If you are struggling to increase your swim speeds or feeling like you are going too slow, then using a tempo trainer to help you establish what pace you are actually swimming at could be a great swim aid for you.
A tempo trainer is a device that is used to help swimmers maintain a consistent stroke rate. It works by emitting an audible beep or tone that corresponds with the desired stroke rate. This allows swimmers to focus on their technique, rather than worrying about how fast they are swimming.
In simple terms, every time the device beeps, you should be placing your hand in the water to take a stroke.
You can set the device to go faster or slower and use it as a benchmark to record how fast you are swimming and monitor your improvements.
In this article, I will look at this amazing swimming device in more detail, covering the following:
- What is tempo training in swimming?
- How do you use tempo trainer for swimming?
- How do you wear a tempo trainer while swimming?
- How do I improve my swimming tempo?
- What is the best tempo trainer for swimming?
What Is Tempo Training In Swimming?
Tempo training is a type of training that involves maintaining a consistent stroke rate.
This can be done with the help of a tempo trainer, which emits an audible beep or tone that corresponds with the desired stroke rate. Tempo training can be used to improve your technique, as well as your speed and endurance.
For years I always thought that tempo training was just for the pros, but I have come to realise that it is an excellent tool for any swimmer, at any level.
As someone who is obsessed with swim technique, I will often swim a lot slower than I am capable of as I want to concentrate on my technique and ensure that I am moving efficiently in the water, with a good hand entry and pull stroke.
Although it is really important to work on your technique and take it slow at first to ensure everything is moving as it should, when it comes to swimming faster, it can be difficult to transition from this “slow and steady” approach.
For the vast majority of swimmers, the second they start to swim faster, their technique decreases, with spinning arms and frantic breathing.
The great thing about a tempo trainer is that it will help you maintain your rhythm as you swim in time to the beeps.
So you can swim in time to a tempo trainer at a slower pace while working on your technique, and then increase the tempo as you gradually increase pace.
This gradual transition to swimming faster gives you a much better chance of maintaining your good swim technique at speed.
How Do You Use Tempo Trainer For Swimming?
When you first read about tempo trainers, all the information can become overwhelming very quickly.
Experienced users will talk about settings that involve seconds, modes, distance per stroke, etc.
Personally, I avoided the world of tempo trainers for years, as they just seemed too complicated!
At the end of the day, it is simply a beeping sound that keeps you in rhythm as you swim. As a beginner or new user, you could just start by finding a beep rate that matches how you swim.
So, on day one, experiment with the device so you get the beep sound matching you. Every time you place your hand in the water, the device will beep.
If you are a regular swimmer, you could even set this up before you get in the pool, as you will have some idea of how quickly you move your arms.
This is your starting point. From this, you can increase the beep rate and try to match the counts, which means you will start to swim faster over time.
Here is a quick start guide to start using your tempo trainer:
1. Find your desired stroke rate by swimming at different speeds and counting the number of strokes you take in 15 seconds.
2. Set the tempo trainer to emit the same beep or tone as your desired stroke rate.
3. Keep your head down and focus on your technique while using the tempo trainer.
For more experienced users, I recommend checking out the manual of the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro, as this contains some excellent and detailed instructions on how to use your tempo trainer, with detailed training suggestions.
How Do You Wear A Tempo Trainer?
As a general rule, you can place a tempo trainer underneath your swim cap, or attach it to your goggles as you swim.
Tempo trainers that are waterproof and suitable for swimming are usually buoyant, so will float if you drop them in the pool. For example, the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro.
It is important to read the instructions and ensure you are wearing your chosen tempo trainer in line with the manufactures instructions to get the most out of your device.
For example, the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro, recommend placing the device underneath your swim cap or onto your goggles. There is a clip attachment which can be used for other sports, but they recommend you do not use the clip attachment while swimming. [source]
Here are some images from FINIS, showing how they recommend wearing your tempo trainer.
You can purchase this tempo trainer from Amazon, here.
What Is The Best Tempo Trainer For Swimming?
The market leader in tempo trainers for swimming is FINIS, with the best tempo trainer being the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro.
The FINIS Temp Trainer Pro, is by far one of the most popular tempo trainers for swimmers on the market.
To be honest, I have not found a decent competitor and given what an amazing tool a tempo trainer is for swimming, I cannot believe that there is not a wider selection on the market.
Here is a great video reviewing the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro in great detail:
Final Thoughts
The tempo trainer can be a great swim aid for anyone who is looking to increase their swimming speeds.
As the tempo trainer emits an audible tone that corresponds with the desired stroke rate, it allows swimmers to focus on their technique rather than worrying about how fast they are swimming.
For swimmers like me who focus on technique but, as a result, end up swimming a lot slower, it allows us to establish a pace that is the best to maintain speed and technique.
From beginners to pros, it is an excellent swimming aid no matter what your swimming level.
So if you’re looking to take your swimming to the next level, a tempo trainer might be the perfect tool for you as you can fine-tune your speed while maintaining or improving your technique.
