Bodysuits and masters swimming

[NotVeryFast]

Originally Posted by Alan Rowson

I am looking for comparitive performances for masters swims this year without suits and previous years with suits.

Just be sure to isolate the effect of the suit from other changes, i.e. are the swimmers swimming the same training times in the same training swimwear as last year?

[gamecat]

well... i pb'd the other week in the 100m free wearing jammers. Previous pb was in leg skins..

But i am pretty sure I am fitter now....

[Alan Rowson]

Originally Posted by NotVeryFast

Just be sure to isolate the effect of the suit from other changes, i.e. are the swimmers swimming the same training times in the same training swimwear as last year?

I didn't have any intentions of conducting a true survey, that would satify scientific scrutiny. I was just interested in opinions. There are so many variables, it would be difficult to isolate all possible variables.

Things that influence amongst others could be

current training regime as you say
pool conditions, people talk of fast and slow pools
mental attitude on the day

happy for others to add to variables that impact

[adamlelean]

I've been swimming crap at most galas this year. I put it down to lack of effort and lack of fitness, rather than having material over the bottom half of my legs, or not.

[eaglesrest]

I think elite swimmers in top-flight competition (Worlds, Olympics etc) will give the best indication as to the impact of suits. At least we know the training and effort is consistent with these guys and there are plenty of stats to work from.

[Tewson Veste]

Last Year Times First.

100 Free 1.01.50 1.06.73
50 Free 27.07 28.24
50 Breast 37.81 38.63
50 Fly 31.25 32.10
100 Fly 1.11.10 1.15.42

Cause of shoulder and knee unable to swim other events. I think the 50m comparisons are mostly down to the suit although I am sure I will be faster by Oct if injuries allow.
The 100m times are down to fitness and the suit.

My guess for a fat old man like me is that the profile effect of the suits gave me approx 0.6 - 0.8 advantage on 50m and 1-2 secs on 100M It won't be too accurate until the end of the year though.