Shorts - Using the GoSwim App

Important Note to the Viewer

LESSONS: 8 VIDEOS

Welcome to App Shorts

Welcome to Go Swim Shorts with Glenn Mills! In this series, we'll show you how to use your mobile device to film your swimmer's races and collect meaningful data that drives real improvement. By understanding where your swimmer is today — and where they can go — you'll have a clear roadmap to help them become a better, faster, more efficient swimmer. We're here to help every step of the way.

Setting the Start

Getting an accurate race start in Go Swim is easier than you think. When filming, try to capture the starter's strobe in frame — even from a distance you can zoom in to see exactly when it fires. Since light travels faster than sound, syncing your start to the strobe flash gives you a precise timestamp down to the hundredth of a second. Simply adjust the aspect ratio for a full view, spot the strobe, and tap the start button at the exact moment it lights up. That's all it takes for a perfect, accurate start.

Adding Slow Mo Data

Accuracy tip: Use the scrub bar, zoom feature, or speed controls to pinpoint the exact moment a swimmer's hands hit the water — giving you precise stroke timing data no matter how much time you have at the meet.

Filling in Data Gaps

Filming at a busy swim meet means dealing with plenty of visual interference — people walking through the shot, backstroke flags, splashing, and other swimmers in the frame. When your view of a swimmer gets blocked, the key is understanding their rhythm. Once you've locked into the pattern of their stroke, you can confidently fill in the gaps even when you can't see every arm entry clearly. Don't stress about missing one or two strokes — a slight imperfection here and there still produces a solid, reliable overall data set.

Filming the Board

After filming a race, always take a moment to film the scoreboard before the times clear. The times recorded during the race are essentially hand-timed estimates, so having a shot of the official board gives you the exact finish time to reference later. When you go back to enter the data, you can adjust your recorded time to match what was on the board, ensuring your final data set is as accurate as possible.

Using the BASIC Data Mode

Using the Go Swim app in Basic Data mode makes collecting race data fast and straightforward. Start by syncing to the strobe for an accurate race start, then simply tap for each stroke, each turn, and the finish as the race unfolds. If you miss the finish tap in real time, no problem — just scroll to the official time from the scoreboard, hit finish, and finalize. In just a minute or two you'll have breakout distance, stroke counts, turn data, and everything else you need. Basic Data mode captures 95% of what most coaches are looking for, quickly and easily — and Pro Data mode takes it even further, which we'll cover in a future video.

Using the PRO Data Mode

Pro Data mode takes your race analysis one step further by pinpointing the 15-meter breakout with frame-by-frame precision. After collecting your basic data, switch to Pro Data and scrub through the video on each length, holding the 15-meter mark and scrolling until the swimmer's head reaches exactly that point. Do this for both lengths, save each data point, and the app will calculate more accurate underwater velocity and a true 15-meter split — giving you a deeper, more complete picture of how the athlete is performing off every wall.