Have you ever watched someone glide down a lap lane, moving smoothly and quietly with barely a splash, and thought, I wish I could do that? I felt that way for most of my life.
About six weeks ago, I finally decided to take action. I began learning how to get better at swimming laps — not just making it from one wall to the other, but actually swimming well. This has been a lifelong dream, and now I’m going after it.
Why This Matters to Me
My plan is simple. I meet with a swim coach at the gym one day a week, and I swim on my own two more days.
But my real goal is more than just fitness. I want to get good enough to join a Masters swimming group. Masters groups are adult swim teams. U.S. Masters Swimming even has a club finder if you want to look for one nearby. From what I’ve heard, these teams are close-knit communities. I’m hoping one will become a place for Christian community and give me a chance to meet people I might share Jesus with.
There’s a verse I keep coming back to: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Sometimes being prepared means showing up. In my case, it means showing up in a lap lane.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far: the fastest way to get better at swimming laps is honest feedback on every single length.
That’s where my new goggles come in.
Meet the FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO
The FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO are goggles with a small display built into the lens. While you swim, your stats float right in front of your eye. No looking at a watch, no stopping at the wall to check your phone.
I bought them for one reason: heart rate. They have a heart rate sensor built right in, and it’s the best way I’ve found to track my heart rate in the water. Everything syncs seamlessly with Apple Health.
But they turned out to be way more than a heart rate monitor.
How They Help Me Get Better at Swimming Laps
1. A score for every length
Right now, my big focus is improving my stroke. For that, these goggles rock!
After every length of the pool, you get an overall FORM score for your technique. Trust me, it’s very motivating. You push off the wall thinking, Okay, this time I’m beating that number.
2. A breakdown of exactly what to fix
The overall score breaks down into specific skills: head pitch, head roll, pacing, and one called Time to Neutral.
Time to Neutral is the skill I need to improve the most. FORM defines it as the time it takes for your head to return to the water after each breath, starting from when you inhale until your face is back in a neutral position. The goggles measure how long your breath takes, how far you turn your head, and how quickly you return, then give you a score from 1 to 100.
Simply put, the longer your head stays out of the water, the more your stroke breaks down. If you shorten that time, you’ll swim more smoothly.
3. It tells you where to improve — and gives you a workout for it
This part really surprised me. The app points out where you can improve the most and then suggests a workout focused on that specific weakness. It feels like having a coach by your side every day, not just once a week.
4. It tracks every metric I’ve ever heard of
While you swim, you can see your distance, length count, split times, pace per 50 or 100, stroke rate, stroke count, distance per stroke, heart rate, heart rate zone, and calories.
After your swim, the app shows you all your stats, including SWOLF, which stands for “swim golf.” SWOLF adds your time for a length to your stroke count for that length. Like in golf, a lower score is better. It’s a great way to see if you’re becoming more efficient, not just working harder.
You also get your heart rate broken down by zones, plus your average and maximum heart rate.
5. It goes where you swim, with whatever gear you use
The goggles work in pools, open water, and even swim spas. They also work with the gear you might train with, like fins and a snorkel.
I haven’t tried the open water features yet, but they include a compass to help you swim straight and can connect with an Apple Watch or Garmin.
The Surprise: I Bought a Heart Rate Monitor and Got a Coach
I’m an old tech guy. It takes a lot to impress me. These did.
I thought I was just buying a better way to track my heart rate. Instead, I got instant feedback on every length, a clear view of my biggest weakness, and a plan to improve it.
That changed the way I think about how to swim laps effectively. It’s not just about doing more laps. It’s about knowing what to improve on the next one.
Who Should Get Them?
Whether you’re just starting, a competitive swimmer, or somewhere in between, the FORM goggles are a great tool to help you train and get better.
The Smart Swim 2 PRO regularly costs $259. As of this writing, it’s on sale for $199. Your first month of FORM Premium — the subscription that includes the technique coaching and workouts — comes with the goggles, and FORM offers a 30-day trial so you can test them in the water.
Pro tip: Choose one skill and focus on it. For me, that’s Time to Neutral. FORM recommends starting with an easy set, like 6 x 25 with 20 to 30 seconds of rest, so you can pay attention to your technique instead of just trying to get through the workout.
Bottom Line: How to Get Better at Swimming Laps
If you want to know how to get better at swimming laps, start by getting feedback. Having a coach is great, but having a coach and a score for every length is even better.
Six weeks ago, I was just trying to reach the other wall. Now I’m working toward a better score, length by length, and I’m a little closer to joining that Masters group and meeting the people I hope to connect with there.
So, thinking back to that swimmer gliding down the lane, I’m not there yet. But for the first time, I can see how to get there.
What about you? Is there a lifelong dream you’ve been putting off? I’d love to hear about it.
Want more posts like this? Subscribe to the blog and pick your categories.
You Might Also Like
- David Maus Jr.: The Wellness Gear Reviews I Actually Trust
- Cold Plunge for Beginners: 8 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started
- How to Improve Sleep Score: Why I Trust Mollie Eastman
Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saulbarden
Discover more from SaulBarden.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
