Doing pull sets without a pull buoy
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2011-06-15 7:04 AM |
Extreme Veteran 746 | Subject: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Hi all, I'm starting to look at doing pull sets because I'm bored doing the kick, catch up drill sets I've been doing for the last few weeks but don't yet have a pull buoy and there aren't any at my local pool and I won't have the $$$ to get one any time soon so am wondering - how do I do a pull set without one? I know you're only meant to use your arms during the pull sets but I'm not totally sure what to do beyond that. I'm pretty much a total newbie at this - only just managed to do 2 50m in one workout on Monday, lol - so I hope this isn't a totally dumb question but I can't find information on it anywhere else - I looked on google before heading out for my swim today and all I got was a reference to another thread on here where someone was basically asking whether they should or shouldn't use one |
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2011-06-15 7:14 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Pulling without a buoy is a great drill IMO. I would definitely think of it as a drill and not something you'd do for set after set. Just put your feet together and try to keep them still and near the surface of the water. Some people put a band around their ankles to help keep the feet from kicking 'involuntarily'. Not easy! |
2011-06-15 7:26 AM in reply to: #3549900 |
Extreme Veteran 746 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Thanks Micheal. When I googled it all I got was how to pull with a buoy - um bit hard when you don't have one, lol. I did try to do the legs still thing today - for 2x25 (as set down in the workout I based my workout on today) and while I wasn't really doing flutter kick I did find I was sort of doing a sloppy frog kick. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep working on it now I know what to do. |
2011-06-15 8:06 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Master 1920 Ann Arbor, MI | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy suzielea - 2011-06-15 8:04 AM Hi all, I'm starting to look at doing pull sets because I'm bored doing the kick, catch up drill sets I've been doing for the last few weeks but don't yet have a pull buoy and there aren't any at my local pool and I won't have the $$$ to get one any time soon so am wondering - how do I do a pull set without one? I know you're only meant to use your arms during the pull sets but I'm not totally sure what to do beyond that. I'm pretty much a total newbie at this - only just managed to do 2 50m in one workout on Monday, lol - so I hope this isn't a totally dumb question but I can't find information on it anywhere else - I looked on google before heading out for my swim today and all I got was a reference to another thread on here where someone was basically asking whether they should or shouldn't use one On amazon, you can get one for $10 http://www.amazon.com/One-Piece-Pull-Buoy-Medium/dp/B001M2231Y/ref=... It's kinda hard to mimic the feel of a pull buoy because it really helps with keeping your hips/butt up. For a new swimmer, this can be quite helpful- but don't rely on it too much or else it can also serve as a crutch. |
2011-06-15 8:11 AM in reply to: #3549905 |
Extreme Veteran 378 Acton, Ontario | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy suzielea - 2011-06-15 8:26 AM Thanks Micheal. When I googled it all I got was how to pull with a buoy - um bit hard when you don't have one, lol. I did try to do the legs still thing today - for 2x25 (as set down in the workout I based my workout on today) and while I wasn't really doing flutter kick I did find I was sort of doing a sloppy frog kick. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep working on it now I know what to do. Our swim team does plenty of "band work". This is Pull with a rubber band around your ankles, and no Pull Buoy. Now I wouldn't recommend this for a newbie, but it can pretty much immediately identify imbalances in your stroke (your legs will start swaying from side-to-side, may sink to bottom, and then you pretty much come to a stop). It is an extremely difficult skill to swim with no pull buoy AND a band around your ankle. Without the band, you will naturally kick a small amount. |
2011-06-15 8:17 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Pro 4612 MA | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy I have seem people doing pull drill with theyr legs crossed at the ankle - so that they don't kick. Never tried it myself. As kids, we used to do the pull drill with a kickboard between our legs. Just hold the kickboard between your thighs. My mom said we looked like a bunch of little sharks with the kickboards as the fins. Didn't have a specific pull-buoy back then. As long as you have something to keep your legs still and balance, you'll be ok. Edited by D.K. 2011-06-15 8:19 AM |
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2011-06-15 8:20 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Master 1920 Ann Arbor, MI | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy I just don't think that the ankle lock or crossing legs is anywhere close to what it feels like to swim with a pull buoy. When you are doing those types of drills, you are really, really focusing on body positioning in the water. However, the point of a pull buoy is that it lets you 'cheat' and holds your legs up for you, so you can focus on your arms and pulling in the water, rather than paying attention to body positioning. That's why you don't want to rely on the PB too much, because then you won't get better at body position. I don't really know of a substitute for the actual pull buoy, other than a wetsuit! |
2011-06-15 9:31 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Champion 7704 Williamston, Michigan | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Actually a good little drill is to use the kick board as a pull bouy and tap the board behind out as you start your recovery. Helps with body rotation. I am assuming you have a kick board as you are doing kick sets |
