I'm curious as to which is more common -- being slower with a pull buoy or being faster, and why some people are one way rather than the other? Personally, I am far slower with a pull buoy. I attribute this to my natural buoyancy (ahem) as well as having a fairly strong kick when I want to, although I often feel as though I am not kicking very hard, so I'm not sure how much of a factor that is.
Anyway, being slow with a pull buoy becomes very frustrating in practice -- it's hard to keep up with lanemates who I am normally faster than or equal to. Not sure if there is anything to be done about that.
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Former Member
I almost always use paddles+pull-buoy when doing pull sets, much faster than full stroke swimming.
Paddles without pull-buoy dragging legs are faster than swimming.
Paddles and kicking are faster than swimming.
Bare hands and pull-buoy are a little slower than swimming.
Bare hands and no pull-buoy dragging legs are same as swimming.
I really dislike pulling ***/butterfly with a pull-buoy. Hips are too high and it hurts my back especially when trying to recover/breathe.
The best combo is paddles+pull-buoy+fins for free + back. The fins help plane your feet and act like a rudder, plus a little sneaky propulsion.
I almost always use paddles+pull-buoy when doing pull sets, much faster than full stroke swimming.
Paddles without pull-buoy dragging legs are faster than swimming.
Paddles and kicking are faster than swimming.
Bare hands and pull-buoy are a little slower than swimming.
Bare hands and no pull-buoy dragging legs are same as swimming.
I really dislike pulling ***/butterfly with a pull-buoy. Hips are too high and it hurts my back especially when trying to recover/breathe.
The best combo is paddles+pull-buoy+fins for free + back. The fins help plane your feet and act like a rudder, plus a little sneaky propulsion.
