Fitbit detecting breaststroke when I’m swimming freestyle

[MartyKobren]

I swim 40 minutes freestyle.  I start the lap counter manually.  I don’t stop or vary my stroke, though I'm guessing my speed changes from time to time.  I always do a flip turn.  This morning it recorded 4 ten minute segments of breaststroke.  Why is it doing this and what can I do to fix this?

[Gr4ndp4]

Hi, @MartyKobren welcome to the community, you may find this article How do I track my swims with my Fitbit device? useful. I can't say I've noticed that my Sense defines the stroke I'm using, only that I'm swimming and the usual data streams. I swim daily with my Sense, very occasionally I get two sets of data, sometimes I use the auto-recognize feature, other times I start "swimming" by using the menu (if I remember before I take off my glasses)

I hope the article helps.

Cheers

[MartyKobren]

Hi Gr4ndp4,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my query.  I start and stop the swim tracker on the watch manually.  After I stop the watch, the watch transmits what data there is to the app on my phone.  The app on the phone shows the kind of stroke the watch thinks I did (along with calories burned for each 10 minute segment--which I wish they would convert to something useful such as lap split or even average speed per 10 minute segment).  See if this happens to you if you start and stop the watch manually, and let me know if it's just me.

MartyKobren

[Gr4ndp4]

Hi, @MartyKobren, Under the circumstances, you describe I get Zone Minutes (a breakdown Cardio & peak and Fat burn), Energy burned (a graph total calories & cal/min), Impact ( cumulative total calories & contribution), Lengths (total distance & number of lengths with confirmation of the pool length setting) On the "Exercise tile" I also get time per 100 meters and total time. No indication of the stroke I use (freestyle)

I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S10e android phone, if you have an Apple phone you will be using a different Fitbit app from me.

Am I missing something?

Cheers

[MartyKobren]

Gr4ndp4,

Again, thank you for your interest in my problem.  Here's a screenshot of what I see on my Google Pixel:

Notice that I get "splits" as my first option.  That may be because I've set my watch to buzz every 10 minutes.  Notice also that every split indicates that I was doing the breaststroke.  As I said, I don't do breaststroke, and I don't stop to rest (though I do stop for a few seconds after 25 minutes have passed to put my pull buoy on the deck.  While I use the pull buoy, I don't kick.  After I put the pull buoy on the deck, I continue with freestyle with Zoomer fins I already have on.  I do my workout with webbed gloves though.  I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Marty Kobren

[Gr4ndp4]

Hi, @MartyKobren, I've not used this function, I just get in and go. I do not see a "splits" tab. I have no idea why it tags you as doing breaststroke. 

I've not come across this issue before, I can only suggest you talk to "Customer Support" here, I recommend you use the chat facility or phone for a prompt response.

I'm sorry I can't be more help.

Cheers

[Gr4ndp4]

Hi, @MartyKobren I've replicated your result, I have "Breaststroke" splits too. I do not tumble turn and swim freestyle exclusively with no pauses between sets. I had thought it might have been triggered by a tumble turn as rotation is achieved with a strong horizontal stroke but this is clearly not the case. I know my stroke shape is not particularly good and can incorporate horizontal elements. If you get any feedback from Customer Support can you post here and let us know their response?

Cheers

[MartyKobren]

Gr4ndp4,

Thank you for all of your effort and your attempt to help me.  I really do appreciate it.

I contacted customer support as you suggested.  The operator suggested that I restart my watch, which I did.  Yesterday's swim was perfect.  I guess the watch picked up some bad juju somewhere along the line.  For the Sense, there is a button on the side that will start one function if you press it.  I've programmed that button to start measuring swimming.  Sometimes, when I bend my wrist in a particular way, I accidentally trigger the swim measurement function.  I'm guessing that may have confused the watch somehow, and the restart fixed it.

Best,

Marty Kobren