Really odd swimming idea....good or bad?

I don't know exactly why, but this doesn't sound like the smartest idea. Can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't seem *right*.

Can I ask why don't you take a swim lesson, learn how to float/be more comfortable in the water, etc? I think that will really help if you're having this much trouble. Even just 1 or 2 lessons can significantly improve any problems you're having.

Unless you swim in a salt water pool, pool is fresh water.  Personally, I don't notice any discernible difference at all going from fresh to salt (without a wetsuit).

Best way to train is to swim more.  Swimming in a sweatshirt isn't a very good idea, it will add a tremendous amount of drag and weight to your arms, possibly resulting in a shoulder injury. 

If you want to simulate salt water, swim in fresh water with a wetsuit.

As noted in race report, I typically have no problem with OWS in the ocean and typically can swim close to IM distance in the pool.  But fresh water I seem to have trouble.  Unfortunately, there's no "alligator free" fresh water in which to train in down here.

If you want resistance training, they also sell things like "drag chutes" that will hlep build up stroke power.  Just google Swim Drag Chute and it'll come up.

(drag chute.jpg)

As the other poster said, is your pool salt water? My pool is, but its not as salty as a body of water that is salty.

If you are comfortable with the distance in the pool and are a decent swimmer there, I wonder if its more of a mental problem. (not saying you have mental problems) Sometimes its just in your head and being in OW is a bad time for it to come out.

Great point.  Thanks.