Fun with a pull buoy! And other no kick ideas!

Former Member
Former Member
Anyone have any nice moderate workouts for pull buoys involving various strokes or drills rather than just free? Or do you have an idea of what else I can do if I cannot kick.
  • pull freestyle with a center-mount snorkel backstroke - working one arm at a time *** - working just the pull, similar to a *** pull/fly kick drill :banana:
  • Why 1 arm backstroke? I do the *** one too...good for fast hands...:D Isolate each arm and work on perfecting a good arm/improving a bad arm. Maybe one goes too far past your axis; maybe you're very much weaker on one side than the other. it also helps to keep you rotating your shoulders. when doing this drill, you keep the other arm at your side, but do still rotate and shrug that shoulder as if you had a stub there or something. you'll really see how important it is to keep both arms moving and utilize the windmill effect.
  • when doing this drill, you keep the other arm at your side, but do still rotate and shrug that shoulder as if you had a stub there or something. I agree. I think the hand at your side should even come out of the water slightly, just like you're beginning the recovery, but stop it there and let it return back under the water with your roll.
  • Matt this is a serious discussion...please refrain from NSR or comedic comments, or place them in the NSR forum.Are you bucking for Junior Moderator stripes?
  • Are you bucking for Junior Moderator stripes? Oh, the humanity!
  • Pull buoys shouldn't really affect your flip turns. If you're used to turning with your legs apart, then yeah, you can't do that, but otherwise a buoy won't really slow down your turns.
  • Pull buoys shouldn't really affect your flip turns. If you're used to turning with your legs apart, then yeah, you can't do that, but otherwise a buoy won't really slow down your turns. I think pull buoys ruin a flip turn. They force you to keep your legs almost totally together. I think these things have a place and purpose. For me, usually at the end of practice when I'm lazy and spent.
  • No NSR or comedy intended. I despise pull bouys. :D Me too! I feel like I'm drowning or going backwards in them. Plus, a bit hard on the shoulders; I never pull. Although I know people that love them and think they go faster with them. I've seen them stuck on at the end of practice too. Pretty common. But, if you have knee issues, I think it would be a very helpful rehab device. Far better than stopping swimming altogether. You could do some sculling with your pull buoy too. They're not ideal for flip turns, but I'm sure you can learn. After all, I've learned to flip with a monofin. :D
  • I turn with my legs together. I'm sure it's not the best technique, but I have a hard time breaking that habit. Probably all those years doing pull sets! I think I'd get both a faster flip and more powerful push off the wall with my legs apart.
  • After all, I've learned to flip with a monofin. :D So have I. But when I'm dolphin kicking on my back, it's a bit sloppy since rolling over isn't real easy without a little help from the kick. About the only time I use a pull buoy is for feet first sculling drills on my back. Otherwise my legs sink. That and I stick my workout sheet to a kickboard (the only use I have for that particular toy) and lean the board against the buoy.
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