How Swimmers Use Swim Lane Ropes

28 06 2013
Swim Lane Ropes

Swim lane ropes offer many benefits.

Sometimes it is amazing to think about how swimmers always seem to know where they are in the pool. While some people think they know where they are based on the number of strokes they complete to get across the pool, most swimmers are thinking more about technique than how many strokes it takes to get across the pool. The secret lies in the swim lane ropes you see floating in the pool. However, these pool lane lines also serve other purposes as well.


If you look closely at the swim lane ropes, you will see they change colors. In the middle of the pool, the colors typically alternate between two colors, often representing the home team or the colors of the organization hosting the event. The colors alternate at regular intervals so swimmers have a good idea of how far they have gone. At the 15 or 25 meter mark, the lane lines will change to one solid color to signal the end of the pool is approaching so swimmers know the race is ending or they must make a turn.

Less Resistance

Another major function of the swim lane ropes is to provide less resistance as swimmers are moving through the water. If you were to immediately follow behind another swimmer, you would find yourself in their slip stream, causing less effort to move yourself forward. In swimming, this is frowned upon. Likewise, the wake of the other swimmers can have a detrimental impact on the efficiency of your swimming. The lane ropes are designed specifically to prevent these disturbances from transferring between lanes so everyone has a fair chance.

Stay in Your Lane

Staying your own lane while you are swimming can often be more difficult than it looks, particularly if you do not have swim lane ropes to guide you. This is one of the primary functions of the lane ropes. You will easily identify where you are supposed to go so you can swim in a straight line. The straighter you are able to swim, the faster you will be able to finish the race.

There are many reasons why swim lane ropes are essential in any pool. The most important function is to let swimmers know exactly where they are in the pool to avoid collisions with the end of the pool. They are also designed to prevent resistance caused by other swimmers and to help you swim in a straight line within your own lane. This will offer you the best chances of success.

Use the Best 25-Yard Swim Lane Ropes and Lane Lines

1 02 2013
Racing Swim Lanes

The right racing lanes make swimming easier.

Every competition pool needs lane ropes and lines to keep swimmers in their lane. Aside from keeping swimmers in their lanes, the best 25yard swim lane ropes and lane lines also contain various numbers of fins on the side of each individual disc that help calm the water, giving swimmers a smooth surface to perfect their swimming strokes and swimming times. There are a variety of choices when it comes to choosing the right lane ropes and lines for your pool. The two leaders in the industry are the AntiWave Forerunner and Competitor Racing Lane Line.

AntiWave   Forerunner Racing Lane Line

The AntiWave Forerunner 25-Yard Racing Line is a leader in the industry. The discs on the lane line measure 4.75 inches. This is a bit larger than the industry standard 4-inch disc, enabling them to successfully fight the waves by sending them down the swimming lane to stop the momentum and provide a smooth surface for your swimmers. They are available in a large variety of colors, as well as various patterns. As is industry standard, the first and last 15 meters must be an alternate color to alert backstroke swimmers of the wall that is coming up behind them. One of the largest benefits of investing in the AntiWave brand is its standard three-year warranty for its products, in addition to its popularity throughout the industry for durable, long lasting products.

Competitor 25-Meter Racing Lane Line

Another leader in the industry is the Competitor 25-Meter 4-Inch Racing Lane Line and the 6-Inch Racing Line. The Competitor brand has been popular in the swimming industry for the last 20 years, ranking at the top of coaches’ and swimmers’ lists of quality products. The 6-inch lane line was introduced at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. What sets the Competitor lines apart from the rest are the five fins that surround the center of the disc, allowing maximum dispersion of the waves for competitive swimmers. A vinyl coating that extends the longevity of the discs protects each disc. They are available in nine different colors, as well as various color combinations, in both the 4- and 6-inch varieties. As is the industry standard, the first and last 15-feet will be a solid color.

Replacement Pool Lane Equipment Is Necessary

28 11 2012
Replacement Pool Lane Equipment

Replacing your pool lane markers is important.

Keeping your pool in good shape is critical, whether you are simply running practices or you are hosting meets. While you may already have the pool lane lines you need, you will need to know where to get the replacement parts whenever you need them. In fact, keeping some of these parts on hand can be useful so you can fix any problems quickly without causing a major delay, especially if you are in the middle of hosting a major meet.


The cables that hold the pool lane floats in place are critical to the function of your pool lane markers. If this cable snaps or stretches out too far, your lane markers won’t be able to hold the lanes and swimmers won’t know where to swim. Therefore, you need to keep the supplies you need to repair the cable if something goes wrong. This includes keeping a roll of the cable on hand, as well as the take-up reels so you can quickly replace them so your lane markers can function properly again.

Lane Marker Floats

Lane marker floats are often made from plastic and are prone to breaking, especially if they have been exposed to the elements. Therefore, you should keep a stock of the lane marker floats in the same design and colors as those that are already on your pool lane markers. This will ensure you can replace them quickly if they break. While a broken lane marker float won’t have a major impact on the function of your pool markers, it is best to replace them to prevent swimmers from hurting themselves on it.

Being able to quickly repair your lane markers can be critical to the success of the swimmers in your pool. While you can easily continue practice without the lane markers, if you happen to hold a meet and something goes wrong with your lane markers, it isn’t the time to find out you can’t fix it. If you keep the proper supplies on hand, as well as know exactly how to fix any problems that may arise, you will be able to resolve the problem as quickly as possible so you can continue on with the meet. As long as you have a length of cable and the proper lane markers, you will be prepared for just about anything that can go wrong.

The Importance of Antiwave Racing Lines

22 06 2012
Racine Lane Lines

Having the right racing lane lines is important to a swimmer’s success.

When you are swimming competitively in a pool with others, the waves created by you and the other swimmers can actually slow everyone down. This is a great disadvantage to swimmers. This is why it is so important for swimming pools to make use of racing lines that help to cut down on the wave action in the pool. One of the best options for summer swim team pools is the Antiwave Forerunner Racing Lane Line.


The size of the Antiwave Forerunner lane line is perfect for the smaller pools often used in the summer swim team competitions. The length of the lane markers is 25 yards, making it a great option for the smaller pools. Another important size to note is the size of the discs on the lane marker line. These discs measure 4.75 inches in diameter, which is almost an inch wider than the discs that are found on many of the other lane lines available.


When you are considering which lane marker line to use, you will need to know what each one can provide. The Antiwave Forerunner lines are specifically designed to cut back on the wave action to reduce and even eliminate the impact of each swimmer on the other swimmers in the pool. As the waves hit the discs on the line, it will work to stop the waves and propel the water downward instead of into the other lanes. This puts an end to the wave action, allowing each swimmer to move without having to battle through the waves anyone else is making.

Color Matching

As you choose the Antiwave Forerunner racing lane line for your swim team pool, you can choose from a wide range of colors. You can get the colors that match your swim team or colors that represent the event that is being held. Some of the available colors include black, white, gray, several shades of blue, teal, purple, maroon, red, orange, green, teal and yellow. This will help you continue the theming for your pool to match your team or event.

The racing lane lines you use in your pool need to be something that will help the swimmers in their goal to beat the others, not hinder them. With a three-year warranty, you can’t go wrong with the Antiwave Forerunner racing lines. These lines will create clear lanes for your swimmers, all while cutting down on the wave action and resistance placed on the other swimmers in the pool at the same time.


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