Lap Swimming Etiquette

Don’t you love swimming peacefully in your own lap? That is until someone joins you at least! Unfortunately, there are usually not enough lanes for each individual to have their own. This means that everyone needs to be on the same page so swimming can remain fluidly without injury or disturbance. Here are some tips when joining a lane!

1.       Entering a Lane

Be aware of the speed of the individuals already in the pool. Some may be swimming faster, some may be swimming slower. Carefully choose which speed is most like yours. Before entering the pool, make sure the swimmer is aware you are entering their lane. You can either do this by sitting along the side with your feet in the water or standing near the edge likely to be seen when they are turning. 

2.       Passing

There may come a point where you will need to pass another individual when sharing a lane. Don’t worry about it! Before attempting to pass, simply tap the other person’s feet. Don’t grab or pull. When you are driving a car, you use your turn signals; while swimming, you use a friendly tap. If your feet are tapped, do not slow down as it may cause a collision. If you are the one looking to pass, this is typically done so on the left. Always remember to keep swimming at your own pace, and if someone passes you – don’t sweat it!

3.       Spacing

If you are the slower swimmer, try pushing off the wall close behind the faster swimmer. This will extend the time it will take before the other swimmer needs to pass again. As for faster swimmers, you should push up right before the slower swimmer approaches the wall. Again, this will extend the time it will take before passing again. 

With these tips in mind, you have no reason to fret! You have the basics down, now you just need to get out there and swim! You never know, you may be pushed by sharing a lane with a faster swimmer!

Types of Drag

 

Whether it’s perfecting your form or choosing your suit, swimmers always look to decrease the drag. Drag is viewed as swimmers' worst enemy and can be detrimental to your success. Swimmers choose suits and caps that are tight to the body to increase hydrodynamics. Here is a little more information on the different types of drag that swimmers experience:

Form Drag

Form Drag is resistance that is caused by an object’s shape and profile as it moves. This can be different for everyone due to their size. Individuals who are larger tend to feel more resistance because they take up a larger area of space. You can also feel the difference if you don’t have your arms and legs together, covering more space. You won’t go as fast and will come to a stop much quicker.

Wave Drag

This type of drag is caused by turbulence. This turbulence can be felt from other swimmers that are swimming next to you. At a much larger scale, boats in a lake or beach cause a lot of turbulence causing waves to roll into shore. If you try swimming against this, you will find it very difficult. Did you know that the ropes in pools weren’t just used to mark lanes? They are specially designed to reduce drag and turbulence from other lanes. 

Frictional Drag

Frictional drag results from constant rubbing against water molecules by the swimmer’s body. This type of drag affects swimmers the least due to the formfitting swimwear, which helps reduce this friction. Many swimmers even take it a step further and shave their body hair. 

Now that you know the different types of drag, you can do your best to decrease it. Always choose a formfitting suit that covers majority of your body such as the TYR alliance Polyester Splice Maxback. Also be sure to stock up on Swim Caps to cover your hair. Lastly, focus on your form and try keeping movements as close to your body as possible! Happy swimming!

Product Spotlight: AntiWave Racing Lanes

 ForeRunner Racing Lanes

AntiWave's most popular line of racing lanes, the AntiWave ForeRunner Racing Lanes, are designed after their wildly successful 6-inch Maximum Lanes, which were used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. AntiWave's racing lanes use hydromatic propulsion to disperse the waves along the lane line then down to stop all momentum, creating perfectly tranquil water. AntiWaves' lanes’ disk diameters are 4.75 inches, which provide even greater wave-quell capability than the standard 4-inch lanes offered by in the industry. With AntiWave's production facility in Sanger, Texas, they are capable of meeting all of your production needs quickly, where they are consistently out performing their competition in price and value.

• Disc Diameter: 4.75 inches
• Made of UV stable resin plastic which reduces the risk fading and deterioration caused by long term exposure to sun light.
• Equipped with the unique Supertensioner®
• Molded and assembled in their Sanger, Texas facility
• Come with a limited 3-Year Warranty
• Available in 17 colors (custom colors at orders of 720 ft. or more)
• Available in standard or custom lengths.

Maximum 6” Racing Lanes

 

Antiwave's Maximum Racing Lanes are the most effective racing lanes in the world. Having been used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics where the Australian Olympic team coach declared the pool to be "a virtual millpond" and 15 World Records were set, showing that Antiwave's racing lanes are truly the best. 

AntiWave's racing lanes use hydromatic propulsion to disperse the waves along the lane line then down to stop all momentum, creating perfectly tranquil water. 

• Are equipped with the unique Supertensioner®
• Made of UV stable resin plastic which reduces the risk fading and deterioration caused by long term exposure to sun light.
• Are molded and assembled in their Sanger, Texas facility.
• Come with a limited 3-Year Warranty
• Available in 17 colors (custom colors at orders of 720 ft. or more)
• Available in standard or custom lengths.

2.5” Mini Lane Divider Kit

The Mini lane dividers are designed to be a cost-effective, lightweight yet durable demarcation system. Although not intended for competitive swimming use, the Mini lane dividers are ideal for marking off areas in community pools, lakes or beaches. With some wave-quell effect, they are a marked improvement over the conventional buoy/rope lines.

• Disc Diameter: 2.5 inches
• Equipped with the unique Supertensioner®
• Made of UV stable resin plastic which reduces the risk fading and deterioration caused by long term exposure to sun light.
•  Molded and assembled in their Sanger, Texas facility
• Come with a limited 3-Year Warranty. 
• The Lifeguard Store offers 12 colors
• Available in standard or custom lengths

About AntiWave

AntiWave was founded in 1977 by a former professional water polo player, Anton Kajlich. Having been used extensively in national and international swimming competitions around the world, their first Olympics were in the 1972 Munich games. AntiWave has since been featured in several other Olympic games included Sydney’s in 2000 where we contributed in breaking 15 World Records. They have also been featured in over 50 internationally recognized events. With an approach founded on an insistence on quality, value for money, service and innovation, AntiWave continues to challenge competitors and consumers alike: how good do you want to be?

Shop Antiwave Now!