Swim Terms

"On the bottom, we're going to descend 5 x 200 at 3:00, even split, 3:1 with full gear."

If that sentence made no sense, it may be time for you to brush up on your swimming vocabulary!

What follows is a list of commonly used swimming terms so the next time you venture onto a pool deck you’ll blend right in!

• 50: 50 meters; a common repeat distance.
• 100: 100 meters; a common pace distance.
• 400: 400 meters: a longer distance common in many endurance workouts.
• Short course: A 25-metre/yard pool where four lengths equal 100 meters/yards.
• Long course: A 50-metre pool where two lengths equals 100 meters. Also referred to as Olympic distance.
• Length: Distance swum in one direction in any given pool.
• Set: A grouping of distances comprising part of a workout or drill; 5 x 100 is a set that is 500 meters long; 500, 400, 300, 200, 100 is a set that is 1,500 meters long.
• Interval: The time given to complete a certain drill. A 2:00 interval for 100 meters means that if the swimmer can swim 100 meters in 1:40 minutes, the swimmer will have 20 seconds of rest before repeating the next one.
• Repeats: The components of a set: 5 x 100 is a set of 100 repeats.
• Threshold: The maximum time a swimmer can hold, or repeat, for a given distance during a highly aerobic set.
• Pace: The time per repeat.
• Negative Split: Completing the second half of a distance faster than the first half.
• Even split: Completing both halves of a distance at the same speed.
• Descending: Increasing one's speed incrementally during a set distance (She is descending her one-mile race by 100 meters).
• On the top: Starting a set on the 12 o'clock (or 60-second) mark on a poolside pace clock.
• On the bottom: Starting a set on the 6 o'clock (or 30-second) mark on a pace clock.
• Tapering: Paring down workouts (in length and intensity) to allow the body to recuperate and be rested for the weeks or days leading up to a race.
• Full Gear: All pulling equipment (pull buoy, tube, paddles) worn simultaneously during a set. The best way to get an upper-body swim workout.
• Pull Buoy: Flotation device used to stabilize the legs and correct body position in the water.
• Tube: A basic inner-tube from a small wheel used to bind ankles while wearing a pull buoy; prevents kicking and helps keep legs together (and buoy from slipping).
• Paddles: Plastic hand-disks used to maximize an upper-body pulling workout. Available in several shapes and sizes depending on the swimmer's skill and preference.
• Drag suit: A baggy, nylon unisex swimsuit, worn over a regular practice suit to add resistance to everyday training.
• Stretch Cords: Dry-land workout using rubber stretch cords to strengthen muscles used in all four strokes.
• Hypoxic training: Any type of set where a breathing pattern is the focal point of the drill.
• 3:1: Breathing pattern where the swimmer takes one breath for every three strokes; this is a bilateral breathing pattern (breathe on both left and right sides).
• 2:1: Breathing pattern where the swimmer breathes once for every two strokes (breathe on one side only).
• Circle swimming: Swimming in a lane in a standard counter-clockwise direction, “keep left” Often when sharing a lane.