Feathering

By the Watta Team · Updated

Feathering: Feathering is the rotation of the oar blade from vertical to horizontal during the recovery phase in on-water rowing, reducing wind resistance — not applicable to the erg.

What is Feathering?

Feathering is an on-water rowing technique where the oar blade is turned flat (horizontal) during the recovery to minimise wind resistance and prevent the blade from catching the water surface. At the catch, the blade is "squared" (turned vertical) to enter the water cleanly. This square-feather cycle happens every stroke and is a fundamental on-water skill. On the erg, there is no feathering — the handle does not rotate. However, understanding feathering is important for erg rowers transitioning to on-water rowing and for understanding rowing terminology in coaching resources. Some rowing coaches use the term "squaring" in erg context to describe the moment of connection at the catch.

How Watta Uses Feathering

Watta focuses on erg-specific metrics and does not track feathering. However, the technique concepts around the catch and blade entry translate to erg timing, which affects the force curve and overall efficiency captured in Watta's Economy scoring.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to feather on the erg?
No. The erg handle does not rotate. Feathering is exclusively an on-water technique. On the erg, focus on grip relaxation and smooth handle path instead.
Why do rowers feather?
To reduce wind resistance on the blade during the recovery (especially in headwinds) and to prevent the blade from catching the water surface. It also creates a natural wrist position that signals the transition between recovery and catch.
Is feathering hard to learn?
It takes most beginners 2-4 weeks of on-water practice to feather consistently. The motion is a subtle rotation of the fingers, not the wrist. Many clubs teach sculling (two oars) before sweep (one oar) because the feathering motion is more intuitive.

Related Content

The CatchThe catch is the starting position of the rowing stroke where the blade enters the water (or on the erg, where the chain becomes taut), with shins vertical and body compressed forward.The RecoveryThe recovery is the non-power phase of the rowing stroke where the rower returns to the catch position, following an arms-back-legs sequence.Stroke RateStroke rate, or strokes per minute (SPM), is the number of complete rowing strokes you take in one minute on the ergometer.Erg Technique GuideFor RowersFor Beginners
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