Best Rowing Machines of 2024
When using a rowing machine, practicing good form is key if you want to get the most out of your workout. It can be helpful to have a rowing coach or trainer who is familiar with the machine teach you proper rowing technique.
Catch, drive, recover: There are four key steps to learning to row. these are Catch, drive, finish and recover. Peloton rowing instructor Alex Karwoski says your starting position should look like this: “Start in a fully compressed position—your arms should be extended, your body rotated forward at a slight angle, and your knees toward your chest.” From here, You’ll need to use your legs to push the seat and handle away from the screen. Kaworski explains, “During the first third to half of the drive, our legs do most of the work, while our arms and body support and take the stress.” Then, as the calves make contact with the ground When it reaches about 45 degrees, the body begins to swing. The key to body swing, he says, is to consider “adding power” to the handle. The legs begin to move the internal flywheel, which is where the legs and body can work together to further accelerate the flywheel. “Finally, our arms step in at the end of the stroke and pull the handle all the way into the chest,” he says. Once all of this is done, you begin the recovery phase of the stroke, which is the opposite, with the arms first moving away from the body, then the body rotates forward and the legs compress to return to the catch.
Don’t abuse the drag coefficient: The drag coefficient is usually represented by the damping handle on a traditional rowing machine. On more modern rowing machines, such as some mentioned on this list, it is included in the software. “Most people think moving it from 3 to 10 makes the machine harder, but it actually just increases the speed at which the flywheel slows down, causing the stroke to feel heavier because now it’s like you’re paddling through molasses instead of water Same thing,” Kaworski explained. In other words, avoid mistaking “drag coefficient” for “speed level” or “strength.”
Learn what the main measurements are: Outputs the primary unit of measurement when rowing. Kaworski explains that when rowing, each stroke takes a certain amount of time, so the work measured is the force exerted to move the flywheel. He says, “From the output, we can derive the division, which is given by the time it takes to row 500 meters at a given output and distance.” Another metric to look at is stroke frequency, which is if The number of strokes you will perform in one minute as you maintain your current tempo. “I encourage people to focus on the output, because that’s usually the big number in the middle of the screen,” Kaworski said. Keep in mind that different rowing machines have different highlighting metrics, but ultimately it’s all about how much force you can apply with the drive to move the flywheel.
Boating notes: As with any form of exercise, be sure to get your doctor’s approval if you have a medical condition or are pregnant. “If you’re recovering from an injury that doesn’t prevent you from sitting on a rowing machine, rowing may be a gentler way to do it,” says Peloton rowing instructor Katie Wang. Reboot Your Cardiovascular Health “This is a great way to get the benefits of aerobic exercise while taking care of your joints and knees.
