I received a marketing email today from SwimSmooth re: this app being available. I realize the stroke analysis functionality is currently only available for Apple Watch. Does anyone have insight as to when that functionality will be available for Garmin users? If not, I’ll reach out to the company and ask…
Please let us know, I’m also very interested!
thnx
I reached out to SwimSmooth yesterday. They said they’re working with Garmin to get proper access to the data required for stroke analysis but don’t have a timeline as they’re at the will of Garmin to grant access to that specific data. Hopefully soon but unfortunately no specific ETA at this point. I’m glad to know it’s in the works at least.
I received a marketing email today from SwimSmooth re: this app being available. I realize the stroke analysis functionality is currently only available for Apple Watch. Does anyone have insight as to when that functionality will be available for Garmin users? If not, I’ll reach out to the company and ask…
Please let us know, I’m also very interested!
thnx
I reached out to SwimSmooth yesterday. They said they’re working with Garmin to get proper access to the data required for stroke analysis but don’t have a timeline as they’re at the will of Garmin to grant access to that specific data. Hopefully soon but unfortunately no specific ETA at this point. I’m glad to know it’s in the works at least.
So with my cynic hat firmly on, then they have asked to get access to the source they need, so have never had access to that data to see if it actually gives them the resolution they need, or even if it is possible for the garmin architecture to send that ‘raw’ stream to a applet? Right…
Also still waiting to see someone successfully do the test outlined above to remove my fear that this is a great theory / proposal, but in reality is still near vaporware.
I gave this new app and go, and I was pretty impressed. I am no swimmer, thus what I think I’m doing in the pool versus what I am doing is clearly very different! And I think the app is pretty good with nailing the issues and consequences of those issues. One screen asked “Veer right when in open water?” and I took a screenshot of it and sent it to my friends who got a very big laugh out of it. . .they will only swim on my left for this exact reason. Fixing these problems, however, well. . .I’m not sure any app will be able to do that. Wish me luck!
I gave this new app and go, and I was pretty impressed. I am no swimmer, thus what I think I’m doing in the pool versus what I am doing is clearly very different! And I think the app is pretty good with nailing the issues and consequences of those issues. One screen asked “Veer right when in open water?” and I took a screenshot of it and sent it to my friends who got a very big laugh out of it. . .they will only swim on my left for this exact reason. Fixing these problems, however, well. . .I’m not sure any app will be able to do that. Wish me luck!
Apple watch!
I had been pretty afraid to swim with it, but this app may offer me a reason to use it. My Garmin watch is a 920 XT, and since it still works, I’m not planning on replacing it.
I suspect the first use of “flash” here by the OP is in the sense of UK English. A USAian would probably say “flashy” instead. Their website doesn’t use Adobe Flash, so all the website designers and security experts here can stand down.
Just following up to see if anyone has been using the app. Apple Watch users—have you found a lot of benefit from the stroke analysis feature? I was holding out for that functionality to come to Garmin, but as there’s no ETA on it, I’m debating just picking up a used Apple Watch and trying the app out.
I bought an apple watch 3 (new) for $120ish to try out SwimSmooth. I still wear my fenix 6 and place the apple watch on the opposite wrist. My thought is that this is similar in price to a hr strap.
It confirms that my form is terrible and lopsided. Super useful as it gives me specifics to work on each session. I am improving in form and in my pacing.
My fenix 6 is slightly better at counting laps but the applewatch does a better job on gps counted open water swim tracking.
Finally, the app synch function to my iPhone is a little wonky …beta product.
I bought an apple watch 3 (new) for $120ish to try out SwimSmooth.
I don’t know anything about Apple watches … is there any downside to using the 3 for the swim smooth app compared to the new one (that’s much more expensive)? So basically the steps are buy the watch, sign up for monthly swim smooth, and go swim?
I bought an apple watch 3 (new) for $120ish to try out SwimSmooth.
I don’t know anything about Apple watches … is there any downside to using the 3 for the swim smooth app compared to the new one (that’s much more expensive)? So basically the steps are buy the watch, sign up for monthly swim smooth, and go swim?
