I was in a sporting goods store that has a wide selection of swimsuits. While I was browsing, a staff member was helping a mom and her son (about 14-15 years old).
The mom asked, "Do you recommend the bikini style swimsuits over the shorts?"
The staff member replied, "The shorts, which we call jammers, are designed for beginning swimmers and those looking for a more modest cut. The bikini style is the most practical for the more serious swimmer. They're usually called briefs or racers."
"They're quite...minimal," said the mom taking a brief off the rack.
"Younger swimmers are a bit apprehensive about appearing in public wearing so little. Some people decide to start with jammers for that reason, but they quickly switch to the more minimal style. At the college level, they'll buy the smallest, tightest swimsuit they can find."
The mom thanked the staff member for her advice.
