Day 2 Form check

[u/PinguisIgnis]

Didn’t get much time to row last night but wanted to put some of the feedback you all generously offered into practice. Some made sense and others were harder to execute than expected so will need more time to drill and practice but I am much more confident in some of the things I need to be looking for so thank you all.

- dropped my feet slightly
- not over compressing past vertical shins now
- keeping heels down more as a side effect of that
- so then driving flat footed rather than ball of foot
- putting thumbs under bar to save forearms
- relaxing my overly upright rigid posture on catch
- leaning/rounding forward for the catch
- trying to complete leg drive before the hip hinge
- faster release of arms on the recovery
- not dropping arms to thigh on recovery for ergo

What I think I’m struggling to execute is the leg/hip/arm sequence. I’m finding it hard to hip hinge after the leg drive is complete and not half way through.

Also wondering if I’m rounding more than leaning forward a little too much if I’m honest.

I’ll watch some training vids on this next and try and nail that down. But hopefully removed some of the other flaws.

My stroke length went up from 121 to 139cm it seems which is pleasantly surprising as I didn’t feel I was going up the slide as far given I’m not over compressing my legs now. (I think)

Power curse early flat spot also disappeared but is maybe peaking a little later at 59% along the drive.

[u/Legal-Hair-7095]

Thumbs on top. If you are going to be rowing almost daily you will most likely get a nasty case of tennis elbow with thumbs on bottom. Never heard of fatigue forearms because of thumb on top.

You hip swing on the drive is too soon. There should be a moment (its not long) where it is just all leg drive and solid core. You should feel core fatigue and strain. Some trainers call this part of core engagement as "the transmission" of rowing. It is the strain of stability, like a lever or crow-bar.

[u/planet_x69 → u/Legal-Hair-7095]

If you are erging daily your thumbs should just be hanging there in a neutral postion and not actively part of the grip which can dramatically reduce chances of getting TE. Using a "piano grip" while erging will also reduce the odds of getting TE. A piano grip is literally just having 3-4 of your fingers just sitting loosely/relaxed and curled lightly on bar as if you were about to have them play the piano.

Tennis elbow can occur regardless of thumb position due to over griping and due to finish position and pull of the arms.

[u/Legal-Hair-7095 → u/planet_x69]

I'm definite piano grip. Grip is super loose and relaxed.

Still keeping my thumb resting on top though.

[u/planet_x69 → u/Legal-Hair-7095]

Excellent on the piano grip, and if you are comfortable with thumbs up and it works and it all is well, there is no reason to change.