New D-style Handle

[[old] chudwell]

I just received 2 of the D style handles in the mail. I got them for my old model B and my "new" model C that I keep in different locations. <br /><br />They are much lighter in weight than the wooden handle I've used since 1988. The design looks very robust though, and I think it is a good product.<br /><br />I do like the ergonomic angle in the design. I did not realize how the old straight handle was causing fatique. My wrist joints pop all the time. The new handle should help.<br /><br />The "next level" would be two handles coupled by a bar/tube or a Y-cable. This would allow free rotational movement of the hands, and would allow a deeper pull, similar to what you might use to do a seated-row at the gym. My concept would be basically two single-hand-handles with a short cable that joins at the erg chain swivel. Wish I could attach a sketch to show you. <br /><br />I guess the closest example I can reference to you would be the C2 Dyno handle. It seems to be designed for deep pulls for back excercise.

[[old] akit110]

<!--QuoteBegin-chudwell+Jun 9 2005, 03:53 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chudwell @ Jun 9 2005, 03:53 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I just received 2 of the D style handles in the mail.  I got them for my old model B and my "new" model C that I keep in different locations.  <br /><br />They are much lighter in weight than the wooden handle I've used since 1988.  The design looks very robust though, and I think it is a good product.<br /><br />I do like the ergonomic angle in the design.  I did not realize how the old straight handle was causing fatique.  My wrist joints pop all the time.  The new handle should help.<br /><br />The "next level" would be two handles coupled by a bar/tube or a Y-cable.  This would allow free rotational movement of the hands, and would allow a deeper pull, similar to what you might use to do a seated-row at the gym.  My concept would be basically two single-hand-handles with a short cable that joins at the erg chain swivel.  Wish I could attach a sketch to show you.  <br /><br />I guess the closest example I can reference to you would be the C2 Dyno handle.  It seems to be designed for deep pulls for back excercise. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I found the D handle easier on my wrists but harder on my elbows than the C handle. I had to revert back to the C handle after only a few short months.<br />

[[old] chudwell]

Elbows? Interesting, I'll watch out for that... Are we going to have to visit the chiropractor due to erging? My 35th birthday is next month...maybe I'm just falling apart...<br /><br />We could call the condition "Over-erg-sertion". Maybe insurance will cover the therapy

[[old] Coach Gus]

<!--QuoteBegin-chudwell+Jun 10 2005, 06:27 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chudwell @ Jun 10 2005, 06:27 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Elbows?  Interesting, I'll watch out for that... Are we going to have to visit the chiropractor due to erging?  My 35th birthday is next month...maybe I'm just falling apart...<br /><br />We could call the condition "Over-erg-sertion".  Maybe insurance will cover the therapy  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Like anything else you need to get used to using the D handle. Even if it is "better," it does cause stress in different areas compared to the C handle. Unfortunately, most people put it on and just continue with their workouts at the same level/intensity. This is a pretty major change and quite often leads to injury. I recommend you ease into it, by cutting back a fair amount at first and then slowly increase your work load as you get used to the new handle. Give your body a chance to adapt to it and you likely won't experience any over use symptoms.<br />

[[old] akit110]

<!--QuoteBegin-Coach Gus+Jun 10 2005, 11:15 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Coach Gus @ Jun 10 2005, 11:15 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-chudwell+Jun 10 2005, 06:27 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chudwell @ Jun 10 2005, 06:27 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Elbows?  Interesting, I'll watch out for that... Are we going to have to visit the chiropractor due to erging?  My 35th birthday is next month...maybe I'm just falling apart...<br /><br />We could call the condition "Over-erg-sertion".  Maybe insurance will cover the therapy  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Like anything else you need to get used to using the D handle. Even if it is "better," it does cause stress in different areas compared to the C handle. Unfortunately, most people put it on and just continue with their workouts at the same level/intensity. This is a pretty major change and quite often leads to injury. I recommend you ease into it, by cutting back a fair amount at first and then slowly increase your work load as you get used to the new handle. Give your body a chance to adapt to it and you likely won't experience any over use symptoms. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I get the general impression that the D handle is easier on the wrists and harder on the elbows due to the slight angle. The C handle, I think, is the opposite.<br />

