Starts and goggles

When racing I will wear my goggles a bit tighter than I would in practice. However, I think the key to keeping them on during a dive is keeping your head down as you enter the water. I find that if I raise my head underwater (i.e. to look at the water surface after diving in), then my goggles will flip off too. Keep your head down not just on the initial entry, but into your stroke too!

As other have said, keep your head down and make sure your goggles are tight. Additionally, you may want to look into a new pair of goggles if you can't solve your problem with the previously listed solutions. I've never had goggles fall off on a race but it seems on every 500yd+ race I always get water in my goggles on the dive in. If its a 50- who cares, but on a 500 its miserable. I guess it's just my bad luck. Have you tried using Vaseline around your eye sockets where the goggles fit? I forgot to mention that in my earlier post, but it helps with better suction and goggle fit, as well as protecting the skin.

As other have said, keep your head down and make sure your goggles are tight. Additionally, you may want to look into a new pair of goggles if you can't solve your problem with the previously listed solutions. I've never had goggles fall off on a race but it seems on every 500yd+ race I always get water in my goggles on the dive in. If its a 50- who cares, but on a 500 its miserable. I guess it's just my bad luck.

I use Tyr RaceTech goggles at the moment, which I love. But I have some Swedish I could try too, if all else fails. Thanks for the help, all. Now if only I can find another quiet day (empty lane) to try again...

I like the bungee cord goggle straps for racing. They let me tighten the heck out of my goggles. I've only lost my goggles twice during a race. Once was on a relay start, and I'm sure my head was lifted. The other time was when I double capped for a 1500 SCM race. I had never double capped before, and my goggles flipped up (I don't double cap anymore, but tried it for this race as my then 16 year old son recommended it). As it was a 1500, I stopped at the 25 and fixed my goggles. The two seconds I lost I'm sure I more than made up for during the next 1475 meters. Moral of the story -- if you're going to change anything, try a couple of practice starts before your race!

Got my first chance ever to practice starts off a block this morning. Are the goggles supposed to hang freely from my neck as a result? I tightened, I tucked, I squeezed with my arms. Short of super glue, how do I keep my goggles in place? While I'm at it, any other general tips for learning starts? No track blocks, but is a track start still fastest? Wear a cap OVER your goggles. And, pull down the cap in front over the top edge of your goggles. If one cap doesn't work, try two! It also helps to place the back of the strap around the crown of your head, rather than wearing it low. Good luck! :cheerleader:

What kind of goggles are you wearing? Wear something that has a low profile like the speedo speed socket. Keep your head down when you enter the water. If you look up they will be more likely to fall off. You can also put the straps under the cap. For me a goggle like the speed socket I think is pretty much impossible to fall off. As long as the block is angled the track start I think is fastest. I find it less powerful but gives me a faster reaction time.

When racing I will wear my goggles a bit tighter than I would in practice. However, I think the key to keeping them on during a dive is keeping your head down as you enter the water.

I like the bungee cord goggle straps for racing. They let me tighten the heck out of my goggles. I've only lost my goggles twice during a race. Once was on a relay start, and I'm sure my head was lifted. The other time was when I double capped for a 1500 SCM race. I had never double capped before, and my goggles flipped up (I don't double cap anymore, but tried it for this race as my then 16 year old son recommended it). As it was a 1500, I stopped at the 25 and fixed my goggles. The two seconds I lost I'm sure I more than made up for during the next 1475 meters. Moral of the story -- if you're going to change anything, try a couple of practice starts before your race! I'm curious... Why do you think the double cap is what caused the problem? I find using two caps helps; especially if I pull one of the caps over the top of my goggles. (At Auburn, I forgot that last step, so my goggles flipped down on me.)

is a track start still fastest? It is for some. I think you really need to determine which start is best for you. Also remember getting off the block fastest isn't the only consideration. Probably the best indication is how fast you get to 15 meters.