Let's get you back in the water.

Almost always, yes — this is a fitting-size mismatch, not a defect. The pole's bottom fitting comes in two sizes, and they aren't interchangeable:

• Standard — fits our concrete, wood, and paver bases, plus most factory swim-spa bases.
• Narrow — fits certain factory swim-spa bases that have a smaller opening.

If the pole won't drop in — or drops in but sits loose — you most likely have the other size. Find your base in our Base Fit Guide (it has photos of the common pool and swim-spa bases), or send us a photo of your installed base and we'll confirm the right fitting and ship it at no charge.

If your pole used to fit and is now stuck, that's a different issue — see the stuck-pole fix just below.

This is something we've only seen on our earliest ST3 poles — an early run from 2023, made before we moved to anodized aluminum fittings. On those units the pole's bottom fitting is bare aluminum, and after a few seasons in the base it can pick up a light oxidation that makes the pole fit snugly or stick. The pole isn't damaged — it comes free with a little patience:

• Soak the seam. Apply a penetrating oil — PB B'laster, Kroil, or WD-40 Specialist Penetrant all work — where the pole meets the top of the base, and let it wick in for a few hours (overnight is even better). Reapply once or twice.
• Twist, don't pull. Gently rock the pole a few degrees back and forth to break the bond. A small twisting motion works far better than pulling straight up, and a light tap on the side of the pole with a rubber mallet helps too.
• For stubborn buildup, white vinegar dissolves the light oxidation — wick it into the seam, wait a few minutes, then twist again. Keep vinegar off stone or concrete coping (it can etch the surface), and dry the joint before re-oiling.

Once the pole is out, give the bottom fitting a quick clean — a light pass with fine sandpaper (400–600 grit) or a Scotch-Brite pad removes any white buildup so it slides freely again. Wipe on a little marine anti-seize before reinserting, and pulling the pole when you're done for the season keeps it from sticking in the first place.

A couple of things to avoid: skip harsh chemicals like muriatic acid, drain cleaner, or CLR — none are safe on aluminum — and don't apply heat, which won't help and can actually tighten the fit. Penetrating oil, vinegar, and a gentle twist are all it takes.

Still stuck, or would you like a fresh anodized fitting? Reach out and we'll take care of you.

Those are the classic end-of-life signs, so probably yes. Our EPDM stretch cords typically last 1–3 years depending on how often you swim and how much sun they get. Replace the cord if you notice:

• Visible cracking or splitting in the rubber
• Loss of stretch or snap-back — it no longer returns to length
• The cord feeling stiff or hard rather than springy

To get the most life out of a cord, rinse it with fresh water after swimming — especially in salt or heavily chlorinated water — and store it out of direct sun when you're not using it (the carry bag is perfect).

Need a replacement? Reach out with the length you need and we'll ship one out. If you have a longer cord on hand, you can also shorten it at home in a few minutes.

Almost always this is belt fit, and the fix is the opposite of what instinct says: loosen it. Cinching the belt down so it won't move locks your hips — and your hips are where your rotation comes from.

• Loosen the slide adjustment until your hips rotate gently inside the belt.
• Check the contact points — you want two points of contact on the bones at the front of your hips.
• Held, not pinned — the belt should hold you in place without clamping you still.

Here's the full guide to dialing in your fit →

Probably. Cord length is about position, not resistance — the right length holds you in your swim zone, comfortably off the wall. Resistance comes from your own effort against the stretch cord, so there's no need to size a cord to make the swim harder or easier.

• Check the measurement — the right cord is based on the distance from your base to the center of where you want to swim. The kit builder's cord calculator does the math.
• Cord too long? You can shorten it at home in about five minutes — unscrew, cut, re-assemble.
• Cord too short? Reach out with your measurement and we'll get you into the right length.

Between sizes? Go longer — you can always trim it down.