The Catch
What is The Catch?
The catch is the most technically demanding moment of the rowing stroke. At the catch position, the rower's shins should be approximately vertical, the body leaning slightly forward from the hips (about 1 o'clock position), and arms fully extended with relaxed shoulders. On the erg, the catch is the point of maximum compression before the drive begins. A good catch connects immediately — there should be no pause or hesitation between reaching full compression and initiating the leg drive. The quality of the catch largely determines the effectiveness of the entire stroke. Common faults include over-compression (shins past vertical), lunging forward, and losing posture at the point of reversal.
How Watta Uses The Catch
Watta captures stroke rate data from the PM5, which reflects the timing balance between the catch and the rest of the stroke. Consistently high stroke rates with maintained power suggest efficient catch timing. The Economy component of the Effort Score (10% weight) rewards this efficiency.
Further Reading
- Concept2 Training Resources — Official training guides and workout plans from Concept2.
- Concept2 RowErg Specifications — Technical specifications and performance monitor details.
- World Rowing — The international governing body for the sport of rowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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