I'm slower pulling with a buoy alone versus swimming, and even slower if I put on paddles and a buoy. I tend not to do a lot of pulling in workout for two reasons:
I feel like pulling forces a flatter stroke and I get more power from rotating and reaching,
Pulling doesn't allow me to work on incorporating some semblance of a kick into my freestyle, an area that I know needs improvement
When I do pull, I either use it as recovery efforts or use it to focus on hand entry into the water.
I do like swimming with paddles alone, though because it rules out both of those reasons above. I'm still slower swimming with paddles versus swimming alone, though.
I'm slower pulling with a buoy alone versus swimming, and even slower if I put on paddles and a buoy. I tend not to do a lot of pulling in workout for two reasons:
I feel like pulling forces a flatter stroke and I get more power from rotating and reaching,
Pulling doesn't allow me to work on incorporating some semblance of a kick into my freestyle, an area that I know needs improvement
When I do pull, I either use it as recovery efforts or use it to focus on hand entry into the water.
I do like swimming with paddles alone, though because it rules out both of those reasons above. I'm still slower swimming with paddles versus swimming alone, though.
