Choosing new sculls for your own use or for your club’s use is a delicate process. Getting the right choice is important and we often get asked “How do I test sculls?”
Our recommended methodology for testing sculls
Set up the two or three different designs of sculls to the same length and inboard that you have with your current/normal pair.
Go for a series of short rows – about 1-2 km each time…. come back and swap blades so you try each pair two times.
What to do during the row
During the row (have a speed coach on your boat) and do the same work each time you go out with a different pair of sculls
- some steady state;
- do a 3 minute piece at 26;
- do a half slide rate build (to see how clean they are at the finish)
- do a full racing start.
Try these with all the scull designs and if you have a coach or a friend who’d video your racing start then you can compare how your personal technique works with each type.
A customer wrote to us recently with this question:
What’s the difference between Apex and Apex Round sculls?
Here’s our answer:
The Apex round has a smaller spoon size than the apex and is designed so the spoon is ONLY the parts of the surface that grip the water most effectively.
Basically they cut off the corners of the apex hatchet shape.
If your sculling skill is such that you can place the blade into the water at the catch before you drive your legs – the Apex round will suit you.
If, however you need the width of the bottom of the blade to engage the water as you place and drive simultaneously you’ll find that using the Apex Round will make you go slower – until you can adapt your technique.
Related articles
- What is the blade of an oar called (wiki.answers.com)
- Hodge and Reed seal pairs victory (news.bbc.co.uk)
