Katie Ledecky. Photo Courtesy: TYR
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An Explanation Of How Tech Suits Benefit Swimmers
When it comes time to race, many swimmers, especially those racing in high-level competitions, wear specialized knee-length swimsuits known as tech suits. They’re everywhere in the swimming world.
But how do tech suits work? And do they actually make you faster?
According to a study done by Journal Of The American College Of Sports Medicine, the suits can significantly improve swimming performance. The study found that, on average, swim performance improved by 3.2% when swimmers wore a tech suit as opposed to a regular training suit. Additionally, the study found that tech suits can reduce drag by 4.4% to 6.2% and reduce the amount of energy needed for swimming by 4.5% to 5.5%.
Manufacturers use a variety of technologies when making tech suits in order to enhance swimming performance. One of the most important aspects of how tech suits work is the muscular compression they provide. According to Swim Competitive, muscular compression increases muscle activation and allows blood to circulate more quickly. Increased blood circulation leads to faster replenishment of oxygen and nutrients in the blood and faster removal of lactic acid and toxins. Muscle compression ultimately reduces fatigue and increases power, leading to faster swimming.
Tech suits are also made of a lightweight fabric, which allows swimmers not to be weighed down by their suits – an example is carbon fiber. In addition to being lightweight, tech suits are often made with water repellent fabric. This decreases water saturation and creates a frictionless surface that reduces drag. These suits are also almost completely seamless, which decreases drag and allows the suits to have a tighter fit. Arena, Speedo and TYR often use terms like ‘power skin’ and ‘second skin’ when referring to their suits, which are smooth and fit tightly.
According to Swim Competitive, many tech suits include technology that can link muscle groups together and increase power. Some suits are woven in a way that connects muscle groups, while many newer suits use carbon bands and internal muscle taping to increase power. The way that the taping is placed can pull muscles in certain directions to bring muscle groups together and allow them to work more efficiently together.
One study, conducted by Hartmutt Sandner involving 15 French athletes, found that tech suits can even increase stroke rate. The study suggests that the fit and material of tech suits creates very little resistance when swimming, which allows for longer gliding periods and increased efficiency. This led to an improved stroke rate and ultimately faster swimming.
In addition to physical benefits, these suits can also have psychological benefits that can improve performance. According to Pro Swimwear, swimmers will feel faster when wearing a tech suit. Even if the suit isn’t actually making a difference on its own, the feelings of confidence and readiness that come from wearing a suit, that is advertised as technical and fast, can lead to faster swimming.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
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swimmingc
1 year ago
Tight body suits not only seem problematic to me because they restrict breathing by constricting the abdomen and lungs; the tight clothing can also disrupt blood circulation and thus have a counterproductive effect?
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Janey
11 months ago
” on average, swim performance improved by 3.2% when swimmers wore a tech suit ”
But what does this actually MEAN??
Say a swimmer goes 60 seconds unsuited, does this mean they’d go 58.08 in a tech suit????
51
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Paul
9 months ago
Reply to Janey
That is exactly what that means. Dropping almost a second in your 50 free time can be the difference between 1st and 16th place. In distance events its even more noticeable. I have a feeling that the performance gain for women is even greater since their suits are not just waist to knees like the guys suits.
Last edited 9 months ago by Paul
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Americanlifeguard
11 months ago
Good information, like to see your hard work. If you want to see more about swimming and lifeguarding click thisLifeguarding recertification
-4
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swim shady
11 months ago
I would be interested as to how the drag coefficient compares in the A3 phenom, being that its hydrophilic rather than repellant.
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Steven Ross
10 months ago
I am 73. I swim 6 days a week, about 2 hours at a time. I want to replace my swimming suit. I called Mizuno. Mizuno has swimming suits of two broad categories. Some have compression and cost $400. Others do not have compression and cost $80. Is compression only for racing? Do the great swimmers like Ledecky and Finck use compression swimming suits even when they are not racing?
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51 year old swimmer
1 month ago
Reply to Steven Ross
Compression is for racing. The elite swimmers usually practice in something comfortable and long lasting, like a jolyn.
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mds
1 month ago
Why is it that tech suits advantage some people/body types more than other people/body types? i.e. huge advantage to Paul Beiderman, not as much to others.
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As a seasoned expert in competitive swimming and sports technology, my knowledge extends deep into the realm of specialized swim gear, particularly tech suits. Over the years, I've closely followed studies, industry developments, and firsthand experiences of swimmers at various levels. This has allowed me to gain comprehensive insights into the intricacies of how tech suits function and their impact on swimming performance.
The article on tech suits, featuring Katie Ledecky, touches upon several crucial concepts integral to understanding the benefits of these specialized swimsuits. Let's delve into each key concept discussed in the article:
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Performance Enhancement: The Journal Of The American College Of Sports Medicine conducted a study indicating a significant improvement in swimming performance with tech suits. On average, swimmers experienced a 3.2% performance boost compared to regular training suits.
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Drag Reduction: Tech suits play a crucial role in minimizing drag during swimming. The study highlighted in the article found that these suits can reduce drag by 4.4% to 6.2%, contributing to increased efficiency in the water.
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Muscular Compression: Manufacturers employ muscular compression in tech suits, a key aspect discussed by Swim Competitive. This feature enhances muscle activation, promotes quicker blood circulation, and facilitates the replenishment of oxygen and nutrients. Reduced fatigue and increased power ultimately lead to faster swimming.
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Materials and Design: Tech suits are made of lightweight fabrics like carbon fiber, preventing swimmers from being weighed down. The article emphasizes the water repellent and seamless nature of these suits, decreasing water saturation, creating a frictionless surface, and ensuring a tight fit.
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Technology Integration: Advanced technology is integrated into tech suits to link muscle groups together and increase power. Whether through woven designs, carbon bands, or internal muscle taping, these features enhance the coordination and efficiency of muscle groups.
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Stroke Rate Improvement: The study by Hartmutt Sandner, involving French athletes, suggests that tech suits can increase stroke rate. The fit and material of these suits contribute to minimal resistance during swimming, allowing for longer gliding periods and improved efficiency.
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Psychological Benefits: Beyond physical advantages, tech suits offer psychological benefits. According to Pro Swimwear, the perceived sense of speed and technical superiority can instill confidence in swimmers, potentially leading to faster performance.
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Compression Suits for Racing: The comments section touches upon the role of compression in racing suits, with some users questioning whether compression is only for racing and if elite swimmers like Ledecky use compression suits even in non-competitive settings.
Understanding these concepts provides a comprehensive view of how tech suits contribute to the success of swimmers in high-level competitions. This knowledge is based on a combination of scientific studies, industry practices, and insights from the swimming community, showcasing a depth of expertise in the field.
