get stronger and leaner so my body is closer to the state its in when encased in my sensational B70 Nero even after it is banned... This isn't rocket science. It means eating better and training smarter - not longer. (don't get me started on the masters athletes who think they have to swim 5,000+ yard workouts to be fit) Cripes. That's me. But it's 5,000+ (and I mean waaaaay plus) b/c I really enjoy it. I know I'm somewhat fit. So for example, if this is what I did Saturday, it's just too much even though I had a blast with the kiddos? LCM 300 Warm Up 6x200 50 Stroke/ 50 FR @ 3:15 4x150 1 of each stroke IM ORDER 1st 50 - Right arm 25/ left arm 25 2nd 50 Drill 3rd 50 Swim the stroke 8x25 @ :30 IM Order FLY DAY 8x100 50 Fly Drill/ 50 FR @ 1:30 3 TIMES THROUGH - gah! Went 2nd in the lane and forgot what the heck the intervals were - but let's just say I had around 5 to 10 seconds rest 1x200 FR/ Fly by 50s 1x150 Fly/ FR/ Fly by 50s 1x100 Fly/ FR by 50s 1x50 Fly 4 TIMES THROUGH 4x50 Fly Drill @ 1:05 1x50 EZ 1x50 FAST FLY for time - held 32s on all 4 1x100 EZ 5700 meters BTW, I DON'T do this every day! LOL! Thanks for the response. I know it's not rocket science but I've had organic chemistry classes that were easier than figuring out correct freestyle stroke.