Best swim gear for training

Question
QUESTION: Hi

I am. Currently training to be a  competitive swimmer and
I train once a week with a coach and the rest of the week I train solo
Please note that this is just the inital stage of my training I hope to start
training with my. Coach more frequently. I want to k ow what gear should I
be using during training that will help me be a better swimmer also I currently
swim in half leg jammers and am wondering is that good or should I switch to
speedo briefs or what ever you may recommend also should I. Consider a
body shave or legs or arms I'm 19 but let's just say there's abut more
resistance in the water

Thanks

ANSWER: If I were to recommend you just one piece of equipment it would be a kick board, and they usually have those at most pools so you may not need to buy one.
Competitive swimmers,, for example in Div 1 collegiate programs, do a lot of kicking, and for more novice people like yourself this may be even more important. Do freestyle and dolphin kick with arms straight out extended, your elbows would be resting on the board.

Other great tools used by swimmers are fins (dont get the super long ones, those long fin don't teach you how you really should use your feet, get shorter lenght ones), also pull buoy (either one piece or two piece, your choice, I prefer one piece, but it's a matter of choice), and paddles (although I wouldnt recommend paddles to people just starting to get into competetive swimming. They are hard on your shoulders, you need to be able to do long long workout before you should use paddles.

That's really the basics, and many a world class swimmers have never used anything beyond those I already mentioned.

as far as the suit, half leg jammers are just fine. You can also use speedo briefs with an optional drag suit over it, its your choice. If you like the jammers stick with them.
You definitely definitely do not need to shave your legs or arms unless you are become really competitive and are swimming at the most important  meet of the season. Swimmers do not shave for training. Only for the most important meet of the short course season or long course season.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HELLO

thanx ur reply was very helpful and detailed,

just another question, do u in your expert opinion think that its too late to start competitive swimming, like i am 19, most swimmers my age have competed in the olympics, also considereing that i am pretty tall 6'2', moderate weight and have long arms, long legs and a not so big torso, i have also been told by the sports doctor that i have a very good rotation, and my feet are size 14 US do you think that these attributes along with my age are suitable to take up competitive swimming and be successful in it.

thank you
moe

Answer
being tall helps, good rotation is a must, big feet help especially if you have flexible ankles.
as far being too old to take up competitive swimming and be successful at it depends on what you call successful. If you mean becoming an Olympian, first of all odds are very low for everyone, even those who started at very young age, only 2 per event can go, and the US is stacked with great swimmers, there are swimmers who don't make the top 2 but could medal at the Olympics. But those who do qualify have a huge track record of successes starting from a very young age. The typical progression is age group standout, then on to an impressive collegiate career including being Div1 individual champions, international success in world cup meets, world championships, etc. You can say that about pretty much every man and woman who represented the US, with the exception of a few young standouts (typically females). I think you can see swimmers' bios in usaswimming.org

If successful is having competed in college then I think you still have time there have been some late starters who kinda walk on to college programs and develop nicely into good swimmers.
There are also regional and local meets, and you can prepare to compete in those and that can be being successful, and there is masters swimming too for adults who also take it very seriously and are very competitive, more info at www.usms.org. So as you can see, there are many levels you can be competitive in.

Typically they all require training in a group of swimmers with similar goals, though there are exceptions, and I've heard Jason Lezak trained pretty much alone for this last Olympics, and he was obviously vey succesful.


best of luck