What are the benefits of Strapless rowing?

[MiddleAgeCRISIS]

Hi Everyone, tried this today as seen a few references to it, quite liked it.

How is it beneficial? It felt to me that the lack of a foot anchor stopped me from using the seat as a pivot point so might be beneficial for the back?

[Dangerscouse]

I find it's really useful to help centre your gravity so you use your core muscles more to hold yourself stable. It also means that you transfer the power properly, through the feet into the footplates.

There's probably more benefits that I'm not aware of, but they are my main focus

[gouldilocks]

I find it's really useful to help centre your gravity so you use your core muscles more to hold yourself stable. It also means that you transfer the power properly, through the feet into the footplates.

There's probably more benefits that I'm not aware of, but they are my main focus

I find it helps you to keep your feet "connected" which you don't need to do when strapped in, and also ensures you get the sequencing of the stroke correct - (if you don't you are likely to go flying off the back of the machine!!) - I do all my rowing except TT's without straps, up to about 27-28 spm.

Paul G

[hjs]

Hi Everyone, tried this today as seen a few references to it, quite liked it.

How is it beneficial? It felt to me that the lack of a foot anchor stopped me from using the seat as a pivot point so might be beneficial for the back?

Plusses and minuses.

Plus, it stops going up and down the chain like a bunny. And it forced us to finish the stroke firmly otherwise you shoot of the seat. It also stops rushing the the slide. Strapless is often done at low rates.
But there can be a different way, for people who have trouble rating up, trying to rate high with strapless is usefull, but not easy to do.
A minus is staying to upright at the finish and sort of caving in. The stroke will be a bit short.

Real speedwork is difficult, full sprints impossible.

[Cant Climb]

I'd been doing weekly strapless rows lately.
My go to reRow is 9901.
The '1' is my smart coding that I have the damper on '1'.

I find after these rows my core is like Jelly. Is subtle but the core is definitely fatigued in a different way.
I never had the problem of flying off the back either.
But strapless, from a technique point of view, I feel my abdominals are firing better on the recovery.

Also, I like the strapless to change things up. Sort of a mental break but also nice a beneficial variation.

[Ombrax]

One benefit for me is that strapless prevents you from slamming into the restraints at the end of the drive, which is a waste of energy.

[mict450]

1- teaches one to stay connected to the foot stretchers

2- teaches proper recovery using one's core, rather than pulling on the foot straps

[MiddleAgeCRISIS]

Thanks every one , i did another hour tonight without straps and i quite like the control it brings. So my stroke rate is slower so i work harder on the drive to maintain my normal pace.

I do feel i am having to balance my body more so thats good rather than use my hip flexors to yank me back.

Definitely worth persisting.

[Carl Watts]

Probably depends on your pace and rating at the end of the day.

Not sure if I would make a call on any benefits but if your rowing at pace and power and anything lets go and you suddenly have no resistance you will end up going off the back of the rower.

[Ombrax]

if your rowing at pace and power and anything lets go and you suddenly have no resistance you will end up going off the back of the rower.

That's happened to me twice in my final sprint, back before I was using gloves, and I lost my grip on the handle due to sweat. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't that painful - I just landed on my butt (carpeted gym floor). And since there wasn't anyone else in the gym at the time I just got back on and finished the piece.

[mict450]

if your rowing at pace and power and anything lets go and you suddenly have no resistance you will end up going off the back of the rower.

That's happened to me twice in my final sprint, back before I was using gloves, and I lost my grip on the handle due to sweat. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't that painful - I just landed on my butt (carpeted gym floor). And since there wasn't anyone else in the gym at the time I just got back on and finished the piece.

Glad you weren't hurt! Carpeted floor sounds much better than a painful wedgy on the monorail.