How much do goggle styles affect speed?

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:12:34 GMT

In recent years, I have thought about this question a lot more. I stopped using a cap between the ages of 11-28 (shaved my head in hs and college). I started using a cap again, because I need whatever help I can get to swim faster and shaving my head is out of the question. Unfortunately, my swedes have a tendency to fall off or fill up with water about 75% of the time when I use a cap. Without a cap, there is never a problem. Very annoying, because I have used swedes since I was a kid. I've tried tightening the straps, using the set string nosepiece, but nothing seems to work. I'm probably going to try out some new goggles soon, so if anyone has recommendations, I'll take em :D Have you tried wearing the swedes UNDER the cap?

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

gdanner — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:46:39 GMT

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:43:55 GMT

I find swedes to be very comfortable and they have great visibility. Swedes have great visibility. I used to think they had the most, then I switched over to Speedo Raceviews, and I cannot go back to Swedes. It is as though the Sweded field of view is way to small and confining for me. I love the raceview field of view now. As far as answering the question, I assume the lowest profile goggle that contours to your body the most would provide the least amount of resistance. I think a diving mask would cause drag for sure, but all the other goggles on the market today I would assume are more or less equal. Goggles would be the last thing I would consider for slowing me down. Good visiblity is more imporant, but not at the sacrifice of the drag created by a diving mask.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

bzaks1424 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:17:01 GMT

That is some cool science. I think I'm the slow car. Now, do the bungee cords hanging off my sweedes make a difference? Those are the only goggles I can keep on during a dive, so I live with any discomfort they give me. I'm definitely the slow car. (No really, check out my times: www.usms.org/.../indresults.php ) Your straps on your bungies are pretty much the same way. You probably have to be swimming pretty fast (those sub 25 second SCY 50s) before that even BEGINS to make a difference.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:21:30 GMT

I think you're talking WAY faster than just sub 25 scy 50's to make a difference. Look at the TOTAL surface area of the outside of a goggle lens. What is it, 2 sq. in? 3 sq in? Now what percentage of that is actually facing a direction exactly perpendicular to movement? 10%? Maybe? The rest you'd have to take a trig measurment of the given angle based on the goggle itself to get the representative amount of perpendicular opposing surface area, and that's assuming the head position is kept the same . I'd doubt it even came out to 0.5 sq in between the two lenses. Certainly the more rounded the goggle the better water will flow past it but you're talking such a completely miniscule amount it's arguable that fixing the wrinkles in your swim cap or not cutting your fingernails would yield more results than choosing an "aerodynamic" goggle. I'd even go out on a limb and say it's not even worth a hundreth to a 50 swimmer.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

__steve__ — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:08:04 GMT

I like more streamlined goggles for stability during the start. Fogged goggles can also ruin a turn..

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Allen Stark — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:17:30 GMT

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

swimmerb212 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:52:08 GMT

I'm definitely the slow car. (No really, check out my times: www.usms.org/.../indresults.php ) Your straps on your bungies are pretty much the same way. You probably have to be swimming pretty fast (those sub 25 second SCY 50s) before that even BEGINS to make a difference. We should carpool. You beat me in the 50, but I got you in the 100. I'll have to make sure not to get my 50's under 25, lest I have to cut my cords!

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:08:37 GMT

I find swedes to be very comfortable and they have great visibility. BTW Dara wears those giant old-school Speedo goggles. I don't think its an issue unless you are wearing a mask or something that can really catch the water.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:27:34 GMT

Thanks all for your input. I'll feel less guilty to use whatever comfortable while others around me swim in their Swedes :D. The car example is great. Looks like it will take me a while to reach the level when goggle style matters for me. Right now, I'm bicycle level (may not be a bad idea to wear goggles to ride bicycle for experiment :D).

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Chris Stevenson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:55:59 GMT

Wear what is comfortable, gives good visibility and won't come off on the dive. I think the effects on speed are negligible...unless they fill up with water or fall off on the entry.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Allen Stark — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:51:06 GMT

The low profile goggles are less likely to come off in a dive.Swedes aren't comfortable for me so I wear TYR Tracer TIs for meets.The difference in drag at swimming speeds between types is negligible I'm sure, so wear what's comfortable.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

swimmerb212 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:29:06 GMT

If you're still unsure as to the effects of goggles while swimming. Consider a potential real life scenario: You're on a nice sunday afternoon drive. You have your arm out the window palm forward just catching the breeze. Going twenty miles per hour, you barely feel any back pressure at all from the wind as you drive down your street. Note during this time, the breeze is pushing back on you, which is also pushing back on the car. You however are unable to notice a negligible difference in the power needed (RPMs) per MPH (20-25 MPH). Turning on to the interstate, you decide you're going to have some fun. You start speeding up more and more and more with both hands on the wheel. Before you know it, you're finally driving the speed of everyone else (~80-90 MPH) on I-294 (No seriously). You now put your hand out the window (cautiously) and you'll feel a MUCH strong push on your arm. However - sticking your arm out, and pushing it in - you're still very hard pressed to see a significant difference in the amount of power needed (RPMS) per MPH. FINALLY For some odd reason, you're also a super sonic car driver in the salt flats with an arm that can withstand the pressure of sticking out the window while driving. (MAGIC). Now you stick your arm out the window, and you may notice a relatively large jump in the amount of power necessary for your car to drive at 700 MPH. This is all due to the fun nature of aerodynamics. Basically - until you achieve a certain speed in your swimming (and I don't know your times you may already be there) you won't need to worry about goggle style. That is some cool science. I think I'm the slow car. Now, do the bungee cords hanging off my sweedes make a difference? Those are the only goggles I can keep on during a dive, so I live with any discomfort they give me.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

Former Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:55:42 GMT

I have never seen a test of any kind on the goggle's contribution to elapsed time. I suspect the differences are so small that they may not be measurable - otherwise Speedo or some other company would try to market the advantage of their goggle. I race with Speedo Speed Sockets. They fit noticably closer to the face and have a relatively stiff and flat seal. I like them because they stick like mad - I do not worry about them coming off during a start. Their shape presents very little surface to catch water. But I don't like training in them. The seals are tiring for long periods of time and the lens is too close to my eyelashes.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

tjrpatt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:11:40 GMT

I wear goggles that can cover my eyes, period. The Swedish lenses are too small for my eyeballs.

RE: How much do goggle styles affect speed?

bzaks1424 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:57:45 GMT