Which drill is described to focus on maintaining a square blade and a clean entry at the catch?

• A. Slow-boat drill focusing on square blades and clean entry
• B. Pause-at-catch drill while standing still
• C. Rowing while facing backward
• D. Double-pull drill

Answer: (A)

The ongoing practice concept here is developing precise blade control at the catch—getting the blade square and entering the water cleanly. The slow-boat drill is designed specifically for that: by moving slowly, you can focus on the blade’s orientation as it meets the water and the moment it enters. With the pace reduced, you can train the wrists, hands, and body to hold the blade square to the boat and to drop into the water as a clean, undisturbed entry rather than with a tilt or splash. This drill gives you the feedback needed to synchronize blade angle, entrance timing, and body positioning so the catch happens with a square blade right as the blade starts to pull water.

Other drills touch on related aspects but don’t target the catch entry with the same clarity. For example, pausing at the catch while standing still helps you feel the catch position without propulsion, but doesn’t practice the water-entry dynamics during movement. Rowing while facing backward changes alignment and balance but isn’t focused on the blade’s angle at the catch. The double-pull drill emphasizes the early drive and the sequence of the stroke, rather than refining the exact moment the blade enters water.