Lap counting

I would suggest don't count by 50s, Try 1 , 2, 3, 4 or something I recently discovered which I think is easier, I count 1a, 1b,1c, 1d then 2a,2b,2c,2d, and 3a etc I know it sounds stupid but it seems I lose count less often that way.

i have the same problems even if im counting for someone swimming the event... i have the little counter thing and ill forget what they are on even though the stupid thing is right there in front of me haha

try www.kiefer.com/.../productr.asp or www.kiefer.com/.../productr.asp for counting. Paul

Have any of you all ever used that little ring? Would like a review of it if you have used it. It seems it would be a lot more natural to just press the lap count button with your thumb... with a watch you have to use your other hand (come out of streamline) I'm afraid it will come off and with my luck it will be in the deep 12 foot end of my pool. Okay one of you engineers on this site, develop a 'personal' touch pad to hang at the end of the lane, one that runs on 'solar' energy like the little calculators do and of course give me part of the profit for coming up with the idea. Make it simple... On/of and reset buttons display 1) # of laps 2) total time. I can't abide gadgets where pushing a button once gets you one function, pushing it twice gets you another function, pushing and holding it gets another function etc... I'm old and can't remember how many pushes gets what, if my memory was that good I'd count laps myself. Of course if you want to make it fancier, have a button for each function.

I used the ring counter but the numbers were too small. I have 20/20 vision. I went to a watch with big numbers. I worked well but I developed a strange habit with my fingers clenched to hold onto it even though I didn't have to.

As "old School" as this sounds, IMO, If you lose count of laps, you're not focusing on the task at hand: A dedicated workout! IF You daydream, You're not concentrating on stroke technique, pace, or stroke cadence. I've lost count a'million times, but, in retrospect, these were the workouts that lacked the focus I truly needed for true swimming success. What did I do when losing count? I made it painfully counter- productive. EG. add two laps that don't count. Added great incentive to my workouts, "concentrate, or suffer the painfull consequences! " Respectfully submitted, Chato

I've used the ring counter thing and it didn't seem very useful (or maybe I just couldn't get the hang of it :p ). I was never able to get an accurate count -- my thumb would either miss the button or it would register twice (maybe because I pressed too hard). Whichever it was, the results never made sense. Besides, you can't -- or shouldn't -- see it while you're swimming. :)

Occasionally I will do a 30 minute or 60 minute swim to gauge performance. (Mel Goldstein got me into this habit) This is when I have difficulty keeping track. My solution is to chunk my distance by 500 depending on the final distance. (I typicaly do not have problems keeping track until I swim above 500 yards.) I have trained myself to count on the turn, so, no matter what I am daydreaming about, it is interrupted by my lap count. Remembering lap count by two's did not work for me either. I have to count every lap. Hence, I count up to 20, click off 500 in my memory, and start over until done. I completely understand the difficulty with long distance swimming and lap counting. When I swim it feels best when I reach the point where I fall into a meditative state -- obviously this is not a performance improving workout but it is great for stress relief. C.R.

I've heard of someone at my local pool who adds pennies per lap to a cup at poolside.

I usually don't have a problem keeping track in my head. I count lengths, always odd at the opposite end and even at the end I start at. Keeping an eye on the clock can keep me close when I do lose track.