Learning how to swim is not as simple as just getting in the water and getting on with it. If you want to build strength, endurance, and technique, you need to practice. You also need the tools and the know-how to be able to perfect your technique so that you’re able to swim efficiently in different situations.
Swimming pools and open bodies of water pose completely different challenges to the beginner, intermediate, experienced swimmer. But, practice can be difficult if you simply don’t have the time to travel to a large lake or a private swimming pool. You need to have a swim current to help you learn effectively.
The good news is that a swimming machine is a good tool to help you to continue practicing and perfecting your technique, without having to compromise the rest of your home and work-life balance.
What is a Swimming Machine?
A swimming machine allows you to practice swimming against a current and different water conditions. The impressive part is that you don’t have to be in a large pool to use one. An enclosure that allows you to kick your legs and move your arms easily is large enough for use with a swimming machine.
The machine fits to the side of the filled body of water and uses a pump or jets to create a swim current/resistance to move against. When using a swimming machine you’re basically swimming in one place, not moving at all, but still able to practice your positioning and technique at the same time.
While this type of tool is not going to be of the greatest use to someone who is learning how to swim as a total beginner, it is a very good tool for someone who is looking to improve. If you’re in training for a triathlon or any kind of event which has a swimming section included, a swimming machine will allow you to practice without having to venture to a large pool or open span of water.
The key is to choose a space that allows you to move your arms and legs freely, without restriction. If you don’t have that, a swimming machine is not going to be of much use to you and will instead hinder your practice efforts and won't give you an effective swim experience.
You might also hear of swimming machines referred to as swim spas. They are one and the same thing, although always double-check before purchasing, to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need.
Opt For Quality to Get The Best Results
When shopping around for a swimming machine, make sure that you ask plenty of questions and read reviews. Some of the earlier versions of these machines created too much turbulence within the water and a water speed that was unrealistic. That made the current unnatural and didn’t help the practicing swimmer very much.
However, by being cautious with your purchase and spending time making sure you get it right, you can find a model that creates a more natural type of resistance within the water, allowing you to practice more effectively.
The best type of swimming machine will have a system that pushes the water by a propeller. This helps to create a natural type of resistance current, making it a more realistic copy of being in open water. However, that doesn’t mean that models that are powered by pumps and jets are out of the question - you simply need to shop around carefully before parting with your money.
How Big Are Swimming Machines?
Again, this varies, however, there are some general guidelines on the size of the enclosure you need to fit the machine into. The depth should be no more than around 1.5 metres and the size should be around 1.8 metres wide minimum, and 3 metres long. As you can see, that’s far smaller than a regular pool and therefore allows you to practice without travelling to a leisure or sports centre, providing you have the space in your home or close by.
Is There a High-Quality Alternative to a Swimming Machine?
Indeed, swimming machines aren’t for everyone, despite the fact that they are an innovative approach. Indeed, it could be that you simply don’t have the space at home for a body of water to be able to use the machine in. In that case, the ZEN8 swim trainer is a fantastic alternative and one which will allow you to build core strength, practice your technique, and boost your confidence without even getting into the water, all in real time.
Much of learning to swim comes down to correct positioning and using your arms and legs in the correct way. You don’t necessarily need to be in the water to be able to do this. It’s also true that we live busy lives these days and it's not easy to get to the local sports centre to use the public swimming pool or to a lake where you can practice your swim workout. In that case, the ZEN8 swim trainer will allow you to keep up with your swim training, without having to compromise on any other parts of your life.