Compression

[jonesaa]

i completely agree and that is what i have been working on, however, i am a flexible individual and i do believe that it is pure geometry that is preventing more compression. Would it not be beneficial to raise the heel cups there for allowing more room for thighs to compress to the heels? this would raise my knees higher and then provide more room artificially making it seem like my shins are longer.

[Tinus]

i completely agree and that is what i have been working on, however, i am a flexible individual and i do believe that it is pure geometry that is preventing more compression. Would it not be beneficial to raise the heel cups there for allowing more room for thighs to compress to the heels? this would raise my knees higher and then provide more room artificially making it seem like my shins are longer.

You could work this out but the amount of increased stroke length is little. I suggest you do the calculus. Raising the foot board height is more often done because the rower will apply a more horizontally directed force. In any way it is superstitious. There is a limit to raising the foot stretcher and an increase of stroke length or a more horizontally directed force is not automatically leading to a faster boat speed because other parameters are involved as well.
- The larger stroke length will be at the cost of stroke frequency and possibly the increase in length is happening for a body position at which only low power can be applied. So the final result will be bad.
- The more horizontal force can also be achieved by simply pushing horizontally, a person doesn't need a different stretcher position for this. The true effect of positive reports about raising the stretcher is more probably a beneficial change in muscle application (quadriceps vs. glutes) but this is highly dependant on the individual. Extrapolation to others or to exaggerated stretcher positions is possibly bad.

I suggest you first try to work out to get a feeling of compression at large knee angles. In my opinion compression has to do with a dynamic movement of the muscles and not with a static position of the limbs. I am sure that a small knee angle might make you feel like working hard (because it is heavy) but you have to ask yourself whether this kind of working hard is really good for your boat speed. So try to change your paradigm, a large compression is not determined by a small knee angle.

Also, a (recent) picture exactly from the side and especially a movie might improve the view on your technique.

[JimmyL]

I suggest you first try to work out to get a feeling of compression at large knee angles. In my opinion compression has to do with a dynamic movement of the muscles and not with a static position of the limbs. I am sure that a small knee angle might make you feel like working hard (because it is heavy) but you have to ask yourself whether this kind of working hard is really good for your boat speed. So try to change your paradigm, a large compression is not determined by a small knee angle.

Also, a (recent) picture exactly from the side and especially a movie might improve the view on your technique.

I disagree with this.
Compression isn't solely about your knee angle, but what you aim to achieve is that your chest is almost touching your knees. This gives you your maximum reach. This can't be achieved without having a "small knee angle" as you like to call it.

I wouldn't advise changing the angle of the sole-plate without an experienced coach telling you to do so, you might just cause more damage than good.

[Tinus]

I suggest you first try to work out to get a feeling of compression at large knee angles. In my opinion compression has to do with a dynamic movement of the muscles and not with a static position of the limbs. I am sure that a small knee angle might make you feel like working hard (because it is heavy) but you have to ask yourself whether this kind of working hard is really good for your boat speed. So try to change your paradigm, a large compression is not determined by a small knee angle.

Also, a (recent) picture exactly from the side and especially a movie might improve the view on your technique.

I disagree with this.
Compression isn't solely about your knee angle, but what you aim to achieve is that your chest is almost touching your knees. This gives you your maximum reach. This can't be achieved without having a "small knee angle" as you like to call it.

I wouldn't advise changing the angle of the sole-plate without an experienced coach telling you to do so, you might just cause more damage than good.

What exactly is it which you don't agree with? I state that compression isn't about the knee angle and you seem to repeat the same.

The other part of "compression" (I believe full reach is a better term) which you mention looks as if it is fulfilled. If you look at Jones' picture then you see the armpits are almost touching the knees.