At Wylas Timing, we love innovation. As digital technology exploded this century, most industries and niches adopted it to improve performance. However, in swimming clubs at all levels, the swim technology was either outdated or prohibitively expensive. As pioneers in the swim technology space, we strive to grow and enhance the sport.
Swim tracking technology is an excellent way for athletes to increase their performance. Cyclists and runners have benefited immensely from gadgets over the last few decades, and now it’s swimmings turn.
By using data to inform decisions, coaches and athletes can make better judgments and lower injury risk by intelligently managing the workload. But most importantly, technology allows detailed measurement of analytics, which motivates athletes to work even harder.
To help athletes achieve peak performance, we wanted to share six of the best examples of innovative technology in the swimming space.
1. Form Goggles
Form Goggles are an exciting example of using digital technology to help swimmers measure their performance in real-time. Traditionally, when swimmers were training, they had a few options to track their times:
- Pressing a swimming watch
- Looking at the wall clock
- The assistance of a coach or supervisor
However, Form Googles have solved this issue through the use of augmented reality. As athletes swim, a smart integrated display is built into the goggles, allowing them to access a wide array of metrics. The display is clean and uncluttered but can be customised to show additional information.
Form Goggles built-in accelerometer supports information on distance, speed, pace, and more. Additionally, the gadget can detect rests and different strokes.
Having access to these metrics allows athletes the freedom and independence to measure their performance effortlessly. The googles connect to the Form Swim app via Bluetooth, which athletes can use to track long-term progress. Connectivity is a big plus with these goggles, as athletes can use them in conjunction with heart monitors and compatible smartwatches.
Additionally, they are built to work in pools, open water, and for swim spa swimming.
The goggles themselves are slick and durable and come with a robust carrying case. Overall, this is an impressive piece of kit.
More Information – https://www.formswim.com/
2. The Magic5
As any swimmer will tell you, getting a pair of goggles that fit perfectly and don’t leak can be a difficult task. The Magic5 have come up with a creative solution by using 3D modelling software. Once athletes purchase a pair, they can use the Magic5 app to scan their face in detail. From there, they will receive a custom-built and custom-fitted google that matches the contours of their face.
Magic5 measures eye size, eye socket, eye length, and nose size and uses this data to mould a pair of goggles that both fit and feel great. Because they match the swimmer’s facial structure, problems with leaks, tension, and suction marks become a thing of the past.
By combining proprietary fitting technology with advanced production techniques, the Magic5 promises a personalised gasket that also offers a full peripheral view.
The customisation doesn’t stop at just how the goggles fit. The company offers a wide range of different goggles that are suitable for a variety of venues. The Blue Magic Mirror Gold is a great all-rounder, while the Clear Magic is perfect for indoor swimming. Additionally, the Blue Magic Mirror Silver comes in a darker tint that makes it suitable for sunnier days in open water.
More Information – https://themagic5.com/
3.TritonWear
Elite level swimming teams have been using sports science and technology to increase their athletic performance for years. But, the everyday team was often shut out due to a lack of access to sports scientists and funds. TritionWear wants to change this by democratising tracking and swimming analysis.
The Triton pops under a swimming cap and streams performance information to either a smartphone or a tablet. From here, athletes can access their performance metrics.
However, the real innovation here is the AI-based tracking software. By analysing over 30 points of data per lap, swimmers can build a comprehensive training database. From here, the Triton offers athletes training recommendations.
Training recommendations are built around improving speed in the right way. By tracking your training intensity and rest periods, the Triton system makes sure your training load won’t cause injury and fatigue.
Additionally, TritonWear analyses your swim times and strokes and identifies areas for improvement. The SMART goals feature help athletes understand where their weakness lies so they can focus on becoming the best athlete they can.
More Information – https://www.tritonwear.com/
4. Swimtraxx
The Swimtraxx One comes self-styled as “the smartest swim specific system, ever”. The device easily clips onto swimming goggles and streams performance data straight to a tablet or smartphone. Some of the leading information it tracks is:
- lap times
- stroke rates
- breathing patterns
- heart rate
However, it also collects far more. The interface itself is excellent for coaches to monitor the performance of athletes in great detail. For athletes looking to improve their performance, the push-off acceleration and turn time measurements are a welcome feature.
One of the main problems that SwimTrax set out to solve was the discomfort experienced by swimmers from wearable devices. While many swim performance devices have become light and slim-lined, they still require placement on the body or under the cap. The SwimTrax One’s significant advantage is that it just clips onto a pair of goggles.
Brand Ambassadors and Olympic medalists Femke Heemskerk and Pieter Timmers have both approved the device’s compact and discreet qualities.
The app comes free and provides lots of performance insights. This data is all available to monitor in real-time, making it perfect for swim coaches. Battery life is a strong 8-hours, and the Swimtraxx One is suitable for use in pools or in open water. Additionally, coaches can monitor several Swimtraxx devices at once via the app, with a tidy dashboard displaying real-time results.
More Information – https://www.swimtraxx.com/
5. NOME
While the NOME is not cheap, it is certainly innovative. Essentially, this device is an underwater metronome that displays LED information in the water. The device stands by the side of the pool and projects information to assist with pacing. It’s certainly an unusual and unique piece of swim technology.
Crafted from durable materials, it uses Wi-Fi to connect with a smartphone or tablet. The idea behind the device is that swimmers can learn to pace themselves better with the LED guidance projected onto the swimming pool floor. Additionally, by using visual and audio aids for rest periods and send-offs, athletes can focus purely on technique.
For many swimmers, looking up at the clock to measure pace is standard. However, this change in head movement can interfere with form. Indeed, the NOME is focused mainly on taking the burden of information tracking away from the swimmer.
Innovative features include a green, yellow, red light system that helps swimmers know where they are in swim and cues them to give that little bit more near the end.
This NOME is geared towards training paces that can be applied in competition. Individually programmed goals are easily set up inside the unit, with a comprehensive swim workout library also available for athletes of all levels and ages.
The flip turn indicator is precise and, along with a breakout indicator and cues for intervals and rest, this is a high tech training device that can improve professional performance.
More Information – https://meetnome.com/
6. SmartPaddle
The SmartPaddle by Trainesense is the first force measuring wearable for swimmers. While power plays a huge role in determining how fast you swim, the picture is a little more complicated. The SmartPaddle instead goes deeper by measuring absolute force in the pool. Additionally, it calculates when you push and in which direction.
The SmartPaddle is primarily concerned with increasing athletes speed. To do this, they need to:
- produce continuous power
- direct power in the most efficient direction
The SmartPaddle connects to your fingertips with rubber bands and transfers your performance details via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet. From here, it visualises force motion produced by the hands into:
- Forward
- Lateral
- Vertical
Athletes can also measure their stroke variations, acceleration, pressure and position. Swimmers or trainers can then use all of these metrics to plot the path of hands in the water. By compiling this data together, swimmers can understand where they are going wrong and remedy their stroke.
Crunching all this deep data might present a steep learning curve. However, for professional performance, it is a fine avenue towards improved times. While a swimming coach can advise about form, this granular data provides an extra layer of actionable insights. The device and data are accurate and reliable, eliminating the subjectivity in judging athletic performance.
More Information – https://trainesense-shop.myshopify.com/