Help catching
Posted: October 3rd, 2012, 10:51 am
Hi there,
This is my first year sweeping (2.5 years of sculling previous). I am a club rower, hence lineups are usually inconsistent and individual fitness levels vary significantly in the boat. I am attempting to fix my own problems with form on each stroke, contributing what I can to the lineup of the day (hopefully positively, better set, moving the boat faster)
My question is: How can I catch cleanly every time? I would like to stop missing water. I know I miss water because every once in a while I catch clean and get really good hang on the leg drive. It just feels like I am putting every inch of my stroke in the water. When I miss water, that hang is not there. I feel most of the pressure about midway through the leg-drive and if my back hurts at the end of a piece, I know I am probably yanking the oar to the finish just so I can put some power into the water. Bad.
Our usual on-water workouts are pyramids, 22 to 28 spm, on occasion 24 to 30 or up to 32 spm. Pieces are usually 8 minutes, ~2k, and ~4.5k.
1. Should I be more aggressive on the catch? When I lift my outside hand at the catch, should I really be dunking that oar in the water? I know at low speeds that can cause digging, but when the boat is in motion and the water is really bubbling under the hull, does it matter?
2. How far should I lean forward at hands away? Does it matter? To get really out there on my rigger, my "Fast hands away" needs to be at warp speed - possibly upsetting the boat - otherwise all the rushing in the boat prevents me from getting full compression with my legs.
Any other advice for getting the ultimate catch?
This is my first year sweeping (2.5 years of sculling previous). I am a club rower, hence lineups are usually inconsistent and individual fitness levels vary significantly in the boat. I am attempting to fix my own problems with form on each stroke, contributing what I can to the lineup of the day (hopefully positively, better set, moving the boat faster)
My question is: How can I catch cleanly every time? I would like to stop missing water. I know I miss water because every once in a while I catch clean and get really good hang on the leg drive. It just feels like I am putting every inch of my stroke in the water. When I miss water, that hang is not there. I feel most of the pressure about midway through the leg-drive and if my back hurts at the end of a piece, I know I am probably yanking the oar to the finish just so I can put some power into the water. Bad.
Our usual on-water workouts are pyramids, 22 to 28 spm, on occasion 24 to 30 or up to 32 spm. Pieces are usually 8 minutes, ~2k, and ~4.5k.
1. Should I be more aggressive on the catch? When I lift my outside hand at the catch, should I really be dunking that oar in the water? I know at low speeds that can cause digging, but when the boat is in motion and the water is really bubbling under the hull, does it matter?
2. How far should I lean forward at hands away? Does it matter? To get really out there on my rigger, my "Fast hands away" needs to be at warp speed - possibly upsetting the boat - otherwise all the rushing in the boat prevents me from getting full compression with my legs.
Any other advice for getting the ultimate catch?