Can swimming pool be quicker or slower than others? Usually, I swim at pool "A" and turn my 100meters in about 1:40. Last week, I went to another pool and started turning my 100s in 1:30. My first tought was that the pool was a little short, but the three different lifeguards I asked all said that it was a regular 25meter pool. So, can a pool be quicker than others?
2007-03-22 07:30:19 · 13 answers · asked by Boomer 2 in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
Water is water, but how the water moves is what makes a pool fast or slow. For instance, the old time lane ropes (the ones that are actually ropes with buoys spaced along the rope) allow the water to move more freely into the adjacent lanes. If the sides of the pool are not drains, (just walls that rise above the level of the water) will allow waves to hit the wall and rebound back into the pool. The more waves that can be produced, the harder it is to swim. If you notice during top level competition, many times each lane will have two lane ropes between each lane versus one.
Also, not to lessen the actual physical reasons, but a huge part of it is also psychology. Swimmers get psyched to swim a race and are looking to beat their own time or beat the competitor.
2007-03-22 07:52:30 · answer #1 · answered by bluefish787 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's a lot of superstition but some of it can be true. If someone compares a pool's records with those from another pool there probably won't be any massive changes from the first pool to the next. But then again, some features on certain pools are better than others such as higher walls that prevent waves better which prevents as much backwaves for slowing you down or better starting blocks to get you off quicker. The water temperature could also affect how fast you go but I think people just have their good days and their bad days as well.
2007-03-22 10:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by I want my *old* MTV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if there is a 10 second difference, however, there are definetly slow and fast pools. A lot of it has to do with the drainage system (which is a bunch of complicated hydrodynamics that I don't understand), the lane ropes(some make waves higher, some all but eliminate them), and the depth (a deeper pool is easier to swim through and makes the muscles less tired). It could be a combination of all that and you just feeling good on that second day.
2007-03-22 11:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by cowsvils 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your time does seem a little extreme, but there is a difference in pools. The anti-turbulance lane ropes have a lot to do with it, and so do different guttar systems. Water can also make a difference in some ways. Depending on the temperature, and cleanliness (chemicals). And some old pools that are standard are actually longer than the standard 25M pools that they make now days.
2007-03-23 01:22:47 · answer #4 · answered by swimxchick7 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are quick and slow pools. Slightly salt water pools give more buoyancy for example. At top level, FINA regulate and standardize everything right down to water temperature... so pool speed variations are minuscule.
Your times, whilst very good, are not likely to be caused by variations in the speed of the pool because of the huge variation in time between pool A and pool B.
Keep swimming, I think your turns are improving with practice.
2007-03-22 15:15:39 · answer #5 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a) Your pool "A" might have been longer than 25 metres.
b) Anti-wave lane ropes make it harder for waves made in other lanes to carry over to your lane, so slowing you down less, making you faster.
c) You have just got faster at swimming.
d) It is a colder pool, which means that there is less pressure on either side of you, making you more able to move forward quicker.
2007-03-22 08:33:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The quick pools are at 75 degrees feriheight and slow pools are warm pools that are hard to swim in
2007-03-22 07:57:50 · answer #7 · answered by stepup_or_stepaside 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
warmer pools are slower than cooler pools. lane lines can come into play, there are wave eater lines out there. Gutters also... even the lanes themselves. When you swim against the wall you have to fight more waves. Which is why higher seeds get the middle lanes.
2007-03-22 19:24:09 · answer #8 · answered by Jessie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes infact the gutters can be different. some pools such as college pools have high gutters so not much water can flow into them. Others have deep gutters, which causes the water to float around, which in some way makes you go slower.
2007-03-22 09:33:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is. Water temp plays a big part. If it is hot it is considered a slow pool if it is cold it is a fast pool
2007-03-23 04:05:53 · answer #10 · answered by swim chick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