New Toy for the Lap Counting Challenged

Nemo Brauch

 First, if your name is Rich Strauss, please stop reading now- this thread will only annoy you!    Seriously, you have been warned!

 

OK- now for everyone else.  I'm dealing with a calf injury so I'm back in the pool again.  I am simply the worse lap counter in the world.  Anything over 2 and there's a 50/50 shot that I've lost track. Count strokes and then add them to my time for a golf score?  You gotta be kidding if you think I counted that one right!  Well, to make myself feel better about going back to the pool, I've just purchased a new toy which makes the whole lap counting thing a non issue and I LOVE IT!

It's called a Pool-Mate.  It's basically a watch you wear with an accelerometer inside that can tell when you've stopped taking strokes (hit a wall) and counts those breaks.  It counts & displays # strokes too- and gives you an "efficiency score" which is # strokes + time to go 25 meters.  So for every workout I can (by totals and by sets) my time, speed, #laps, distance, and strokes/lap, and efficiency score.  

Note- it won't work in open water because it relies on you hitting a wall and pausing to count the laps.  But for someone who does most of their swimming solo (no masters folks to follow and count for me) I love this thing!  Oh- and I think I may finally be able to do the 1000m T-Test and be sure I didn't loose track along the way!

Here's a link to their website.  I bought mine from SwimOutlet.com and got free shipping (they had a deal at the time).

www.swimovate.com/

 

 

Ralph Butler

Have you used it yet? 

I am also counting impaired....sometimes I think its a self-conscious defense mech to get me out of the water sooner. 

I know its the out season but  will start swimming some on Mondays and Fridays next month to get ready for some early season sprints that I am doing.

kurshing

Nemo!  You are awesome!  I thought I was the only 'idiot' on this planet that couldn't count laps...I am going to look into this thing!

Nemo Brauch

@Ralph- yup, I tried it out this morning to validate it worked before I posted. It works like a champ- I lurve it!

Cary Blanco

I can t count them either. It's much worse when I swim in the 50 meter lanes in the Nassau Aquatic Center.

Mike Hedman

Just an observation...if you need a lap counter for open water swims, then you live near a REALLY small lake, or you REALLY need to learn how to count.

I guess what you're saying is that it won't help you calculate your distance in open water.  From all I've ever read, I think about the best you can do is put a Forerunner under your cap - of course, that doesn't do very well for real-time feedback.

But I'm might just get one of these little critters - I'm worthless for counting laps.  And I'm doubly worthless at counting for swim-golf, so this would be GOLD for that.

Mike

Tomer T

Thanks for posting. Good to know I'm not the only one who loses count quickly.

I'm using a lap counter but I sometimes forget to push the lap button, or, I push it twice

This seems like the idiot proof solution.

I wish you a quick recovery from your calf injury

 

Matt Samojeden

Tomer, I'm with you, even with a counter I don't allways get it right.

I use a SportCount Chrono 100 counter that you wear on you finger and push the Botton every lap.  When I do a 1000 for time and I count 100 as a lap  ( in a 25 yd pool) I mess up 1-2 laps in the 1000.  Good help is hard to find!  s

Nemo - this looks like a good tool !  Thanks for the heads up.

Matt

Peter Carroll

Nemo, you rock! I've just started swimming once or twice a week (in the Jan OS), because I have never done a triathlon before and never actually swam laps before (well, before 4 months ago). I had trouble even getting to 2. I had great golf scores because I left like half the numbers out. I was just finishing up the training manual last night and it said the main difference between the beginner who just wanted to finsih and the beginner/int who wants a time is actually finishing the workouts. I feared I would never leave the pool because I would always have to start over counting laps.

Looks like i have something else to buy!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Eric Rueppel

This is really cool Nemo.

Nemo Brauch

Posted By Mike Hedman on 10 Jan 2010 11:13 AM

Just an observation...if you need a lap counter for open water swims, then you live near a REALLY small lake, or you REALLY need to learn how to count.

I guess what you're saying is that it won't help you calculate your distance in open water.  From all I've ever read, I think about the best you can do is put a Forerunner under your cap - of course, that doesn't do very well for real-time feedback.

But I'm might just get one of these little critters - I'm worthless for counting laps.  And I'm doubly worthless at counting for swim-golf, so this would be GOLD for that.

Mike

 Or maybe you are Michael Phelps?  Remember that old TV Ad?  He hits England and says "1".  Loved that one!

Peter Carroll

So, I was just reading about it, and mid January, they are supposed to come out with on that will use Yards and Meter's instead of just Meters. So, it may be worth waiting a few weeks to order if you swim in a 25 yard pool.

TracyWood

Thanks for the info Nemo! I am also a card carrying member of the can't count laps club. Counting laps, swim golf, every 4th lap do something, counting  breaths for hypoxic sets  Nope. I usually do more because if confused, I usually go with lower numbers. If I get this, I'll just have to remember to hit start

mgraffeo

Seems cool, but $100 to help me count is a bit far along the value curve for me.

I swim with my Timex on, and know pretty close to what I'm swimming glancing at the clock on the deck.  If I'm off by 50 seconds, I probably missed a 50, 1:40 I blew a 100, etc.

Just seems like there are tons of things at the $x00 range that are cool, but that's where I really have to start asking myself "self, do you need this, or just find it cool?"

Mike

Nemo Brauch

Oh Mike- I totally agree. I don't "NEED" this. I need food, water, air. Hence the reason the post is called "New Toy". But it sure is helpful for the counting challenged- and also is making my reluctant return to swimming when I'd rather be running a bit more enjoyable too! :-)

Chris G

Sounds like a cool toy. I can't count for crap either. I think I am finally going to buy the finis thing with tunes as anything to alleviate the boredom of swimming is an awesome thing.

Scott Alexander

I can barely count, much less laps. LOL

Can the new toy easily switch between meters/yards and 25/50?

Nemo Brauch

Yup- you can change the setup for different distances in the pool. The catch however is that it currently only allows you to set up based on Meters. That's fine for me right now- I only have access to a meter pool. But if you have a yard pool you might want to wait for the next version that is supposed to come out later this month.

Steven Ford

I lose count half way down on the first one, that is why I enjoy swimming outside it is only 2 laps. I swim to the other side when I hit the dock I turn around and come back till I hit the beach and done.

 

chuckg

Have a terrible time remembering where I am in my lap count, but I sure can tell you how many of those little black tiles there are on the bottom of the pool!! Thanks for the toy idea.