Many swimmers swim alone because they do not know how to swim with someone slower. I think a great deal of benefit can be derived by swimming with someone slower. For example, it is harder to stay balanced and level in the water at slower speeds. When I swim more slowly with someone else, my balance and the ability to float really well improves.

I swim with fist gloves or simply my fists when I want to slow it down and swim with someone slower. A benefit to swimming with my fists is that I am improving my catch with my forearm and upper arm while swimming with a slower friend. Another benefit is that my hand and arm entry into the water becomes better as I discipline my fist entry to be smoother. After swimming with my hands lightly clenched like fists, I feel like I have paddles or oars on my arms when I open my hands back up.

There are also number of devices that can help the slower swimmer: pull buoys, fins, hand paddles and snorkels can help the slower swimmer go faster.

Swimming with a friend is more enjoyable for me than swimming alone. I vote for working on technique while swimming or adding a swim aid like a pull buoy to swim with a friend over a hard swim alone any day.