Finis website article: One Tool – and Five Sets — That Will Transform Your Swimming

Up until now I will admit that I mostly dismissed the use of a tempo trainer as a tool - mostly because I knew little about how exactly to use it in training.  The artlcle at least gave me an idea of how to do so.

I have a question though - how easy is it to make the adjustments mentioned in the various sets?  For example, if I want to set it to 10x50 @ 1.19-1.10 (increase tempo by .01 each 50).  What are the steps to accomplish this?  Do I pre-program that and then hit a button after each 50 to roll it over?

Transform whose swimming, and to what end?

I'm hesitant, not the least because it sounds like an infomercial. (Is it an infomercial?)

Let's take most beginning-to-intermediate triathlete swimmers. Much of the time, they are in fact focused on their stroke mechanics and timing that they're not 'spacing' out or being 'distracted,' which negates a main reason cited for using the Tempo Trainer.

They're really trying to swim well and make the most of their swim time, which is usually limited.

Another thing is that for this group, so much changes. So much changes. Technique, yes, SPL, water feel, comfort level ... I feel like they'd constantly be setting and re-setting the TT. (Certainly during swims, and that's for anyone doing these sets, but definitely between swims as well).

Finally, and I realize the sets are adjustable, but as for what's suggested--everybody is different, everybody is an individual, and very much of putting in the time swimming (which Terry acknowledges) is finding those paces, places, and strokes that really work for you, for your goals, over the long haul. The question is, can the TT really get you there better and faster?

It--the suggestions in the article, the TT--seems to focus on what's just one part of swimming better and faster, to the exclusion of very much else. Plain old swimming will get you there. I'd have to see a wealth of pretty good anecdotal data that swimmers ARE getting there better and faster with the TT, as suggested, than by other means.

My thoughts? I'd get REALLY annoyed with the constant beeping and never use it.

Drills look familiar (ascending/descending times for the same distance, and same pace over different distances) and are nothing revolutionary. 

But, that comes from a very experienced swimmer - not the article's, or product's, target audience.

No answers to my questions? 

Assuming that the device is easy to use and the beeps are clear and easy to hear ... it sounds like an idiot-proof way for new swimmers to learn pacing.

Over the course of 7+ years on BT, I've seen many threads from new swimmers who swim way too hard for 50-100 yards and can't build to 500 yards. They have trouble regulating their breathing (because they are swimming too hard) and they don't understand that they have a pace issue and not an "I can't swim" issue.

From that perspective, it sounds like a handy tool to use to teach yourself pacing in the pool. Swim pacing seems very difficult for some people to learn; this takes the guesswork out of it.

I compare this device to me counting my foot strikes per minute while running. Counting my foot strikes keeps me very consistent and even while running. Whenever I've run with music, my pace is erratic, so I never wear an mp3. I need to hear my breathing and foot falls, to keep myself consistent and metronomic. Relating this back to swimming, it sounds like this device is a simple way for new swimmers to quickly regulate their pace.

I would stop short of advocating its usage simply because I haven't used it. I don't recommend products I haven't tried myself.

I have an old Finis timer. Super easy to use. But, the beeping drove me to distraction. Son in my case it was worthless as a tool because I couldn't focus. I can't use a metronome for music either, for the same reason. For the percentage of us that are 'beepolie' challenged we would need a different tool.

But, in principle it seems like it would be useful as one more tool in your box, so to speak.

I wonder if a softer tone or more organic sound like a heartbeat would be easier to take?

My opinion is the same as always. Terry is a fantastic and convincing writer....and salesman.

The theories sound awesome when you have someone like Terry to construct the argument for using the device.

If I was a newb...and I was as we all were...I would buy this ingenious device...and I did.

The device now sits in my pile of other "stuff" along with things like my HR monitor and collects dust...ah well, lesson learned.

I'm a relative novice by comparison to the fish who've already posted. But my $.02...

It's not clear why the tool "works", or would "work" to get me faster using these drills. A big part of my problem is that I cannot hold a constant speed for an entire 1.5 hr practice (I mean my first intervals are always faster than the last ones--not drastically, but 5s/100 ish). I get fatigued. Who doesn't? How does the TT help me fix that? Is it really supposed to? Am I misdiagnosing my own problem(s)? If I have a set turnover target (and why are the listed rates chosen?) instead of stroke form, my stroke is bound to get shorter and choppier and change, instead of become ingrained. Which seems counter to what this tool proposes to help fix. Or at least, Mr. Laughlin suggests this is a possible outcome, but that my recourse is to "focus more"? Maybe I misunderstand how to use TT right per Mr. Laughlin, but I think most novices would become slave to the beep rather than hear it as a "check engine" signal and figure out what needs fixing.

At the same time, I could see this thing being helpful because it's not physical help like fins, buoys, or paddles, so I don't want to be all negative. I'm just not yet convinced enough to spend >$10 on such a thing.

Thanks for the good discussion Suzanne! -J

Preach on brother, amen! Screw an hour and a half, I'm losing speed after one mile, and even more after two. Actually after two my speed becomes pretty much zero. Unless you count my walking speed as I get out of the water and walk away.