# Physics of rowing oars

## TL;DR

This paper investigates the physics of rowing oars, analyzing how row lengths and blade sizes affect efficiency, and offers an optimization scheme considering human constraints and athlete strength.

## Contribution

It introduces a force-based framework for optimizing rowing oars, differing from previous kinematic-focused studies, and provides tailored recommendations for different sports and athletes.

## Key findings

- Optimal row lengths vary with sport and athlete strength.
- Blade size impacts rowing efficiency and can be optimized.
- A new optimization scheme for rowing oars is proposed.

## Abstract

In each rowing sport, the oars have their very own characteristics most of the time selected through a long time experience. Here we address experimentally and theoretically the problem of rowing efficiency as function of row lengths and blades sizes. In contrast with previous studies which consider imposed kinematics, we set an imposed force framework which is closer to human constraints. We find that optimal row lengths and blades sizes depend on sports and athletes strength, and provide an optimisation scheme.