Swimsuits - Part One - The Basics

Buying a competitive swimsuit in 1973 ...

1.  Find the right size
2.  Pick the color/design
3.  Buy the suit

Fast forward forty years and things get a bit more complicated.  Advances in the science of swimming have been paralleled by advances in the science of swimwear.  First the basics ...

1)  Competition suits differ from recreational suits, in that they always fit snugly.  Any material that flaps as a swimmer moves through the water creates drag ... and drag is public enemy number one in the science of swimming.  Buy only suits designed specifically for competitive swimming, even for practice ... your swimmer will like you more (teenagers will hate you less).

2)  Boys have the choice of "brief" or "jammer" style.  Until one considers high priced technical suits, the choice here is purely preference.  Some boys like the sense of swagger that comes with briefs.  Mom's typically like the modesty of jammers.  That battle is yours ... but some brands have started producing mid-length jammers as a compromise.

3)  Girls also have two basic style choices, standard "one piece" and "kneeskin", where kneeskins extend down the legs to the knees.  Girl competition suits can look similar to recreational one piece suits with one distinction.  Competition suits are cut higher in the front to prevent the suit from filling with water on the dive.  Again, except for technical suits, neither style can claim much advantage over the other, though kneeskins rarely get offered at the lowest price ranges.  Girl suits also get offered with various strap widths and back patterns, and each girl tends to develop preferences over time.