Optimal Drive Length

[juan-john]

So I've been using the ErgData app for a few months now. Love it to death. Really like the "Second Screen" that includes the drive length.

What's the optimal drive length for a 5-foot, 7-inch-tall guy who rows between damper settings 3 and 4?

.85m? .95m? 1.05m?

Don't want my drive to be too short, yet don't wanna lean too far back, either.

Maybe this could be a thread for optimal drive lengths for varying heights, who knows. If anyone has those numbers (or a link to the forum thread that has all that, which I couldn't seem to find), feel free to post them here.

[dwalk]

try to keep your body between 11-1 o'clock, keeps you from reaching to far and leaning back to far

[hjs]

try to keep your body between 11-1 o'clock, keeps you from reaching to far and leaning back to far

And this will not give a fixed drive lenght. Its not just hight, but also armlenght, shoulderflexibility, individual bones etc that all influence the drivelenght.
So there is not a answer.

[JLB123]

No specific answer, but really easy to figure it out -

Find your "front" position - i.e. sit at the catch, with shins vertical (if shins don't feel natural at vertical, raise / lower footplate until they do - if you're struggling to get that far forward, lower shoes, if you're getting past vertical, raise them). Then move from there to the finish position, making sure the chain is level, and your body angle is 11 o'clock (and back is straight, not slouching). From that should get a reading, and that's the drive length you want. To be honest I think getting an output for drive length is far more important for assessing consistency than knowing exactly what the number is (i.e. value doesn't really matter, just is it the same every time).

[Quatroux]

I think it is obvious that you want a long drive, but reaching at the catch or exaggerating layback aren't the methods to achieve it. I don't think it is possible to state a length for an individual without seeing them. Even then, you would direct them to alter their mechanics until they look right. You could measure it at that point, but your goal was the look of a properly formed stroke and not a specific distance.

Flexibility is the key to extending stroke length.

[dwalk]

Optimal drive length is the longest drive possible while maintaining proper form. It will vary from person to person even if they are the same height. Proper form and power are what you should aim for. Jason Khalipa, who is 5'9", rowed a 6:21 2k and continued on to a 1hr and 18 min half marathon without stopping at the x-fit games. He is one of a few examples of x-fitters that actually row pretty well form wise.

[mmayzak]

Flexibilty is the key to longer drive lengths...

I pull until the bar hits my chest, slide forward until the seat almost hits my heels.

I cant consistantly hit a 1m drive... 5' 7 1/2"

[jackarabit]

I'm 5'-7" and sometimes watch drive length from Ergdata feed. Usually 1.03-1.09m. I can get 1.18 with a mantis paws pull to my Adam's Apple. The optimum is what can be had without rounding the back and collapsing the shoulders at the catch and without leaning back beyond 11 on the clock face at the finish.

Jack

[mmayzak]

Jack... I know exactly what you mean!