Pool Etiquette (New Questions) (Page 2)

Perhaps this is not the "norm", but at the pool where I swim...we don't really have a choice of splitting the lanes or circling...it's basically circle swimming ALL the time...even if there are only 2 people in a lane...it's just the way it is there, so I never question it.  Inevitably, there always ends up being a 3rd person in the lane anyways, so I guess it really doesn't matter.   But even if I get to the lane first and nobody else is there, I always do the counter-clockwise circle because that's just what everyone else does.  

There have been as many as 6 swimmers circling in a lane.  Sure, it can get frustrating at times...but when in the summer time when it's crowded like that, there isn't much that anyone can do about it.  You just have to make the best out of the situation.

ETA - I've never been asked to share a lane...people just get in and start swimming wherever and whenever, they feel like it.  I guess I swim at a "rude" pool...LOL! 

Edited by nscrbug 2009-07-02 5:56 PM

I haven't had to share lanes since freshman swim team (thank you, college pools!), but I had a question about the swimming up the middle thing - don't most people swim up the middle if they are the only ones in the lane? I have pretty long limbs, and I don't want to be whacking the lane line on any stroke, but since I often throw a lap of breaststroke in, I've already got my up-the-middle established. Do others do this, or do most people swim to one side even if they are alone?

I swim in an 8 lane pool.  If it's early and there are only 1 or 2 others in the pool, I may go up the middle.  If there is any chance that the lanes look like they will have 1+ person each, I start swimming to one side.  I've got long limbs too and it's no problem to swim right beside the lane line and not whack it - unless it's Fly but I rarely get into that foolishness anymore

I don't know what most people do, but if I am alone in a lane, I will try to stay in the middle.  Sometimes I even try to swim with my eyes closed for 5-10 strokes to see how much I am drifting (it's the closest thing to the poor visibility of the OWS in the safety of the pool). But especially if all lanes have a swimmer, I try to keep an eye out for people coming to the end that might want to come in, and move over as I approach.

Swimming competitively since I was about 7 years old (56 now), I am used to crowded circle swimming.  I have no problem stopping at the wall for a faster swimmer to pass, and have done my share of passing others both at the wall or down the lane. (I can squeeze by in very little space without interfering).

Like others have said, my phraseology is more like, "would you like to swim circles or split the lane?"  In sales you never ask a yes or no question.

Observing is def the way to go.  If the in pool swimmer won't stop, I simply get in after they turn and follow them down the the lane leaving room for them to flip....they will see me and decide without conversation.  Sometimes you have to be aggressive or passive aggressive.

It does help to be one of the faster swimmers at the gym I guess.  Most of the swimmers are body builders, or non swimmers, flailing, with a head up side to side style, so you know they are only good for 3 or 4 laps, and others are slow beginners.

For the jerks (and they are there), that are walking or playing in the fast lap lanes, I swim right at them at full speed, and then turn at the last moment go around them, flip at the wall and come back at full speed.  They usually get the message that this lane is for serious work outs.