Hi! New scull rower here. I rowed sweep in high school, but now have access to water again and decided to try and begin sculling so I can get back out there. But in the first couple of times on the water, I find that I'm pushing the boat consistently to the port side and have to keep correcting by just rowing with my right hand for a few strokes.
Is this because my left hand is over my right and I'm digging it into the water more? I'm right handed, so it's not like my left arm is stronger or anything. Any advice for the newbie is appreciated!
New scull rower pulling to port
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Yankeerunner
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Re: New scull rower pulling to port
1.) It gets better. Keep at it and it will come.
2.) Better scullers than me are bound to weigh in and hopefully give you good advice.
3.) That said, some of the things that coaches told me to help me get to making the boat go where I wanted it to are: Even pressure on the foot stretchers when starting the drive. A little extra pressure on one leg compared to the other can change direction, and in fact can help you to make a turn. Also try to keep the hands on a relatively even plane, with the left hand not necessarily on top of the right, but with the knuckle of your right index finger touching the bottom of the pad of your left thumb. Both oars should have the blades just barely under the water instead of deep under it. Also, having one oar moving through a longer arc can cause the boat to turn, and is another way to purposely direct a boat around a turn, that is, purposely shorten the starboard pull while pulling the port through its full range, or vice-versa to turn the other way.
4.) I'm still working on these things some four years into sculling and I'm now not too bad at it. I'll be watching this thread and hope to pick up more info from the more experienced scullers.
5.) I love it.
2.) Better scullers than me are bound to weigh in and hopefully give you good advice.
3.) That said, some of the things that coaches told me to help me get to making the boat go where I wanted it to are: Even pressure on the foot stretchers when starting the drive. A little extra pressure on one leg compared to the other can change direction, and in fact can help you to make a turn. Also try to keep the hands on a relatively even plane, with the left hand not necessarily on top of the right, but with the knuckle of your right index finger touching the bottom of the pad of your left thumb. Both oars should have the blades just barely under the water instead of deep under it. Also, having one oar moving through a longer arc can cause the boat to turn, and is another way to purposely direct a boat around a turn, that is, purposely shorten the starboard pull while pulling the port through its full range, or vice-versa to turn the other way.
4.) I'm still working on these things some four years into sculling and I'm now not too bad at it. I'll be watching this thread and hope to pick up more info from the more experienced scullers.
5.) I love it.
55-59: 1:33.5 3:19.2 6:55.7 18:22.0 2:47:26.5
60-64: 1:35.9 3:23.8 7:06.7 18:40.8 2:48:53.6
65-69: 1:38.6 3:31.9 7:19.2 19:26.6 3:02:06.0
70-74: 1:40.2 3:33.4 7:32.6 19:50.5 3:06:36.8
75-76: 1:43.9 3:47.7 7:50.2 20:51.3 3:13:55.7
60-64: 1:35.9 3:23.8 7:06.7 18:40.8 2:48:53.6
65-69: 1:38.6 3:31.9 7:19.2 19:26.6 3:02:06.0
70-74: 1:40.2 3:33.4 7:32.6 19:50.5 3:06:36.8
75-76: 1:43.9 3:47.7 7:50.2 20:51.3 3:13:55.7
Re: New scull rower pulling to port
Have a look at the skeg, it might be bent.
08-1940, 179cm, 83kg.
Re: New scull rower pulling to port
My doubles partner rowed sweep for many years. I can tell she rowed port side because her left hand is consistently too high and I get splashed (I'm in bow) when her starboard oar hits the water at the catch. I'm trying real hard to help her correct that (and be patient when I come off the water wet!). Another similar story; my daughter rowed sweep in college and same thing - she couldn't row my single in a straight line.
I recommend you have someone watch you. Perhaps they'll note a technique "flaw" that you can correct.
I recommend you have someone watch you. Perhaps they'll note a technique "flaw" that you can correct.
Mark Underwood. Rower first, cyclist too.
Re: New scull rower pulling to port
From my experience sculling, I hope to offer some advice for I too struggled with this problem.
The way I corrected the gradual drift(it was bad for me). I concentrated on having level handles throughout the drive so that one oar didn't dig deeper than the other. As well as making sure the amount of pressure I outputted with my arms was equal.
As for actual steering I agree with Yankeerunner, you have to activate one leg more than the other for it is a much more efficient way to steer. Then once you're headed in the right direction all you have to do is have even foot pressure.
Another thing I found that caused me to drift(in a single mostly) was when I turned my head to see where I was going. I eventually just had to know what I needed to see before I turned my head so that I only needed a quick glance.
Yes there is no better correction then to have someone tell you what you're doing wrong and keep critiquing you until you fix it. Video is the second best method. I've found it helps the most to watch it right after the row so the feeling of the stroke is still in your head.
Cheers
The way I corrected the gradual drift(it was bad for me). I concentrated on having level handles throughout the drive so that one oar didn't dig deeper than the other. As well as making sure the amount of pressure I outputted with my arms was equal.
As for actual steering I agree with Yankeerunner, you have to activate one leg more than the other for it is a much more efficient way to steer. Then once you're headed in the right direction all you have to do is have even foot pressure.
Another thing I found that caused me to drift(in a single mostly) was when I turned my head to see where I was going. I eventually just had to know what I needed to see before I turned my head so that I only needed a quick glance.
Yes there is no better correction then to have someone tell you what you're doing wrong and keep critiquing you until you fix it. Video is the second best method. I've found it helps the most to watch it right after the row so the feeling of the stroke is still in your head.
Cheers