What are the benefits of swimming freestyle with a pull buoy?
During open water swims I sometime catch another swimmer between my legs and drag them . Swim buoys help me practice : )
During open water swims I sometime catch another swimmer between my legs and drag them . Swim buoys help me practice : )
very cute response dennis.
During open water swims I sometime catch another swimmer between my legs and drag them . Swim buoys help me practice : )
That’s hilarious
Check out the latest edition of “Going Long” within the first couple of chapters, he provides a nice chart form of pro’s and con’s to using all the swim tools or toys.
Is it a complete list, probably not by ST expectations, but it is what it is.
Kevin S.
Due to a broken foot I was only able to swim with a pull buoy for July and August. Even with IM swim fitness at it’s peak (broke foot 3 days before IMCDA) I was only able to do about 1500 meters straight with the PB. I worked my way up to 2000 meters and was sure when I was able to kick again that I would have new-found fitness in my upper body - wrong. I’m still trying to figure out if I got any real benefit from the PB.
I do pull buoy sets to work on my form. I practice high elbow, strong catch, etc. Otherwise, they are a crutch, IMHO.
-Robert
They demonstrate to you, postion-wise, how you should be swimming. Once the demonstration is over, lose it, but swim as if it’s still there.
I’ll use them on days where my legs are thrashed from a hard running workout. Let’s me get in a higher quality swim workout.
Like another poster said, they’re a crutch. I use them as such.
Like another poster said, they’re a crutch. I use them as such.
X10
or don’t use them at all.
Jamie
They demonstrate to you, postion-wise, how you should be swimming. Once the demonstration is over, lose it, but swim as if it’s still there.
It is a training tool, same as fins, paddles, kick boards, bands, etc…
They have their purpose but they shouldn’t be used for your entire 3000M swim set 
I’ll use them on days where my legs are thrashed from a hard running workout. Let’s me get in a higher quality swim workout.
Like another poster said, they’re a crutch. I use them as such.
Why do thrashed legs reduce the quality of your swim workout?
I stopped using pull buoys. When I do a pull set in a workout, I really focus on getting to a proper body position without kicking. With the pull buoy, there is no need to get to that position – the pull buoy floats you there. I feel my technique has improved significantly since I made the change.
When my legs are extra tired, I find it hard to maintain suitable body position for as long as I want my swim workouts to last.
Using the pull bouy allows me to get in the number of strokes I would like.
I certainly won’t do my entire set with a bouy, but will use it to augment my set so I can squeeze in another 500-1000 yards.
unless you are injured or have no issues with body position don’t use one. If your body position has no issues i might use every now and then during a few pulls sets, if you want to make it easier just use huge fins.
Well if your a runner you’ll actually feel like a swimmer for a little while in the pool. 
I can think of a few benefits:
- For weaker kickers it gives the swimmer a more correct position in the water to work on pull stroke.
- It is a little easier although slightly slower so it is a nice break in between more vigourous sets.
- The bouy puts the body in a position similar to a wetsuit so one could simulate that.
- The obvious benefit that you can work the arms without worrying about your kick be it good or messed up.
I think really thmost beneficial aspect of the bouy is that it gets a weaker swimmer into a more effecient plane. So many people drag there legs eventjough they think they are planing and kicking. The pull bouy recctifies this with a simple tool.
Choosing the right pull bouy is very important. Too small and it’s useless. Too slippery and it’s a pain in the rear. If you use the adjustable type take the time to adjust it to fit you comfortably. You should be able to forget it’s there. If you have to concentrate on not lossing it then tha would suck and be a huge destraction.
Good luck!
Josh
They are nice to work on your catch and pull with, but I havent found a significant increase in speed with them.
What are the benefits of swimming freestyle with a pull buoy?
There are actually a few benefits. For one, they help when you are pulling with paddles. When you pull with paddles, it naturally tends to slow down your stroke rate. This means that your kick (the timing of which is typically set to your normal stroke rate) feels ‘off.’ The pull buoy lets you skip the kick entirely, so it avoids disrupting your kick’s normal timing and rate. The question is, why pull? The main reason I use pulling with paddles during training or during swim technique coaching: pulling with certain paddles set up in a certain way can yield some big improvements to your technique that cannot be made via any other method.
Another reason for using a pull buoy during swim technique instruction: some triathletes have such bad kicks and bad lower body positions that it is basically impossible for them to have good upper body mechanics. And, because of their lower body problems, it is also impossible to independently evaluate and improve their upper body mechanics. So I give them a buoy to temporarily isolate the two. It allows them to swim “as if” they had good lower body positions. I can then give them feedback on what they are doing with their hands, arms, head, neck, breathing, body extension, body roll, etc. independently of the lower body issues they have. After that is covered, we work on getting the kick and the lower body position right.
I’ll take it back, you’re right, it is a tool. Unfortunately, few use it properly and it becomes a crutch. I think people get them because they see others using them, or someone told them they need them. I suggest that anyone telling you to get the tools, to validate their purpose and show the proper drills that make them effective… and, of course, cite their information.
I love seeing the people with buoy, paddles and fins on… and then trying to do breaststroke… honest, I’ve seen that!