I was wondering how many of you out there, especially the coaches, feel about the use of pull buoys. Pulling sets are intended to put more stress on the upper body particularly when paddles are involved. Some of my favorite workouts include the use of these "water toys" as I like to refer to them.
Would it be safe to say that however that the buoy is actually a crutch for folks with poor body positioning and/or a weak kick ?There was a time time that I wouldn't even consider a set of five hundred yard repeats without my styrofoam lifesaver. Even during some of the longer sets I see many in the other lanes break out the buoys when the going gets tough. Any thoughts?
My experience with pull buoys is similar to several of the posters, but not all. I don't swim faster with the buoys, but that is mostly because I don't kick when I pull--sounds silly, but many swimmers use pull buoys and keep kicking--which does mean that they are "swimming" faster and not really focussing on any single part of their stroke, as is the ostensible purpose of using the pull buoy.
I also believe that the use of a pull buoy does simulate (for me) my body position in salt water swimming, so I tend to pull more in the summer when I am training for longer ocean swims. In the ocean, the greater buoyancy means that I don't use my kick for body position. I am also swimming distances from 1000 meters to 6 miles, which means that I want to save my legs if I can for a closing sprint or dolphining, or running. I haven't done any formal or video study of my body position, but it feels similar, and I find the pulling emphasis works for me. Based on the relative results of other swimmers in workout and the ocean with and without pull buoys, I think other swimmers find that their ocean swimming body position is similar to that found with the use of a buoy.
I do think that many swimmers use pull buoys to try to swim faster, to make intervals that they cannot make(that day) without assistance, and to "cheat." On the other hand, who really cares.
My experience with pull buoys is similar to several of the posters, but not all. I don't swim faster with the buoys, but that is mostly because I don't kick when I pull--sounds silly, but many swimmers use pull buoys and keep kicking--which does mean that they are "swimming" faster and not really focussing on any single part of their stroke, as is the ostensible purpose of using the pull buoy.
I also believe that the use of a pull buoy does simulate (for me) my body position in salt water swimming, so I tend to pull more in the summer when I am training for longer ocean swims. In the ocean, the greater buoyancy means that I don't use my kick for body position. I am also swimming distances from 1000 meters to 6 miles, which means that I want to save my legs if I can for a closing sprint or dolphining, or running. I haven't done any formal or video study of my body position, but it feels similar, and I find the pulling emphasis works for me. Based on the relative results of other swimmers in workout and the ocean with and without pull buoys, I think other swimmers find that their ocean swimming body position is similar to that found with the use of a buoy.
I do think that many swimmers use pull buoys to try to swim faster, to make intervals that they cannot make(that day) without assistance, and to "cheat." On the other hand, who really cares.
