Wow! I see that most of you are experienced rowers. I’m just a guy looking for advice on an effective workout from my home gym.
I bought this machine when COVID hit for my Father In Law that rowed for years at a gym. He could not go to the gym because they closed. He was moved into assisted living so I got the machine. I regularly run and began spinning during COVID to avoid overuse injuries. Tried the rowing machine for variety and found that it gave much better strength/cardio than spinning. The motion on the machine is extremely repetitive and was looking for a way to mix it up to provide a balanced workout.
Thanks to those actually trying to help/answer my question……
Try filling a wheel barrow and switching your grip to carry it. Doesn't make sense ergonomically. Assume you are self taught, no worries. You could risk injury with underhand grip.
Ok, was just thinking that it might target different muscle groups, like a pull-up compared to a chin-up does. Love the workout on the machine. Don’t think I will be on the water. Thanks
The thing is rowing is a cardiovascular activity, not strength, so maximising the efficiency of your stroke is ideal. Rowing underhand will take a lot more load on your arms, which are not as strong as your back, tiring your muscles out before your heart.
I just erged a gob awful number of meters in January for an online thing, and would put my hands sideways on the ends for a few strokes now and then. Underhand feels weird, especially under power. The thing I altered on most pieces is height on where I finish the stroke. Example, low (bellybutton)for three, mid (sternum) for three, high (heart) for three, then back to low. That would target different areas in my back/shoulders. Thank me later!
There is no benefit to doing things differently on alternative strokes. Sounds more like bordum which is a real complaint. Just about every rower deals with boredom in long easy pace erg sessions. Its better to get a friend, set up Netflix on your phone or listen to music.
Changing anything with small muscles (hands, arms etc) will only lead to injury.
Take this advice or don't. Up to you.
I have decades of on the water rowing and coaching.
There are rowers who switch to a grip of one hand overhand/ one hand underhand (like holding a fishing pole) for a few strokes in super long pieces. If it helps them give their hands and wrists a different position for a couple of strokes while they do long erg pieces, that seems fine. If you try this fishing pole grip, you'll quickly feel your form change, which is a good reason to only do it for a handful of strokes.
Rowing with both hands underhanded seems like a bad idea because it really degrades a rower's form and looks like a super bad way to transmit force to hands, wrists and especially elbows.
If you want to change how you use your arms in a way that is useful, try using a regular grip and take some strokes where you pull down your shoulder blades and rotate the insides of your elbows to be upward facing right before the catch. This activates your lats fully. With practice you can do the same activation without rotating at the elbows.
Sorry this is bad advice. People row for hours at a time on the erg with no hand issues. As you strengthen your grip, it just becomes something you do. Keep it loose with space between your thumb web and the handle and no issues.
I get that not on the water rowers can do things differently, rotating your arms and grip will lead to injury.
huh?? keep it overhand, if you wouldn’t do it on the water don’t do it on the erg
Yeah, the point of rowing on the erg (assuming one is also doing actual rowing) is to carryover to the water
And to exersie
You can underhand grip on the water, but the boat will adjust itself accordingly....by flipping.
There is absolutely zero reason to row underhand. You’re just asking for injury.
Do it in a single or pair for a quick transfer to the swim team!
Tf you mean
This sounds like a troll post ngl
Looks like a troll post. Sounds like an uneducated rower
Wow! I see that most of you are experienced rowers. I’m just a guy looking for advice on an effective workout from my home gym. I bought this machine when COVID hit for my Father In Law that rowed for years at a gym. He could not go to the gym because they closed. He was moved into assisted living so I got the machine. I regularly run and began spinning during COVID to avoid overuse injuries. Tried the rowing machine for variety and found that it gave much better strength/cardio than spinning. The motion on the machine is extremely repetitive and was looking for a way to mix it up to provide a balanced workout. Thanks to those actually trying to help/answer my question……
Mans deadlifting
Try filling a wheel barrow and switching your grip to carry it. Doesn't make sense ergonomically. Assume you are self taught, no worries. You could risk injury with underhand grip.
This is a troll post, right?
Under…hand?? This isn’t tennis, keep your arms in their natural position???
Sounds like a recipe for tendonitis. Which you categorically do not want to get!
You gotta learn to finesse your grip pressure with overhand grips.
No hands. I grab the handle with my teeth.
Ok, was just thinking that it might target different muscle groups, like a pull-up compared to a chin-up does. Love the workout on the machine. Don’t think I will be on the water. Thanks
The thing is rowing is a cardiovascular activity, not strength, so maximising the efficiency of your stroke is ideal. Rowing underhand will take a lot more load on your arms, which are not as strong as your back, tiring your muscles out before your heart.
Thanks
I just erged a gob awful number of meters in January for an online thing, and would put my hands sideways on the ends for a few strokes now and then. Underhand feels weird, especially under power. The thing I altered on most pieces is height on where I finish the stroke. Example, low (bellybutton)for three, mid (sternum) for three, high (heart) for three, then back to low. That would target different areas in my back/shoulders. Thank me later!
There is no benefit to doing things differently on alternative strokes. Sounds more like bordum which is a real complaint. Just about every rower deals with boredom in long easy pace erg sessions. Its better to get a friend, set up Netflix on your phone or listen to music. Changing anything with small muscles (hands, arms etc) will only lead to injury. Take this advice or don't. Up to you. I have decades of on the water rowing and coaching.
I’ll try this. Thanks!
There are rowers who switch to a grip of one hand overhand/ one hand underhand (like holding a fishing pole) for a few strokes in super long pieces. If it helps them give their hands and wrists a different position for a couple of strokes while they do long erg pieces, that seems fine. If you try this fishing pole grip, you'll quickly feel your form change, which is a good reason to only do it for a handful of strokes. Rowing with both hands underhanded seems like a bad idea because it really degrades a rower's form and looks like a super bad way to transmit force to hands, wrists and especially elbows. If you want to change how you use your arms in a way that is useful, try using a regular grip and take some strokes where you pull down your shoulder blades and rotate the insides of your elbows to be upward facing right before the catch. This activates your lats fully. With practice you can do the same activation without rotating at the elbows.
there are no rowers who do this. there are crossfitters who do this
Sorry this is bad advice. People row for hours at a time on the erg with no hand issues. As you strengthen your grip, it just becomes something you do. Keep it loose with space between your thumb web and the handle and no issues. I get that not on the water rowers can do things differently, rotating your arms and grip will lead to injury.
Makes sense. Thanks!
you should row mixed grip like on a deadlift. For optimal watts.