Tempo Trainer Pro (Courtesy of FINIS)
Courtesy of FINIS, a SwimSwam ad partner:
The Tempo Trainer Pro boasts a number of features that were not available on the first model of TT. The replacable battery, sync button, and alternate mode functions have expanded the functionality of this device exponentially. Whether you are managing stroke rates to the hundredth of a second in Mode 1 or doing repeats at your designated Strokes Per Minute pace in Mode 3, there is a Tempo Trainer Pro setting for every style of training.
Mode 2 is most commonly used as a pacing tool, as it uses full seconds rather than fractions of a second. Use this Mode on longer solo swims to keep pace or during sprint sets to determine goal benchmarks and challenges. Mode 2 has a range of one full second to 9 minutes 59 seconds, making it a great choice for interval training.
Try the following set using the Tempo Trainer Pro!
Find your goal 100yd repeat pace. Divide by four and plug this number into your Tempo Trainer Pro in Mode 2. For example, a 1:00 100yd pace would be 15 seconds. This number will be your 25yd split and will improve your pacing throughout the set!
You will want to beat or match the beep to every wall in order to hold the desired pace. Swimmers typically start out fast and the beep will catch up to them gradually as they break down. Over time they will learn to build into a swim properly. This is also extremely valuable for controlling pace and effort level during a taper workout.
Mode 1 can do the same as 2, except it can do fractions of a second. What the device really needs is a Mode 4 that allows the swimmer to program a goal time for the swim AND an interval time. Perfect for USRP when you want something other than an exact 1:1 work:rest ratio.
For example, lets say I want my 25s to be under 15 sec and I want my pace time to be 40 sec, then I want a beep at 15 and then again at 40. This pattern would repeat.
I hope someone from the company comments on this idea.