Tips & Tricks in pooling

[trux]

If we speak about tips and tricks, be sure to try doing a maximal performance without any mask or goggles. It makes a great difference! Not only because of better hydrodynamics, but especially due to much stronger and quicker diving response. Well, in most pools it will be probably difficult to do the entire training without goggles, because your eyes may get irritated too much, but doing it once a time when trying a max perf will be no problem, and I am sure you will be able to improve your PB in this way. You may also wash your eyes with a physiological fluid after the training to avoid irritation. And do not be afraid, you'll see sufficiently well even without goggles.

 

[Mullins]

Fluid goggles perhaps? Might give that a go...

Great swim Wetboy. Does streamlining not work so well for you?

 

[WetBoy]

Fluid goggles perhaps? Might give that a go...

Great swim Wetboy. Does streamlining not work so well for you?

Hi and thanx Mullins .. No as you see my technique is not so good and im mostly using my leg in the movement which is offcourse not the most efficient way to go forward, but i think it works anyway somehow. Im not so streamlined more like a brick hehe... I try not to focus so much on technique instead of relaxation first 50, closing eyes, pushturn etc.:inlove:inlove.....

 

[trux]

Fluid goggles perhaps? Might give that a go...

I really think no goggles are better. Not only there is less drag without them, but I believe fluid goggles, even if you put cold water in them may not have the same effect on the diving response. I believe that the water moving over your eyes stimulates the receptors triggering diver reflex better. I admit I may be wrong though, and if you put very cold water into them just immediately before the dive, the fluid goggles may have stronger effect. Or perhaps using goggles carved in ice, or putting two cubes of ice into your fluid goggles may be a good idea

I was quite surprised by the difference when I first tried it at the last competition - I had only goggles with tinted glass, and a relatively big mask with me. I thought judges would permit using the goggles, because the tint was negligible, but they did not. I hesitated between using the mask and trying without, and finally decided going without it for DNF. And the feeling was indeed excellent. Unfortunately I did not fix well my neck weight and it opened at the departure. I tried fixing it by hands, and had to keep it during the turns, propulsing so the bigger part of the dive with legs only, and braking with the far less than ideal hydrodynamic position with hands on the neck weight, but despite it I did practically my PB, and exited completely clean (though swearing). I stopped more because I had enough fighting the neck weight than because of lapse of oxygen. I have to try another max attempt yet without goggles, to see what improvement I can really get, but unfortunately the trainings are over for this season, so it won't be before autumn.

 

[gingko]

Unfortunately I did not fix well my neck weight and it opened at the departure. [...] I stopped more because I had enough fighting the neck weight than because of lapse of oxygen.

Don't you really think that you performed your PB mainly because you were focused on your neckweight and not on your attempt (without goggles)..?

.../...

 

[trux]

Don't you really think that you performed your PB mainly because you were focused on your neckweight and not on your attempt (without goggles)..?

Yes, the added stress may have helped the strong diving response too, but still with all the drag, bad position and style, and only partial propulsion, I came out much less hypoxic than at my last PB about two weeks before the competition. So as you tell, the stress might have some positive impact, but I tend to believe more on the no-goggles effect. I admit it is not really scientific proof, but will definitely try my next max attempt and competitions without goggles again.

 

[gingko]

Yes, the added stress may have helped the strong diving response too, [...]

I didn't think of the added stress, even if it could have a positive effect on the diving reflex.
But I really think that the focus of your mind during your dive/attempt was the major thing of your perfomance :
- your mind was mainly focused on your neckweight, and less on your sensations.
- after some time during your dive, may be you began to think : "Ok there are some wrong stuffs in this dive/attempt so, what ever, go and see what it will happen... No more pressure."

Ok, that's just some talk, but for me it's an important part in the successful of some (quite unexpected) PB.

.../...

 

[trux]

Focus may help you psychologically to overcome contractions, or the urge to surface, but it won't help you with reducing oxygen consumption. It means if it was purely the focus, with worse propulsion/style I might have managed going the same distance, but I would get much deeper into hypoxia than normally. And it was the exactly opposite case this time - I surfaced as fresh as if I did just a short warm-up dive, despite bigger effort, higher drag, and longer time for almost the same distance as my PB.

 

[Mullins]

I really think no goggles are better. Not only there is less drag without them, but I believe fluid goggles, even if you put cold water in them may not have the same effect on the diving response. I believe that the water moving over your eyes stimulates the receptors triggering diver reflex better.

So for static it would be beneficial to have a current flowing over your face rather than still water?

 

[trux]

So for static it would be beneficial to have a current flowing over your face rather than still water?

It might be well possible. During the warm-up, for kicking up the diving response, in our club we usually start with exhale breath-holds - very slowly exhaling during the entire apnea. The small bubbles running over your eye lashes definitely make the feeling of being underwater much more evident than if you stay motionless. Besides it, when you do not move at all, the water in contact with your skin warms up, and the stimulation of the receptors may be slightly lower.

Another fact is that it is not really the absolute temperature that is most important for kicking in the reflex, but the temperature difference between surface and water. Hence keeping your face dry and warm before the breath-hold might have amplifying effect on the diving response strength too. I did not experiment with it though. It is also question if it is better trying for the maximal temperature shock only at the very max attempt, or already during the warm-up, hoping that the diving response remains strong during the entire series. However, looking at the success of no-warm-up approach, it is quite likely keeping the temperature shock of the last moment may be the way to go.