Understanding Swim Lingo: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Swimming has its own unique language, full of terms and phrases that might sound unfamiliar to beginners. Understanding this “swim lingo” can help you feel more comfortable on the pool deck, communicate better with coaches and teammates, and follow along with workouts. Here’s a guide to some of the most common swimming terms and phrases to get you started.

Basic Swimming Strokes

1. Freestyle (Free): Often the fastest stroke, freestyle involves an alternating arm movement with a flutter kick. It’s sometimes called the “front crawl” and is the most commonly used stroke in competitive swimming.
2. Backstroke (Back): Swum on the back with a flutter kick and an alternating arm motion, backstroke requires strong core stability and breath control since the face remains above water.
3. Breaststroke (Breast): A slower stroke with a frog-like kick and a simultaneous arm movement. The hands pull in a circular motion while the legs perform a frog kick, making it popular for endurance and recreation.
4. Butterfly (Fly): Known as one of the most challenging strokes, butterfly involves a dolphin kick and a simultaneous arm movement that requires significant upper body strength and rhythm.
5. Individual Medley (IM): A race that includes all four strokes in this order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. In a 100 IM, each stroke is swum for 25 meters; in a 200 IM, each is swum for 50 meters.

Pool Basics and Equipment

6. Lane Lines: The floating dividers that separate each lane, reducing waves and keeping swimmers in their designated lanes.
7. Lap: A lap is generally one length of the pool, though in some places it may refer to down and back (two lengths).
8. Wall: The end of each pool length where swimmers either turn or finish their swim. It’s also used as a reference point for sets, such as pushing off from the wall.
9. Kickboard: A flat, buoyant board used for isolating the legs and practicing kicking techniques.
10. Pull Buoy: A foam piece placed between the legs to keep them afloat, allowing swimmers to focus on their arm technique without kicking.
11. Fins: Short or long swim fins worn on the feet to improve kick strength and technique. Fins also increase speed, which can help with technique drills.
12. Snorkel: A tube that allows swimmers to breathe without turning their head, useful for technique work and building comfort in the water.

Common Swimming Sets and Workout Terms

13. Warm-Up: The beginning of a swim workout designed to gradually raise the heart rate and prepare muscles for intense swimming. It usually involves easy swimming, light drills, and a relaxed pace.
14. Main Set: The core part of a swim workout that focuses on the primary goal of the session, such as speed, endurance, or technique.
15. Cool Down: The final part of the workout meant to relax the muscles, reduce heart rate, and aid recovery. It usually includes easy swimming, relaxed kicking, or light pulling.
16. Reps and Sets: A “rep” is a single repetition of a given distance, while a “set” is a group of reps. For example, 4 x 50m means four repetitions of 50 meters, making up one set.
17. Interval: The total time allotted to complete a set, including swim time and rest. For example, if an interval is set at 1:30 for 100 meters, you swim 100 meters and use whatever time remains for rest before starting the next rep.
18. Descend: Swimming each rep in a set at a progressively faster pace. For example, 4 x 50m descend means each 50 should be faster than the previous one.
19. Negative Split: Swimming the second half of a race or set faster than the first half. This technique helps swimmers maintain energy and finish strong.
20. Pace: The consistent speed a swimmer aims to hold during a set or race. Coaches often use pace work to help swimmers develop a sustainable rhythm.

Types of Kicks and Turns

21. Flutter Kick: The fast, continuous kick used in freestyle and backstroke, with alternating leg movements.
22. Dolphin Kick: A powerful, simultaneous kick where the legs move in a wave-like motion, typically used in butterfly and underwater portions of other strokes.
23. Breaststroke Kick: A “frog kick” where the legs extend out and then snap back together, used exclusively in the breaststroke.
24. Flip Turn: An underwater somersault turn used to quickly change direction in freestyle and backstroke. It allows swimmers to push off the wall without stopping.
25. Open Turn: A turn where swimmers touch the wall with one or both hands before pushing off, often used in breaststroke and butterfly.

Timing and Competition Terms

26. Split: The time it takes to complete a specific portion of a race, often measured at each lap. Splits help swimmers and coaches analyze pacing.
27. PR (Personal Record): The best time a swimmer has ever achieved in a particular event. Swimmers strive to “break” their PR in each race.
28. DQ (Disqualification): Being removed from a race due to a rule violation, such as an incorrect turn or false start. DQs are common in competitive swimming, especially for beginners.
29. Heat: A division of swimmers in the same event, usually organized by entry times. Swimmers in the same heat compete against each other within that division.
30. Lane Assignment: The designated lane number a swimmer is assigned for a race, typically based on seed time or entry time.
31. Finals: The last round of a competition where the top qualifiers from preliminary heats compete for medals or placement. Not all meets have finals; some only have timed finals.
32. Relays: Team events where each swimmer completes part of a race before tagging the next teammate. Common relays include the 4×100 freestyle relay and the 4×100 medley relay.

Technique and Training Terms

33. Drill: A specific exercise focusing on a part of the stroke or skill. Drills help improve technique, efficiency, and strength.
34. Streamline: The body position swimmers use to reduce drag and increase speed after pushing off the wall. Arms are extended overhead with hands together, and the body is aligned and tight.
35. Catch: The part of the stroke where the swimmer’s hand “catches” the water to begin pulling through. It’s an important part of each stroke’s power phase.
36. Pull: The underwater phase of the stroke where the arms apply force to move the body forward. Pulling can also refer to using a pull buoy to isolate arm movements.
37. Breathing Pattern: The rhythm and timing of breaths during a stroke, such as breathing every three strokes in freestyle. Developing a consistent pattern helps maintain endurance and oxygen flow.
38. Lap Counter: A device used to keep track of laps, particularly in long-distance events. It’s often displayed on a board at the end of the lane for swimmers to see.

Conclusion

Learning swim lingo can help beginners feel more at ease in a swimming environment, allowing them to communicate better with coaches and fellow swimmers. Familiarity with these terms also enhances your understanding of workouts, drills, and competition instructions. Mastering swim vocabulary is an essential part of becoming a confident and capable swimmer, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or refer back to this guide as you grow in the sport.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between a lap and a length?

• A lap is generally considered one length of the pool, though in some places, it may refer to a round trip (down and back). It’s always a good idea to clarify with your coach or team.

2. How do I know what pace to swim at?

• Your coach will often give you a pace to aim for in training. Otherwise, it’s helpful to use your personal race times or interval splits as a reference.

3. What does it mean to descend during a set?

• Descending means gradually increasing your speed across a set. For example, in a set of 4 x 50m descend, each 50m should be swum faster than the last.

4. What should I focus on during drills?

• Drills are designed to improve specific aspects of your stroke, so focus on the technique or skill the drill is targeting, such as keeping your elbows high during a freestyle catch.

5. Why do swimmers use pull buoys and kickboards?

• Pull buoys and kickboards isolate either the arms or legs, helping swimmers work on specific skills and build strength. Pull buoys focus on the arms, while kickboards help build leg endurance.