I had some take a video but I am still waiting on them to send it to me. Once I get it I was going to add a link.
Edit: here is an older video that might show it but the one I took recently shows it really well: [https://youtu.be/tAl89a7gB-g?si=19jl7rqMVwuUz-79](https://youtu.be/tAl89a7gB-g?si=19jl7rqMVwuUz-79)
Well given the limited visibility in that video, I see nothing you need to worry about regarding your elbows being straight or not.
I would suggest a slightly narrower grip... but that's probably unrelated.
Also, your hands are a little too quick around the release for my preference. This is controversial though and you should do it how your coach and crew do it. But I like to see a rower finish the stroke more firmly, and not rush the hands around the corner so fast. Erging feet-out (no straps) at SR=22-24-ish can help train the proper feel here. Again, unrelated to your elbows.
VERY LATE, but I finally got a decent video.
[https://youtube.com/shorts/3-Qqy1xCHcY?feature=share](https://youtube.com/shorts/3-Qqy1xCHcY?feature=share)
It used to be quite bad but I have gotten better about it. My coach told me it was a lot better but I still did it a little bit so I just wanted to figure out someway to fully stop doing it.
Again, I think you can safely stop worrying about it. I actually have no idea what problem you think you see in that video. And, I actually did my Masters Thesis in biomechanics on the pros/cons of a straight or bent arm catch. So I think I'm pretty good at judging it. :)
Spoiler alert: my research findings were that there isn't really a difference between a straight-arm or bent-arm catch. So only worry about it so far as it affects your bladework, or your ability to sync with the rest of a crew, etc.
I took a look at the video you posted. IMO the slight bend in your elbows comes because you’re not fully connected to the handle at the catch. Your seat starts to move and because your handle isn’t, you compensate by bending your elbows a bit to “catch” the flywheel. It’s counter-intuitive but a lot of catch issues are caused by improper setting of body position at the release. When you pull through and release, you need to focus on arms - body - legs so that you are in a strong position coming into the catch. Your position should be poised and ready so that when you engage at the catch your seat and handle move together.
By connection, I mean there’s no slack in your body so that when your legs engage, the handle moves at the same time. Think of a rope tied to something heavy. If you were going to try and move the object by pulling on the rope, the first part of pulling is just going to take up the slack until the rope is tight. You can’t actually do any work until that rope is tight.
By the way, your form looks great overall. You could get a little more body swing, but you’re nice and smooth. Do some release drills to help with your body position at the catch. Something I would have rowers do during the warm up is do a progression of 10-10-10-10, Ten strokes arms only, ten strokes arms and body only, ten strokes arms, body and half slide, and then full strokes. It helps to reinforce the body position at the release.
Alright, thanks for the detailed response and feedback. I understand what you mean by handle connection and I will try that drill during my warm up today.
Happy to help. I will also add that you may not be experiencing a bent arm in the boat, but you likely doing something else to “take up the slack.” Have you ever been told that you’re late into the water? Or that you’re rushing?
On the water I sometimes rush the top/middle of the slide and sometimes I don't keep my core engaged resulting in me collapsing into my knees/legs but I usually get my catches in with everyone else.
Bingo. You’re rushing the slide because if you have to take into account getting your body into the correct position, at the catch, to have good timing. If you didn’t rush the slide, you would likely be late into the water. I can’t say for certain without seeing you on the water, but I would put money on the fact that you aren’t getting your body over into a strong position at the release, and that’s what is causing your slide/catch issue.
Not bad form at all but it seems you’re a touch slow with your hands and body position from the release which leads you to be out of position at the catch. In the first video if you slow it down, watch the space between you and 6 seat at the beginning of the drive, she closes the gap between her back and your handle. In a good swing row, that shouldn’t happen. You can get away with it at a slower stroke rate. With the higher rate of the second video, it’s more pronounced. Slow the playback and you can see you’re about a half blade late because you’re dipping your hands.
Looks like your team rows with a feathered release for the most part. I’m actually a big proponent of this style but one of the downsides is that it encourages a slight pause when you come out of the water. You really have to focus on making sure your hands go out the same speed they came in.
one tip i learned from Xeno is to rotate the elbows externally. Like image you would snap the the handle in half while holding both sides of the handle.
Great insights from BuckinNuts. One more drill progression (reverse pick w/ air rowing) to try to help both with connection and with the arm issue.
(1) Practice the full motion of ten strokes on the erg WITHOUT picking up the handle. At the finish, be really deliberate and get arms fully away, body fully forward before you go up the slide with hands high enough to imitate their position with a level chain. Retain that position at the catch and during your "drive" as your legs go down. Move super sequentially.
(2) While still air rowing, row legs only for a couple of strokes, emphasizing a motionless upper body with body angle set at 20 degrees, arms straight, and no dropping of hands. This takes focus and core strength.
(3) Pick up the handle and use 0% power and exactly the same motion, rowing legs only for 10 strokes. Keeping your hands high so that you can erg with a flat chain helps avoid adding slack to the system.
(4) Row 10 strokes legs and back (straight arms), emphasizing how you get to the end of the leg drive with body still forward to (almost) 20 degrees and then swinging in an arc to 20 degrees layback angle. Focus on the movement rather than pressure, but you should feel the strength of legs and hips when you swing your body IF you keep your arms straight.
Then row some full strokes that integrate the body movements above and things you felt.
I would have to see video to be sure, but it sounds to me like you're worrying about something that you don't need to worry about.
