Hi everyone! I'm training for my first sprint triathlon, and I have no background in swimming at all. My training program suggests that I try pulls, which I had to look up.

So my question is, how does one use a pull buoy that looks like this: https://www.nefitco.com/Spongex_pull_buoy.html ? Are these actually pull buoys? Because that's all my recreation center has.

Do you put the straps between your legs, with the floaty things on either side of you?

Thank you very much for your help!

I found the one piece version of these things to be easier to use, but the few times I've used the 2 piece version I think I had it down around my calves. If you are face down in the water then half will be above your calves and the other half below. They help you feel what a good body position in the water should feel like.

Place the pull buoy horizontally between your thighs, i.e. the two straps will be between the thighs with one piece of foam on the front and one piece in the back. It is intended to keep your butt up so you're more buoyant and can pull through the water better. If you place the buoy down at your calves, your butt will sink, creating more drag and may make pulling feel awkward.

Thank you very much!

I think pulls are awaste of time unless you're already an accomplish swimmer and are doing drills for upper body only. People need to learn how to swim without an aid, especially starting out imo. You should work at getting your bum out of the water without help....because you wont have said help on race day.

I agree with Flak. Focus more on just getting the distance done. You can use pull-buoys over the winter for stroke improvement.

Also, I find that crossing my legs at the ankles helps to keep the pull-buoy in place between my thighs.

One thing I've found about using a pull-buoy, in addition to what's been said, is that it is an attractive way of not only positioning your body and allowing you to work on your upper body stroke, but also protects your legs, allowing you to focus on your running and biking. I find pull buoy use means I'm fresher for the other events. Also, I don't do much kicking during the actual swim portion of a tri.

There are many advantages to using a pool buoy.

1. Trains the hips to stay High, which leads to immediate improvement in "Reaching" and rotating the body through the water. A beginning swimmer without a pool buoy will immediately drop their hips when attempting to Reach and Rotate their body. Disaster!

2. A beginning swimmer can concentrate on good hand entry and exit while "forgetting" about their legs.

3. THEY ARE CHEAP! Even if you hate it, you should get one.