Swim Training - Lap timing

[Azmazz]

Hi
My son is budding teenage swimmer, and I'm interested to find out if anyone uses an Apple watch for serious daily training sessions. From what I can find out the watch looks to be ok for timing laps, working out stroke etc. But I've never heard from anyone using it in a semi-pro swimming environment.

Would also be keen to find out if you can export the swim session data for analysis on other systems, desktop apps.
Any insight would be appreciated, I've tried googling, but not much other than very basic reviews.

 

[mk313]

I read a review somewhere in the macrumors forums about an apple watch app (called something like swim or swim timer) that allowed you to export the data so you could review/manipulate it. I've never used it for swimming, so I don't have anything else to add, but there is an app available that will help with what you want to do.

 

[jav6454]

The AppleWatch allows swimming to be taken into account in workouts. It’ll display the amount of laps. However, the data presented is basic and lacks any details on lap speeds or stroke differentiation. The Apple Watch only takes into account Free stroke. Any other like Back, Butterly or Breast strokes are not properly recorded.

 

[ftaok]

The AppleWatch allows swimming to be taken into account in workouts. It’ll display the amount of laps. However, the data presented is basic and lacks any details on lap speeds or stroke differentiation. The Apple Watch only takes into account Free stroke. Any other like Back, Butterly or Breast strokes are not properly recorded.

Actually, the AW is able to discern the different swim stroke types. I'm not sure if this was always there or if it's a new addition in wOS.

I can't vouch for how well it works. He's a screen shot I found on a search. Ironically it is from a blog post about how the AW swim app is broken and can't add properly.

 

[Azmazz]

Thanks for the replies, looks like AW may need another year or 2 to perfect this

 

[jav6454]

Actually, the AW is able to discern the different swim stroke types. I'm not sure if this was always there or if it's a new addition in wOS.

I can't vouch for how well it works. He's a screen shot I found on a search. Ironically it is from a blog post about how the AW swim app is broken and can't add properly.

View attachment 745570

Sorry if didn’t make myself clear. The AppleWatch can (has the ability to) record those strokes. However, the algorithms it uses to record them are flawed. You end up with less data being recorded on the work done. It’s like a 50-50 works and doesn’t work thing.

However, by personal experience, if you record a workout in free stroke, it’ll work 96% of the time. Hence, although the ability is there, it dones properly do it. And yes, it was added a new OS update.

 

[Eugeny]

Hi,

I'm a swimmer myself and I found the Workout app somewhat lacking in terms of the data points it shows me. I can't consider myself a semi-pro or anything like that, but I developed a little app that tracks my best swim lap and interval times for different stroke types and pool lengths (yards or meters). It does not do data export or any kind of in-depth analysis so I'm not sure how helpful it will be to your son.

If it sounds at all interesting then can you can find it in the App Store here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/workout-records/id1329103740?ls=1&mt=8.

 

[Azmazz]

Hi Eugenie
Your app looks very cool, I'll definitely try it out.

Just to explain if anyone is interested, swimming training has changed a lot in recent years to a format often know as Race Pace Training, where every drill needs to be a second or two within of your best time.
You train / swim a bit less overall, but at true race speeds.
So training has become very time focussed, and coaches struggle to keep times for a squad of 10 - 30 swimmers.

Ideally, a whole swim squad would all wear devices, and the coach & swimmers could analyse the data easily after each session.
It seems like we are so close technology wise.