Swimming is an excellent way to stay healthy and in shape no matter your age or physical build. Whether you're a competitive swimmer or a casual regular at your gym's pool, reducing the amount of resistance, or drag, your body has in the water will make your workout much easier and much more beneficial.
Swim Caps
Swim caps, especially for women, are the number one item you'll need to reduce drag in the water. Swimming caps can be made out of latex, silicone, or lycra, so material allergies shouldn't be a problem. For men, a swimming cap is more hydrodynamic than shaving your head, as the cap's material generates less resistance than skin, according to an article on the AllExperts website. They also have the added benefit of keeping your hair out of the water, minimizing chlorine damage to your hair follicles. Swimming caps cost anywhere from $2.95 to $10, depending on the material.
Swim Suits
Choosing the right bathing suit can be just as important as a swimming cap when reducing drag. For women, bathing suits haven't changed much in shape or style over the years, but the materials and construction have reached new technological levels. Often referred to as "sharkskin" in the swimming community, these suits are covered in tiny v-shaped ridges that significantly decrease drag in the water, mimicking the skin of sharks, according to the Swimming-faster website. Full body sharkskin suits are available for men and women as well as half suits and knee high jammers for men. These suits can cost anywhere from $116 to nearly $300, depending on the brand and style of the suit.
Shaving
If you don't feel like shelling out the money for a full body suit, shaving can also be a viable option. While human skin isn't as hydrodynamic as latex or silicone, removing the hair from exposed parts of your body can help to reduce drag in the water, specifically with men. It is not uncommon for competitive swimmers to shave their entire bodies, even their armpits, to help shave precious fractions of seconds off their time.
Posture
One of the most common mistakes swimmers make is forgetting to keep the right posture. Every stroke has different forms of good posture, but for the most part they all involve keeping your head down and your body in a streamlined position. When you are swimming in a pool, you should be staring down at the bottom of the pool with your body straight and your strokes tight and controlled. Splashing around and moving your head from side to side is going to increase your drag and will tire you out quicker than swimming with the right posture.
Breathing
Having the right breathing pattern is also a huge factor in reducing drag. If you are swimming competitively, breathing should be kept to a minimum to ensure you don't break posture. In a 50 yard sprint you should take a maximum of two breaths, including your breath off the block. For casual swimmers, breathing is essential in keeping your body moving. In these cases, you should alternate the side on which you take a breath every three or four strokes. This will help ensure that your posture and strokes stay rhythmic and streamlined.
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