Subj : Re: Catch Timing
To   : rec.sport.rowing
From : Bob Martin
Date : Wed Jul 07 2021 07:01 am

On Monday, July 5, 2021 at 3:29:56 PM UTC-6, James HS wrote:
> On Friday, 2 July 2021 at 22:35:01 UTC+1, Bob Martin wrote: 
> > I'm looking for some advice as well as comments on 
> > my analysis of a recent row in a quad. I was stroking 
> > and the boat felt really heavy at the catch. I mentioned 
> > it at a break and bow observed that one of the less experienced 
> > scullers was driving with her legs before the sculls were fully 
> > buried. 
> > 
> > Since the boat is always slowing down at the instant of the 
> > catch and if she was pushing without the blades buried, 
> > it seems to me that the rest of the boat was dealing with 
> > the boat mass, their own mass plus her mass and her effort 
> > to accelerate her mass to the bow without the blades buried. 
> > 
> > Is this a reasonable explanation for the heaviness of the boat? 
> > Are there any suggestions for drills to train one not to "shoot 
> > the slide"? One drill that I think might work is the reverse pick drill 
> > where you could work on making the catch while still on the recovery. 
> > 
> > From the standpoint of the boat, this seems like a useful indicator 
> > of how the crew is making their catches and provides "instant feedback". 
> > I'd appreciate some comments on that last thought. 
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > 
> > Bob
> I think there are several things; 
> 
> You have an observation from one member that another member was not
submerging her blades before driving. 
> You feel it is heavy. 
> 
> They might be linked, but there can be a tendency to blame others, so look to
 solve as a crew. 
> 
> Some athletes find it strange - but there are disagreements about blade
depth. There are some that believe that the blade magically floats at the right
 height, and others that it should be 1" (at least) under the surface. I like
Kleshnev's observations, and on a sculling blade put a white tape 400mm above
the shoulder of the spoon on the shaft - that, when wet, is the correct spoon
depth, in a boat that is properly set up for the weight of athlete. It is easy
to see for me as a coach, and for the athlete (yes, every now and then look at
your blade! 
> 
> As for the rest, there are so many things - is it the same on both sides
(hand crossover) is the rigging facilitating hand heights, should a seat pad be
 used, how strong is the athlete (some cannot take the load of a properly
placed blade because of shoulder/back weakness). 
> 
> Is it timing - lots of timing drills, roll ups, a look at the whole crew -
working together, from the outside. 
> 
> James
Thanks to all the people who responded. We went out in a double this AM to work
 on the problem. First of all you could see the slide and butt move before the
load
was taken by the oars.  We worked on the suggested drills including taking the
catch with the shoulders.  The catch drills helped a lot.  Interestingly, the
thing
that seemed to help the most was listening to the sound of the slide at the
catch.  This was while I was setting the boat.  You could hear the wheels
rolling 
quickly until the load engaged,  Making that sound go away seemed to be the
most effective for the rower although the earlier drills and explanations set
the stage.
Another case of feedback to improve ones rowing!
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