In this “how to,” I’ll share some tips on how to make your swimming experience better and more efficient. If you’ve ever gone swimming during Youth & Junior swim hours, you might have noticed mesh gear bags filled with various accessories. But are they really “accessories” or are they tools that can help you succeed?
You might think you know everything that’s in those mesh bags, but many swim coaches have their own unique tricks, from bands to drag suits. For example, one of our team’s coaches’ favorite tricks was to use old tights and shirts to create more drag. However, for triathletes, the goal is to create more “floatation.” So, I’ve switched my old tights for buoyancy shorts (aka FLOAT with Zoot Buoyancy Shorts!)
Buoyancy shorts are a great way to compensate for the fatigue and heaviness in your legs, allowing you to focus more on developing a strong upper body while maintaining an elevated body position. Swimming fatigued with poor position won’t be very effective and will only lead to bad habits that you’ll repeat throughout your pool session. On the other hand, optimizing your stroke and swimming in the right and most hydrodynamic body position will improve your stroke (catch, pull, and reach) and shoulder rotation while developing your feel. By doing this consistently across each length, you’ll develop a more efficient upper body, which is crucial for open water swimming, where you’ll need to go over chop, currents, and waves as well as your awareness for feel in the water.
While it’s important to have days dedicated to race-specific training, always remember that tools and “accessories” are here to help you achieve your goals.
Buoyancy shorts are a must-have in your mesh bag! Use them as a pull buoy to develop a soft 2-kick beat (1-kick per stroke) and learn the importance of momentum while your upper body does the work. This is ideal for triathletes who want to not only swim strong but also ride and run strong! On days when you need more leg recovery, don’t hesitate to add a pull buoy. This will force your chest to press forward, helping you build your upper body for a strong swim. Make this your strongest swim yet—remember, using your Zoot FLOAT buoyancy shorts will help you train and race more efficiently!
Anne Basso
Zoot Sports Contributor | Professional Triathlete
Anne is a USAT Level 2 Coach with QT2 Systems LLC and holds an M.S. degree in Chemistry with a specialized academic focus in Exercise Physiology. As a professional athlete and elite coach, she combines scientific rigor with real-world racing experience to help empowering athletes achieve their goals. Follow her training and coaching insights at @anne_basso on Instagram.