Having trouble counting laps in the pool?

I purchased one of these and have the following thoughts: (Maybe this should be in the Gear review section?)

Pros - Great tool, so loaded with options that I have only really scratched the surface of it's potential. Seems to work pretty well and won't leave you wondering "Did I do the entire set?" when you are smoked at the end of a workout. Multiple methods to attach it to the side of the pool. Lights and audible tone when you "tag" it ensure that you have touched. Large display that can be read under water - not easily but it can be done.

Cons - Only counts up to 50 laps - so I guess I will have to limit my long swims. It allows for 2 settings, meters and miles since I swim in a 25 yard pool I have to do extra math. I wish it had meters and yards - Unless I haven't been able figure out the correct option for yards, which may be the case... User’s manual is not very well thought out and doesn't provide easy to follow guidance.

If you swim in a lane by yourself and are always losing track of your lap count then you might consider this.


Edited by MDCdale 2006-10-24 12:51 PM

while that is a cool product her is a far cheaper one
http://cgi.ebay.com/SportCount-Lap-Counter-Timer-Sports-Watch-Run-S...

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I do as Kristin does most of the time, and still lose count...Sometimes I just swim for time instead!  What's wrong with that?  Especially since I know my 100's pace is quite consistent once I'm warmed up.  Anyway, I just hate lap swimming, and lap counting is the worst, most annoying reminder of it. 

I'll second the SportCount suggestion. I got one about a month ago and I love it... makes swimming go by a lot faster since I'm not counting in my head thinking, "oh god, X laps to go."

If you know the pace you swim at, you don't need anything more than a watch. In my case I keep an old Timex in my swim bag so the chlorine doesn't chew up the strap of my good watch.

For example, you're doing a long set and you know you swim at around 1:50/100 yds. Every 100 yards sneak a peek at your watch when you turn (not hard with a little practice) and confirm your count.

Easy to do, and helps you pace your effort as well.

That is going on my list to Santa!

I have one of these too... I got one after my last post about counting laps. I haven't had the chance to really use it yet... But, I will tell you that the alarm on it works....and it is loud. Somehow when playing with it, I set it for 12 midnight....and it worked. haha. Scared the crap out of me.

I will let you know more after I get to use it a little more....which should be soon. I just got the TI Dvd...FME.

Kenny

is keeping track of your distance really that hard? Maybe it's just a difference between people who came from a swim team background and those who didn't. It's just second nature to me. All this penny and gummy bear and other stuff just seems silly. You shouldn't be grabbing the wall that long every lap anyway

I can see your point! I came into tris from a running background, and I constantly do math problems (min/mile, etc.) in my head when I run -- so I guess it's natural for me.

As for flip turns...well, I'm not too consistent about doing them anyway, so I don't mind skipping one every 100 yards

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I hit the lap counter on my Timex watch for each 100 yards.  Every 4 laps, hit the button.  Makes it really easy to keep track

I've done that.

Doing the "alphabet" for 100s/250s is another eay way.

A, B, C, D, E.

Really, looking at your overall time, you should be able to see how many "250s" you've done.

I did the penny thing too when I first started, but it's really not necessary. Keeping track of your yardage isn't rocket surgery.

$60 for a wall counter, I've seen the finger counter for $25. Why are they taking advantgae of people that can't count? =)

Again, if you're swimming a long set, just break it into 250s. It shouldn't be too hard to to count to 5 (each 50 counts as 1 in a 25y pool). If you lose count, your overall time will tell you.

I use a water resistent stop watch so I know how long my distance took me.

I use the penny method but I use nickel, dimes and quarter also
4 pennies
1 nickel
2 dimes
1 quarter

it lets me do 54 laps or 1.68 miles so if I want to go farther I need 1 more quarter.

I had a much harder time with it when I started swimming.  Now, I'm not so bad.  But I HAVE to have my watch.  If I don't have my watch, I get lost.  I just know about how long it takes me to swim 100 at whatever pace I'm hitting that day.  If I lose count, I can just look at my watch and by the current time know exactly how far I've gone.  Honestly, this is the best method...it doesn't depend on remembering to move any pennies or hit any buttons...all you have to be able to do is some mental math.  Which can really help when you're bored!

Not to be picky, but 4 laps = 200 yds