Are you looking to enhance your swimming performance? Discover how to take your training sessions to the next level and finesse your swim technique with the right training equipment. Let's dive into the world of pull buoys and unpack this training device and it's benefits!
What is the purpose of a Pull Buoy?
A pull buoy is a buoyancy device that sits between the upper thighs, allowing the swimmer to focus on upper body strength to pull them through the water - taking the kick out of a regular swim stroke. The primary purpose of the pull buoy is to prevent your hips and legs from sinking, leaving the upper body to do all the work.
This figure-eight-shaped piece of foam helps develop proper body alignment and creates buoyancy for the hips, keeping them near the surface. By isolating the upper half of the body, the pull buoy builds core strength, and more emphasis is placed on stroke technique, as well as arm and shoulder strength.
How to use a Pull Buoy
A pull buoy should only be used as an accessory to your training, taking up about a quarter of your session. To use this training device, place the pull buoy between your upper thighs with the larger end facing down towards the bottom of the pool to lift your hips and keep your body flat. This will help reduce drag in the water. Keep the legs straight, only using a small kick to assist in keeping balance, while your upper body does all the propelling and pulling through the water.
What Size Pull Buoy Do I Need?
Choosing the right pull buoy is important to ensure you get the most out of your training sessions. For adults, swimmers with larger muscle mass in their legs, or those who struggle with keeping their legs afloat, a larger pull buoy is most suitable as it provides more buoyancy. For kids and petite swimmers smaller-sized pull buoys are more comfortable and will sit nicely between the thighs, ensuring proper balance and body alignment in the water.
Swimming with a pull buoy is a great idea if you're looking to strengthen your form and technique in the pool. It offers a range of benefits, including increasing endurance and stamina in the arms, promoting core engagement, improving stroke mechanics, assisting in active recovery for the legs, and promoting proper body position. However, it’s important that swimmers don’t become too reliant on the device, neglecting kick technique and leg strength. We recommend using it as an accessory for about a quarter of your session, combined with other drills to improve overall swimming technique and performance.