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-akit110+Jun 10 2005, 07:50 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(akit110 @ Jun 10 2005, 07:50 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I get the general impression that the D handle is easier on the wrists and harder on the elbows due to the slight angle.  The C handle, I think, is the opposite. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I would think that this is unique to the person using it. My problem when making the transition from the C to D handle was that I had adjusted how I held the C handle so that the wrists were not stressed, then when going to the D handle, the habit of holding the C handle was something that needed to change.<br /><br />Regardless, I don't see how the elbow would be put under stress with either handle. That's not to say that the elbow can't be stressed, but just that it's due to using the wrong muscles to finish the stroke (too much arm and not enough lat, gripping too tightly, etc...) rather than the type of handle involved. It's better to think of moving your elbows past the body, rather than bringing the handle to the body. Both actions will finish the stroke, but once again, use the largest muscles to finish stronger.<br /><br />Of course Yoda is going to chime in regarding my "skinny" arms. <br /><br />Cheers!

[[old] Hal Morgan]

i like the c better. I use the d now. I liked to roll the c handle and make my for arms work for a few strokes to counter the torque. It made my grip a little stronger and It took my mind off the endless hours of stroking for a moment. I also like to flip my hands over and work the biceps with a few miuntes of curling the pull. I just liked the feel. I am not a speed rower so hurting my times dose not matter to me. I row because I can row for long distances and keep healthy with out all those weight and contraptions. Also i can row at home, no bad b.o. at the gym from the unwashed dirt eaters and tree huggers , arrgh!

[[old] shu246]

received today and installed retrofit model D handle for my model B.<br /><br />nice! a bit longer (wider) and with a bit of anhedral (downslope from center to ends). with 37 inch sleves, and 34 inch inseam, i can now row comfortably without having to hump the handle over the knees coming and going. <br /><br />i hang the pinkie fingers off the ends of the bar (like holding a j frame smith and wesson or a glock 26) and no longer have to pinch the knees togather.<br /><br />loveit!<br />

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-shu246+Jun 21 2005, 04:15 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(shu246 @ Jun 21 2005, 04:15 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />i hang the pinkie fingers off the ends of the bar (like holding a j frame smith and wesson or a glock 26) and no longer have to pinch the knees togather.<br /><br />loveit! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You pinch your knees together when holding a G26? <br />+2's can fix that issue, now that we don't have to deal with capstration. <br />Favorite is G19 with 80K+ so far. There used to be a Smyrna, GA resident in the Forum, I wonder if they are still around....<br /><br />The C2 is near P<b>erg</b>fection! (Not considering a boat, of course.)<br /><br />Cheers!

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The "next level" would be two handles coupled by a bar/tube or a Y-cable. </td></tr></table> <br /><br />Like this?<br /><br /><a href='http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/row/new_handle2.jpg' target='_blank'>http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/row/n ... jpg</a><br /><br />It turns out that Bert made something similar for the same reason I did. By changing hand positions I was able to solve the problem of sore elbows. I put a posting about it a while ago.<br /><br />Byron

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-hal muchler+Jun 10 2005, 09:13 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(hal muchler @ Jun 10 2005, 09:13 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I am not a speed rower so hurting my times dose not matter to me. I row because I can row for long distances and keep healthy with out all those weight and contraptions. Also i can row at home, no bad b.o. at the gym from the unwashed dirt eaters and tree huggers , arrgh! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><img src='http://www.dilbert.com//comics/unfit/ar ... 350622.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' /><br /><br />

[[old] runningun]

Now this is an interesting thread, bringing in my elbow problem AND my other hobby.<br />>Regarding the elbows, a lot of rowers have experienced the "tennis elbow" problem that Byron and I dealt with separately but with the same solution... the vertical grip. Coach is right; the tendons and ligaments need conditioning just as much as the muscles do. The difference seems to be that the tendons don't ach until they are injured! I've found changing the grip was important, and in decreasing order: icing after workout; wearing a strap around the high forearm; taking glucosamine-condroitin; taking asprin (as anti-inflamatory). Interestingly, the one thing that did NOT work was complete rest!!! (Fifteen months of no erging reduced the inflamation, but it came back after about six weeks, until I found these other solutions!!!)<br />>As for the S&W and G26, I'd have said a Colt Frontier Scout. It would be interesting to see if someone could dream up a cowboy action-type of event, where you could shoot while erging! Something like a ten-meter unlimited event on 25 yard pistol targets, to take place DURING a 2k race... how about that!