Great question on the model comparison. I’m unsure of the answer—I know the Swimsmooth website states that the full functionality is compatible with Apple Watch 2 and newer. I believe you’re correct on the steps–it appears you get 3 free swims on the paid plan as a trial.
When I messaged with swimsmooth, it seemed that anything applewatch 2 or above worked the same.
I went for an applewatch 3, smallest version on the idea that i didn’t want it to be obtrusive in this sole use. The downside is that the interface is clearly designed for someone without old man eyes and with tiny finger tips. It works, but …
BTW, after scouring ebay, etc., I ended up getting a new one from dailysale.com … seems fine but didn’t come in an oem box (refurb?).
Finally, the upload to the iphone is wonky. Unlike my garmin that simply syncs the activity easily and intuitively, on the iwatch, it was a little trickier to learn how to get my data onto my phone.
you have to rotate the crown and then push the screen (with wet fingers) to stop the timer on the activity and see a summary of the swim
you have to scroll down to another area that says “finish and save”
later (could be 5 minutes, could be 2 hours later), the swim insights will show up in the swimsmooth app on the iphone … i’m still not clear whether this is uploading directly to the iphone via bluetooth and analyzing locally or whether it’s uploading to the cloud on a wifi connection, analyzing in the cloud and pulling down
a few other notes:
it says 3 free swims but mine demanded payment after 2 …?
it only analyzes the wrist it is on. So, switch mid-swim or just change it up every other swim
if my form was great and I just needed strength/cardio work, I don’t think i’d bother with this
I really wish I could get swim stroke insights for discrete, sub-segments of a swim (e.g., hit lap button after warmup, when doing certain drills, fast 100’s, breathing right, breathing left, etc.), instead, I have to do separate swims for each segment … and, it just is too wonky to be worth that. So, my iterative improvement will be more drawn out
I really wish I could get swim stroke insights for discrete, sub-segments of a swim (e.g., hit lap button after warmup, when doing certain drills, fast 100’s, breathing right, breathing left, etc.), instead, I have to do separate swims for each segment … and, it just is too wonky to be worth that. So, my iterative improvement will be more drawn out
this seems pretty key - if you do anything other than freestyle in your swim session then the results will be useless. even if you mix it up with some sprints and some endurance sets it sounds like you’ll be getting recommendations based on averaging out the different form used. this could be good in picking up faults common to your stroke but probably just becomes a mess.
sounds like it needs a tool whereby you can select a section of a swim session and get analysis on that only. you could then try out a few different things in a session and compare results. you could achieve all this by recording them as different swims but it sounds like there is a lot of faffing about involved in that (and eliminates the trial period) not to mention that you then end up with multiple short swims messing up your all important strava feed
i’m very interested in the concept but sounds like it is a ways off being up to the standard i would expect for a paid service
I really wish I could get swim stroke insights for discrete, sub-segments of a swim (e.g., hit lap button after warmup, when doing certain drills, fast 100’s, breathing right, breathing left, etc.), instead, I have to do separate swims for each segment … and, it just is too wonky to be worth that. So, my iterative improvement will be more drawn out
OK, thanks for your post - good observations, except that you can pause the workout during drills. I also didn’t find the stop & upload fiddly at all. Need to rotate the crown to get rid of the water on the watch, then you’re good to go.
A few screenshots - these people know how to do user experience.
Just following up to see if anyone has been using the app. Apple Watch users—have you found a lot of benefit from the stroke analysis feature? I was holding out for that functionality to come to Garmin, but as there’s no ETA on it, I’m debating just picking up a used Apple Watch and trying the app out.
I have been using the app with a Apple 6 watch… (was until recently a Garmin only person starting 2009 with the 310)
The app and watch combo are great, I really like the insight to what i need to work on, what drills help correct balance etc.
I’ve now been using the app for about 2.5 weeks with the Apple 3 watch and am really enjoying it as well. The stroke analysis has been really insightful for me. It’s also extremely clear that I need to work on my pacing.
