I'm looking for a hard styrofoam single-piece pull buoy and I can't find one. Here are problems I see with current offerings:
Tyr pull float. This isn't buoyant enough, plus I think it will absorb water a little bit and will stay soggy in my locker.
Lincoln Leg Floats. Perfect buoyancy, dries off easily and doesn't remain soggy, but it's too slippery and nearly impossible to keep between your thighs.
Two-piece soft styrofoam. This type will stay soggy.
Something just like the Lincoln Leg Float, but made from hard styrofoam would be perfect. I know they used to make these, but I can't find them. I think if you're not careful with them, the styrofoam pellets could slough off and start clogging pool filters. Maybe that's why they're no longer made.
Any suggestions?
Parents
Former Member
Can someone please explain to me the benefits of using a pull buoy during a pull set (with paddles)? I've only been swimming for 2 years and the one time I tried using a pull buoy, it threw off my balance so badly that I gave up after one lap. I have pretty good balance in the water and am able to keep up with or pass my lane mates on drills, but I swim freestyle sets slowly compared to them. Today during our pull set (300 x2, 200 x2, 100 x2) they all lapped me. But they were all using pull buoys, as well as paddles. I was using paddles but just kicking with bare feet. My coach came down on me after the set about not having/using enough power to swim. I honestly feel that I'm giving it everything I have and my arms have been aching all day from the pull set (total yardage for this morning's workout was about 3,800 yards). I don't have a swimming background and all my sports and activities as a youth were leg-based (soccer, running, cycling) so it seems like now at age 44 I just don't have the muscle-base. Would adding a pull buoy to the paddle workout help me develop a more powerful catch/stroke overall, or would it just make me a faster puller and be able to keep up with the group? Does pulling without fins or a pull buoy work the muscles harder and thus build them up? Somehow I need to develop those upper body muscles, and four days a week of swimming 1.5 hours (plus 2 weighlifting sessions a week) doesn't seem to be doing it.
Can someone please explain to me the benefits of using a pull buoy during a pull set (with paddles)? I've only been swimming for 2 years and the one time I tried using a pull buoy, it threw off my balance so badly that I gave up after one lap. I have pretty good balance in the water and am able to keep up with or pass my lane mates on drills, but I swim freestyle sets slowly compared to them. Today during our pull set (300 x2, 200 x2, 100 x2) they all lapped me. But they were all using pull buoys, as well as paddles. I was using paddles but just kicking with bare feet. My coach came down on me after the set about not having/using enough power to swim. I honestly feel that I'm giving it everything I have and my arms have been aching all day from the pull set (total yardage for this morning's workout was about 3,800 yards). I don't have a swimming background and all my sports and activities as a youth were leg-based (soccer, running, cycling) so it seems like now at age 44 I just don't have the muscle-base. Would adding a pull buoy to the paddle workout help me develop a more powerful catch/stroke overall, or would it just make me a faster puller and be able to keep up with the group? Does pulling without fins or a pull buoy work the muscles harder and thus build them up? Somehow I need to develop those upper body muscles, and four days a week of swimming 1.5 hours (plus 2 weighlifting sessions a week) doesn't seem to be doing it.
