Starting Pistol
 

Who still brings a starter's pistol to swim meets?

Since almost all systems are automatic, with strobe/electric starter.
And who still uses pistols as a recall device?

False starts are still recalled in meets run according to NCAA rules. False starts are not recalled in meets run according to high school (NFHS), USA Swimming, and FINA rule. YMCA meets use USA Swimming rules. Because of this, recall pistols are used at NCAA meets, but not others.

Starts can still be recalled for unfair starts -- interference from a car horn, timer's ringing cell phone, or defective starting equipment, for example. Typically, the recall is accomplished with a signal from the starting equipment. A recall rope is needed for swimmers who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Kevin Russell