Stroke Rate Trainer: Support
Stroke Rate Trainer is a simple metronome for swimmers and coaches. It plays a beep at a tempo you choose, in seconds per stroke cycle (0.20 to 3.00), so athletes can learn the tempo they are trying to hit. It works on iPhone and iPad (iOS 15 or later) and on Apple Watch (watchOS 10 or later), and needs no account or internet connection.
Contact
Questions, bug reports or ideas: email the developer at wavmaker11@gmail.com.
Please include your device model, iOS version and the app version (Settings tab, bottom of the page) so I can help quickly.
Getting started
In the app, open the Settings tab and tap View Instructions for a full guide. The basics:
- Set a tempo: drag the slider, fine tune with the - and + buttons (0.01 each), or pick an event on the wheel.
- Play Beeps: plays a beep every tempo seconds. You can change the tempo while it plays.
- x2 / ÷2: double or halve the tempo to switch between one beep per cycle and one beep per arm.
- Take Rate: tap once at the start of a cycle and again after counting 1, 2 or 3 cycles. The app sets the tempo from the time between taps. Choose how many cycles you count in Settings > Cycles to Count.
- Target Ranges: shows the fastest to slowest stroke tempo among the top 8 swimmers in each event in the 2024 NCAA data (short course yards).
Apple Watch
The watch app works on its own, with no iPhone needed. It gives you a tap on your wrist (and a beep, if you want one) at your tempo.
- Set a tempo: turn the Digital Crown or use the - and + buttons, then tap Start. The x2 and ÷2 buttons double or halve it.
- Tempo and Pace modes: tap the Tempo button under Start to switch to Pace. In Pace mode the watch taps every 8 to 59.9 seconds, so you can hold a lap pace such as 12 seconds per 25.
- Countdown Ticks: in the watch Settings, turn this on for three light taps, one second apart, before each Pace tap.
- Sound: in the watch Settings, turn the beep sound off if you only want the wrist taps.
- Wrist down: the taps keep going with your wrist down, and while another app is in front. If you leave the app, for example to check your workout metrics, the beeps go quiet until you return, but the taps continue.
- Water Lock: the tone that plays when you unlock Water Lock is allowed to finish, then the beeps resume.
The watch app does not use HealthKit and does not record or save workouts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the events on the wheel? Yes. Go to Settings > Edit Events. You can rename events, change their tempos, and add, delete or reorder them. “Restore Default Events” brings back the original list.
Do the beeps play with the screen locked or the silent switch on? Yes. Beeps keep playing with the screen locked, ignore the silent switch, and mix with music from other apps.
The beeps stopped by themselves. Beeps stop on purpose if a phone call or Siri interrupts, or if headphones or a Bluetooth speaker disconnect. Press Play Beeps to start again.
How do I make the beep easier to hear at the pool? In Settings, set the beep pitch to High (the default). It carries best over pool noise. Turning up the volume or using a Bluetooth speaker also helps.
The Take Rate button is greyed out. It is disabled while beeps are playing. Stop the beeps, then tap Take Rate.
Where does the Target Ranges data come from? The 2024 NCAA top 8 stroke rate data, short course yards, courtesy of Russell Mark from ASCA.
The watch app does not start a workout. Will it interrupt my workout app? No. The watch app does not start a workout, so it does not end or replace a workout you already have running.
Does the app collect my data? No. See the Privacy Policy.