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

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

Muppet — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:12:04 GMT

I am a lot slower with a pull buoy than without. I wouldn't say I have an awesome kick by any means, but my strokes are long enough (11-13 SPL per 25y) that without the kick, I'm screwed. I've shied away from using paddles for pull sets since the broken wrists, going just buoy, though since I bought my beloved snorkel, added the snorkel in there too. I've tended to really concentrate on good, even form while pulling, and have slowed down my rhythm a little bit just so I can achieve that. Probably why I am a slow puller. But otherwise, its garbage yardage.

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

The Fortress — Tue, 01 May 2007 10:34:37 GMT

Hi Fortress, I know you probably don't even want to start using a buoy, but I just wanted to say that I am also usually slower with a buoy. Someone told me that it may be because you and I are on the more petite side (I'm 5'2" 120) and so the bigger pull buoys inhibit our rotation. When I focus on leaning on and rotating my hips more with the buoy, I can go somewhat faster. My team hardly ever does pull sets, but when we do, that helps me not to fall behind those people who go much faster with their buoys! Just thought I'd share in case it ever comes in handy! :) Chlorini Thanks Chlorini! I never thought of that, but it sounds perfectly true! Still probably never going to use one, but now I know why I've struggled -- even though I'm almost a full 2 inches taller than you!

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:11:16 GMT

i only use pull buoys once in a while for straight pulling. because of my shoudlers I substitute swimming with a snorkel, light kick and paddles during the pull sets.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:07:51 GMT

Swimminggirl, you should start your own thread. Once you do that I am sure plenty of people will be glad to offer some information.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:01:07 GMT

I need advice for my flip turn I'm brand new to learning the flip turn. Also, I need help with how to improve my time and my speed. Sincerely, Swimminggirl

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 08:49:24 GMT

This probably isn't what you want, but one of my favorite drills is breaststroke kick on my back with a pool buoy. Not good for a bad knee, but it's a good drill.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:31:56 GMT

When I was recovering from knee surgery, I learned to love the guy. :hug: It was the only way I could swim for months!!:applaud: I do remember having a spat with it; when my coach (she) said "yes you can do a flip turn with a pull bouy." I must have done it wrong cause it hurt badly and pretty near ended that whole workout right there as I just hung on the side of the pool. :frustrated: So there fair warning to you. You can flip but not push too hard I would guess...it would be hard to get back to breathe I'd stick with opens...

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:29:05 GMT

No NSR or comedy intended. I despise pull bouys. :D When I was recovering from knee surgery, I learned to love the guy. :hug: It was the only way I could swim for months!!:applaud: I do remember having a spat with it; when my coach (she) said "yes you can do a flip turn with a pull bouy." I must have done it wrong cause it hurt badly and pretty near ended that whole workout right there as I just hung on the side of the pool. :frustrated: So there fair warning to you.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:25:40 GMT

Are you bucking for Junior Moderator stripes? I think there would be an outcry...and anyway I don't have any spare time to moderate... LOL

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:20:58 GMT

Matt this is a serious discussion...please refrain from NSR or comedic comments, or place them in the NSR forum. hahaha I just want some ideas in case I have to go "no kick" for a few weeks and I am not going to do free pulling endlessly. No NSR or comedy intended. I despise pull bouys. :D

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

chlorini — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:40:01 GMT

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:33:25 GMT

Fun with a pull buoy? Hmm? Throw it away is the first thing that comes to mind for me. Matt this is a serious discussion...please refrain from NSR or comedic comments, or place them in the NSR forum. hahaha I just want some ideas in case I have to go "no kick" for a few weeks and I am not going to do free pulling endlessly.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:30:05 GMT

Fun with a pull buoy? Hmm? Throw it away is the first thing that comes to mind for me.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:16:50 GMT

Thanks guys this is good stuf.. if I have to rest my knee I need to have something to work on rather than just not kicking... I have a bad shoulder and bad knee...so I'm fixing the knee first as that feeds into my hips and back...then I'll worry about the shoulder.

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

Former Member — Tue, 01 May 2007 05:17:41 GMT

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

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

poolraat — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:56:04 GMT

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.

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

knelson — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:51:19 GMT

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.

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

The Fortress — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:44:37 GMT

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

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

aquageek — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:31:27 GMT

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.

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

knelson — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:27:28 GMT

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.

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

knelson — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:11:42 GMT

Are you bucking for Junior Moderator stripes? Oh, the humanity!

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

Rob Copeland — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:04:11 GMT

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?

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

knelson — Tue, 01 May 2007 02:12:01 GMT

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.

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

Muppet — Tue, 01 May 2007 02:02:46 GMT

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.

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

Muppet — Tue, 01 May 2007 01:16:37 GMT

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: