How to Tell If a Technical Change Is Actually Working

One of the hardest parts of rowing improvement is knowing whether a technical change is genuinely helping — or just feels different.

Why speed alone can be misleading

Many rowers judge a change by the split on the erg or how fast the boat feels on one outing. That can be misleading. Fatigue, conditions, motivation, and crew balance all affect speed.

Good coaches look for *patterns* — not one good or bad piece.

The first sign: repeatability

If a change is working, you can repeat it stroke after stroke without constant mental effort. When something is wrong, it usually feels forced and disappears as soon as pressure rises.

The second sign: improved rhythm

Almost every effective technical improvement leads to better rhythm — smoother acceleration, cleaner sequencing, and less rushing.

If a change makes rowing feel tense or jerky, it’s rarely the right priority.

The third sign: fewer compensations

When a technical fix is correct, other problems start to fade without being coached directly. You stop fighting the boat instead of adding new workarounds.

• Hands stop lifting excessively
• Finish timing cleans up
• Slides feel more controlled

The fourth sign: consistency over sessions

Real progress shows up over days and weeks. If something only works once, it probably wasn’t the main limiter.

Coaches look for changes that still appear when you’re tired, distracted, or under race pressure.

What not to use as your main test

How RowXL helps confirm progress

RowXL video analysis focuses on repeated patterns, not isolated frames. Reports highlight whether a change is holding under pressure and how it links to rhythm, connection, and efficiency.

This helps rowers avoid chasing small visual details and instead lock in changes that actually improve performance.

A simple rule to remember