2011-06-15 10:42 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Member 24 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy x2 - use a kick board between your thighs. It works well. |
2011-06-15 10:58 AM in reply to: #3549890 |
Master 2327 Columbia, TN | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy The pull sets are isolating your arms. Legs aren't to be used. If you don't kick and your legs don't sink, then you are an advanced swimmer. My guess is you won't be able to do it without a pull buoy lifting your legs. If you don't have a buoy, then you don't have fins. But if fins are available to borrow at your pool, putting those on can add enough lift to keep the legs high...even when not kicking. So try that if they are available. |
2011-06-15 1:20 PM in reply to: #3549890 |
Extreme Veteran 517 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy I tried swimming with my legs together during lunchtime just now. Is that hard! I could feel my legs sink like anchors. The only way I could compensate somewhat was to push my head/chest lower. I couldn't figure out how to use my core to lift them. |
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2011-06-15 2:04 PM in reply to: #3550790 |
Melon Presser 52116 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy sdejan - 2011-06-16 3:20 AM I tried swimming with my legs together during lunchtime just now. Is that hard! I could feel my legs sink like anchors. The only way I could compensate somewhat was to push my head/chest lower. I couldn't figure out how to use my core to lift them. Without seeing your stroke, hard to say, but that's actually a good thing and how it should be done (unless you're actually pointing your head downward or submerging it!). |
2011-06-15 2:20 PM in reply to: #3550790 |
Master 2327 Columbia, TN | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy sdejan - 2011-06-15 1:20 PM I tried swimming with my legs together during lunchtime just now. Is that hard! I could feel my legs sink like anchors. The only way I could compensate somewhat was to push my head/chest lower. I couldn't figure out how to use my core to lift them. You can try arching your back really hard. But you also need to relax the abs and hip flexors or that pulls them down. I mentioned above that swimming like this is a very advanced technique. You were right to drive the head and shoulders down. The next step in the process is to swim fast. Don't mean to be flippant...if you swim fast it lifts the legs up behind you. I had to do this last week. Had a very hard training day capped off with an open water swim in the evening. My legs cramped like crazy, all the muscles. The only way to try to avoid the extreme cramping was to NOT use my legs at all. But when I did that I had to really step up the tempo and almost sprint to keep the legs high. |
2011-06-15 2:27 PM in reply to: #3550966 |
Champion 10018 , Minnesota | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Do they do water aerobics at the pool? I used a styrofoam dumbbell for about a year until I bought a pull buoy. It's equipment I use a LOT and well worth the ten bucks, though. I think I bought mine for $12 at a swim store, so no shipping either. |
2011-06-15 8:44 PM in reply to: #3549976 |
Extreme Veteran 746 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy jazz82482 - 2011-06-15 8:06 AM suzielea - 2011-06-15 8:04 AM On amazon, you can get one for $10 http://www.amazon.com/One-Piece-Pull-Buoy-Medium/dp/B001M2231Y/ref=... It's kinda hard to mimic the feel of a pull buoy because it really helps with keeping your hips/butt up. For a new swimmer, this can be quite helpful- but don't rely on it too much or else it can also serve as a crutch. Hi all, I'm starting to look at doing pull sets because I'm bored doing the kick, catch up drill sets I've been doing for the last few weeks but don't yet have a pull buoy and there aren't any at my local pool and I won't have the $$$ to get one any time soon so am wondering - how do I do a pull set without one? I know you're only meant to use your arms during the pull sets but I'm not totally sure what to do beyond that. I'm pretty much a total newbie at this - only just managed to do 2 50m in one workout on Monday, lol - so I hope this isn't a totally dumb question but I can't find information on it anywhere else - I looked on google before heading out for my swim today and all I got was a reference to another thread on here where someone was basically asking whether they should or shouldn't use one I know I can get one and relatively cheap from a local sports store I'm just broke this week,lol. I do have kickboards, dumbells and noodles available at the pool though and I use the kickboard for my kick and catch up sets so I might try that. My legs sink even when I do kick so that's probably not a very good test of whether it's working or not although yesterday wasn't really a good test of any sort of positioning as I had my head out of the water most of the time due to not having my goggles with me. |
2011-06-15 11:28 PM in reply to: #3551544 |
New user 327 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy If you give me your address (and you live in the US) I'll buy you the one on amazon. You'd get it Saturday afternoon. |
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2011-06-16 12:47 AM in reply to: #3551699 |
Extreme Veteran 746 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy bufordt - 2011-06-15 11:28 PM If you give me your address (and you live in the US) I'll buy you the one on amazon. You'd get it Saturday afternoon. Won't work. I live in Australia. |
2011-06-16 9:05 AM in reply to: #3551725 |
New user 327 | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy Well if you ever move to the US I'll buy you a pull buoy. |
2011-06-16 1:05 PM in reply to: #3549890 |
Veteran 264 Worcester, MA | Subject: RE: Doing pull sets without a pull buoy I've used the kid's swim bubbles at the pool when the pull buoys were all missing one day. You can basically use anything the right size that's buoyant - kickboard, dumbell, hacked-up section of pool noodle... In theory (I've never tried this), you might be able to put a few tennis balls in a sock. it'll depend on how, um, floaty your legs are. |