Heart Rate Monitors in Swimming: Complete Waste of Time or Game-Changer? Dax vs Elvis Debate

Heart Rate Monitors in Swimming: Complete Waste of Time or Game-Changer? Dax vs Elvis Debate

One of the most heated debates we’ve had on Night Swim — are heart rate monitors actually useful in training or just another useless gimmick?It started with a viral video of a big pro group (possibly Texas/Bob Bowman) wearing HR monitors in the water during practice. The swimming internet lost their minds calling it genius. Dax immediately called BS.Dax’s Take (The Purist):- Heart rate info is irrelevant on race day. If Michael Phelps is winning a 200 free in 1:46 with his HR through the roof, he’s not slowing down to stay in some “zone.”- Most coaches use it for arbitrary cardio zones that produce junk training — tons of volume at sub-max effort instead of race-specific intensity.- You should train at the exact intensity you’ll race at. Everything else is a waste. Focus on feel, maximal muscle contraction, and adaptation.Elvis’s Take (The Adaptations Coach):- Uses heart rate as a key tool, especially targeting 90-95% of max HR where the best muscular and physiological adaptations happen.- Critical when paired with perfect technique and muscle-driven swimming (not just flailing for cardio).- Helps prevent overtraining/maladaptation, teaches swimmers to recognize when they’re crashing vs. being efficient, and builds confidence by knowing you can hold race tempo under fatigue.- It’s not about the number on the watch — it’s about understanding feel, lactic acid management, oxygen delivery, and training the body to sustain power when it matters.They go deep and go at each other hard:- Muscle vs. cardio debate- Cam McEvoy low-yardage style vs. traditional high-volume- Why “training zones” often fail sprinters- Real-world examples from their own careers- The future of training: swimming in place with resistance?Raw, unfiltered, no-BS swimming science and philosophy from two experienced swimmers/coaches who actually get results. This one might ruffle some feathers in the coaching community.Where do you stand — Team Heart Rate Monitor or Team “Feel & Race Pace”? Have you used one in the water? Drop your experience and who won the debate in the comments 👇🌙 Night Swim PodcastWhen the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who’ve seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.New episodes weekly. Grab your goggles, hit subscribe, and dive in.🎙️ Presented by Swimnerd. #NightSwimPod #Swimming

Brett Hawke Full Interview: Sprint Revolution, Coaching Legends & Raw Truth on Swimming's Future

Legendary sprint coach and swimming icon Brett Hawke joins Dax and Elvis on Night Swim for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred conversation. From his legendary career as an Olympian and coach, to the current state of sprinting, technique breakthroughs, coaching philosophy, and the biggest issues facing the sport today — Brett doesn’t hold back. Topics include:- The sprint revolution and what it really takes to go elite- Insights on Cam McEvoy-style training vs traditional methods- Honest takes on doping, money in swimming, and athlete development- Stories from working with the best swimmers and coaches in the world- His perspective on the Enhanced Games and where swimming is headed Raw, authentic, and packed with gold for swimmers, coaches, and swim nerds. This is one of those episodes you’ll want to watch multiple times and take notes on. If you’re serious about getting faster or understanding the sport at the highest level, this is must-watch content. What was your favorite Brett Hawke quote or takeaway? Drop it in the comments 👇 and tag a swimmer or coach who needs to hear this! 🌙 Night Swim PodcastWhen the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who’ve seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.New episodes weekly. Grab your goggles, hit subscribe, and dive in.🎙️ Presented by Swimnerd. swimnerd.com #NightSwimPod #Swimming

Anna Moesch 51.94 American Record DESTROYS Everyone — Virginia Women Are UNSTOPPABLE 🔥

Anna Moesch just announced herself as the new queen of American sprinting.The Virginia sophomore dropped a massive **51.94** in the 50 free — a new **American Record**, skipping the 52-second barrier entirely and becoming the #2 performer in history (briefly #1 in the world). This wasn’t just fast — it was a statement.Dax and Elvis break it down with no filter:- From a 53 to a 51.94 in one jump — that’s generational breakout territory- Turn was average and she still finished with a long glide… meaning there’s clearly more speed left in the tank- Virginia women under Todd DeSorbo are absolutely on fire right now (six-peat or seven-peat national champs energy)- Why this swim is huge for the women’s sprint side and what it means for Simone Manuel’s future- Anna is officially the hottest swimmer on the planet right now — she needs to capitalize with branding, pink minks, personality, and money moves while the spotlight is on her- Virginia might even threaten the American Medley Relay record with this kind of firepowerRaw reaction and praise for one of the biggest breakout swims of 2026. Night Swim called her potential after NCAAs and she delivered even harder.How fast do you think Anna Moesch can ultimately go? Is she the next big sprint star for the U.S.? Drop your thoughts and predictions in the comments 👇---🌙 Night Swim PodcastWhen the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who’ve seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.New episodes weekly. Grab your goggles, hit subscribe, and dive in.🎙️ Presented by Swimnerd. #NightSwimPod #Swimming

