Swim drills

[altcmd]

How does one track swim drills? For instance, if I am doing a freestyle, then the watch tracks ok since my arm is moving. However, with kicks, there is no arm movement and then the watch does not track any movement even though the body might be moving.

[Umer Javed]

@altcmd

cc/@Egika
My answer below is for the 9PP but as I understand the workings are similar to the Vertical.

That’s correct that the watch accelerometer is the only sensor that can be used, so if the watch doesn’t accelerate there’s nothing to go off of (without GPS in the open-water). It’s a hit or miss even if you’re just doing laps and have any inconsistency in your stroke. I frequently get 2x distance if I end up changing stroke rate or glide in the middle of my lengths.

If you’re trying to just track your time in the pool and you’re not actually doing lengths, my workaround has been to use the “mermaiding” mode since it’s without-GPS and tracks time in water, dives, and heart rate.

Further reading on some similar issues and slow rate of development:
https://forum.suunto.com/topic/7786/distance-in-pool-swiming
https://forum.suunto.com/topic/8835/s9pp-not-registering-distance-in-pool-swims
https://forum.suunto.com/topic/7342/pool-swim-functionality
https://forum.suunto.com/topic/2000/pool-swimming-data-reliability

[herlas]

@Umer-Javed drill mode has been requested since I can remember, my workaround was to purchase an ambit 3 Peak, crazy isn’t it?

[altcmd]

@herlas oh my! So a 10 year old watch is still filling gaps in a new gen €800 watch.

[danisius]

it appears that it has been added in latest update , if it is ok i would love to own suunto again after my lovely ambit 3