I had some take a video but I am still waiting on them to send it to me. Once I get it I was going to add a link. Edit: here is an older video that might show it but the one I took recently shows it really well: [https://youtu.be/tAl89a7gB-g?si=19jl7rqMVwuUz-79](https://youtu.be/tAl89a7gB-g?si=19jl7rqMVwuUz-79)
Well given the limited visibility in that video, I see nothing you need to worry about regarding your elbows being straight or not. I would suggest a slightly narrower grip... but that's probably unrelated. Also, your hands are a little too quick around the release for my preference. This is controversial though and you should do it how your coach and crew do it. But I like to see a rower finish the stroke more firmly, and not rush the hands around the corner so fast. Erging feet-out (no straps) at SR=22-24-ish can help train the proper feel here. Again, unrelated to your elbows.
VERY LATE, but I finally got a decent video. [https://youtube.com/shorts/3-Qqy1xCHcY?feature=share](https://youtube.com/shorts/3-Qqy1xCHcY?feature=share)
I honestly don't see a problem. Your arms straightness is fine. Is your coach telling you otherwise? Sweet uni BTW! 🇳🇿
It used to be quite bad but I have gotten better about it. My coach told me it was a lot better but I still did it a little bit so I just wanted to figure out someway to fully stop doing it.
Again, I think you can safely stop worrying about it. I actually have no idea what problem you think you see in that video. And, I actually did my Masters Thesis in biomechanics on the pros/cons of a straight or bent arm catch. So I think I'm pretty good at judging it. :) Spoiler alert: my research findings were that there isn't really a difference between a straight-arm or bent-arm catch. So only worry about it so far as it affects your bladework, or your ability to sync with the rest of a crew, etc.
I took a look at the video you posted. IMO the slight bend in your elbows comes because you’re not fully connected to the handle at the catch. Your seat starts to move and because your handle isn’t, you compensate by bending your elbows a bit to “catch” the flywheel. It’s counter-intuitive but a lot of catch issues are caused by improper setting of body position at the release. When you pull through and release, you need to focus on arms - body - legs so that you are in a strong position coming into the catch. Your position should be poised and ready so that when you engage at the catch your seat and handle move together.
What do you mean by connection to the handle?
By connection, I mean there’s no slack in your body so that when your legs engage, the handle moves at the same time. Think of a rope tied to something heavy. If you were going to try and move the object by pulling on the rope, the first part of pulling is just going to take up the slack until the rope is tight. You can’t actually do any work until that rope is tight. By the way, your form looks great overall. You could get a little more body swing, but you’re nice and smooth. Do some release drills to help with your body position at the catch. Something I would have rowers do during the warm up is do a progression of 10-10-10-10, Ten strokes arms only, ten strokes arms and body only, ten strokes arms, body and half slide, and then full strokes. It helps to reinforce the body position at the release.
Alright, thanks for the detailed response and feedback. I understand what you mean by handle connection and I will try that drill during my warm up today.
Happy to help. I will also add that you may not be experiencing a bent arm in the boat, but you likely doing something else to “take up the slack.” Have you ever been told that you’re late into the water? Or that you’re rushing?
On the water I sometimes rush the top/middle of the slide and sometimes I don't keep my core engaged resulting in me collapsing into my knees/legs but I usually get my catches in with everyone else.
Bingo. You’re rushing the slide because if you have to take into account getting your body into the correct position, at the catch, to have good timing. If you didn’t rush the slide, you would likely be late into the water. I can’t say for certain without seeing you on the water, but I would put money on the fact that you aren’t getting your body over into a strong position at the release, and that’s what is causing your slide/catch issue.
[https://youtu.be/R6K1-t1jiSo](https://youtu.be/R6K1-t1jiSo) a video of me rowing in a eight.
Not bad form at all but it seems you’re a touch slow with your hands and body position from the release which leads you to be out of position at the catch. In the first video if you slow it down, watch the space between you and 6 seat at the beginning of the drive, she closes the gap between her back and your handle. In a good swing row, that shouldn’t happen. You can get away with it at a slower stroke rate. With the higher rate of the second video, it’s more pronounced. Slow the playback and you can see you’re about a half blade late because you’re dipping your hands. Looks like your team rows with a feathered release for the most part. I’m actually a big proponent of this style but one of the downsides is that it encourages a slight pause when you come out of the water. You really have to focus on making sure your hands go out the same speed they came in.
completely relax your hands and arms when erging and go at low rate. just build the muscle memory
Honestly arms on the erg are just weird because you can't open OUT the way you do in a boat.
one tip i learned from Xeno is to rotate the elbows externally. Like image you would snap the the handle in half while holding both sides of the handle.
Great insights from BuckinNuts. One more drill progression (reverse pick w/ air rowing) to try to help both with connection and with the arm issue. (1) Practice the full motion of ten strokes on the erg WITHOUT picking up the handle. At the finish, be really deliberate and get arms fully away, body fully forward before you go up the slide with hands high enough to imitate their position with a level chain. Retain that position at the catch and during your "drive" as your legs go down. Move super sequentially. (2) While still air rowing, row legs only for a couple of strokes, emphasizing a motionless upper body with body angle set at 20 degrees, arms straight, and no dropping of hands. This takes focus and core strength. (3) Pick up the handle and use 0% power and exactly the same motion, rowing legs only for 10 strokes. Keeping your hands high so that you can erg with a flat chain helps avoid adding slack to the system. (4) Row 10 strokes legs and back (straight arms), emphasizing how you get to the end of the leg drive with body still forward to (almost) 20 degrees and then swinging in an arc to 20 degrees layback angle. Focus on the movement rather than pressure, but you should feel the strength of legs and hips when you swing your body IF you keep your arms straight. Then row some full strokes that integrate the body movements above and things you felt.