World Aquatics 10-Lane Proposal & Wild Cards — Good Idea or Just Helping the Rich Get Richer? 🔥 Night Swim

World Aquatics is cooking up some big changes — testing 10-lane finals at major meets and introducing wild card entries that could let up to 3 swimmers per country compete at Short Course World Championships. Dax and Elvis go unfiltered on why this feels like a half-baked, "building it as they fly it" attempt that misses the mark: - Dax calls it pointless — major meets already run 10 lanes sometimes, and this mostly gives the powerhouse programs (the Phelps/Lochte/Clary eras) even more chances to stack finals and kill careers for the guys in 3rd-8th.- Historical examples: Austin Surhoff, David Nolan, and many others who were stuck behind stacked U.S. teams for years. More lanes = more spots for the already dominant countries to dominate.- Wild card explanation and confusion — is this really opening doors or just letting the big dogs get fatter?- Comparison to track & field (Jamaica sweeping the 100m) — Elvis sees some upside in giving more athletes shots, but both agree swimming’s talent distribution makes it different.- Bigger picture: This isn’t fixing swimming’s real problems (money, exposure, format). Feels like a small tip instead of the full solution they need. Raw debate on whether more lanes and wild cards actually help grow the sport or just widen the gap between the haves and have-nots. Perfect example of swimming’s tendency to tweak instead of overhaul. What do you think — is the 10-lane + wild card rule a step forward or more of the same? Should they go bigger (like fewer finalists or completely new formats)? Drop your take in the comments 👇 🌙 Night Swim PodcastWhen the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who’ve seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.New episodes weekly. Grab your goggles, hit subscribe, and dive in.🎙️ Presented by Swimnerd. swimnerd.com#NightSwimPod #Swimming

Ryan Murphy Comeback: 25.1 50 Back & 53.9 100 Back — Can He Make the 2028 Olympics? 🔥 Night Swim

Ryan Murphy is officially back in the pool and the swimming world is watching closely. At the Sacramento Pro Swim Series (a lower-key meet while many stars were in Fort Lauderdale), the Olympic champion posted: - 25.1 in the 50 backstroke → 1st place - 53.9 in the 100 backstroke → 2nd place Dax and Elvis break it down raw: - Is this the start of an Anthony Ervin-style comeback story, or will the young guns make it nearly impossible? - Concerns about Murphy’s added muscle mass — “he’s too big” and how that impacts speed and drag - Training speculation: Is he doing low-yardage/high-intensity like Cam McEvoy? ASP Aquatic Sports Performance style? Or sticking to traditional college yards-based training? - The physical toll of time off and whether he can stay lean enough to hit elite times again - Honest odds for making the 2028 Olympic team in a stacked backstroke field Plus they reference historical context: veterans coming back, the brutal reality of the Olympics, and what Murphy needs to do differently if he wants to medal again in LA. This is pure, unfiltered analysis from two swimmers who know what it takes. No sugarcoating. Do you think Ryan Murphy can make the 2028 Olympic team? Drop your prediction and reasoning in the comments 👇 🌙 Night Swim PodcastWhen the pool lights go out, the real talk begins. Hosted by Dax Hill (NCAA champ, Texas Longhorns legend, high-performance technique guru @Reykli) and Elvis Burrows (Bahamian Olympian, national record holder, founder of Burrow's Best swimmer hair and skin care), Night Swim is unfiltered swim culture — NCAA battles, Olympic tea, training hacks, and pool-deck chaos. No scripts. No PR. Just two Black swimmers who’ve seen it all, saying what everyone else whispers.New episodes weekly. Grab your goggles, hit subscribe, and dive in.🎙️ Presented by Swimnerd. #NightSwimPod #Swimming #NightSwim #RyanMurphy