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Problems with taking the catch
Brian Ingle: "When using the Indoor Rower I am always taking the catch with bent arms. This is due to my knees being in the way and having to reach around them. I have lowered my feet to the bottom setting but still have the problem. I am 6'4", which is not that tall for a rower. I also have the habit of rowing slumped but when I sit up I find I am not drawing the handle in a straight line as the height of the chain is below my finish point (just below the chest)."
Terry O'Neill: Without seeing you I would not criticise your technique. Whereas you are right to say that 6'4" is not that tall for rowers the key is the ratio of leg to trunk length. If your legs are really long then at the beginning of the stroke they will be right up under your chin even at the bottom setting of the footplate. If you slump or crouch this will further aggravate the situation. I assume that your elbows are bent outwards rather than down so your knees can come up between your arms. There are two things you can try. As you come off the back stop, try to sit tall and think about lifting your chest and reaching over your knees. To achieve this off the recovery straighten the arms, lean slightly forward and allow the knees to come up into the space between your arms until your chest touches your thigh keeping the arms straight. Then push the legs down out of the space and use the upper body in the second half of the stroke.
The other thing is to come onto one of our courses where we go right through technique and we can sort you out.
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