Pausing at the catch with square blades

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In this video, Lachlan describes, and Annabel demonstrates the pausing at the catch with square blades exercise. This exercise takes the athletes out of their comfort zone. Discomfort is a good thing.
Most athletes are in too much of a hurry at the catch. They forget to put the blade in the water before they push. This exercise should break them out of that mould and help them stop missing water at the catch.

[@JOZZERZ]

super impressive

[@jamesheney]

Unfortunately this difficult exercise has damaging side effects. Most exercises, like drugs, have unintended and impossible to eliminate side effects.
1. It induces a hang at the catch, which kills a boat.
2. It breaks the flow of the stroke.
3.. It slows down the catch
4. It uses the body weight incorrectly, it slows rather than accelerates the boat.
5. It keeps the body weight firmly on the seat and not allowing it to rise onto the feet.
6. It induces a backsplash, which checks a boat. The blade should enter the water at boat speed or slightly higher.
7. It ignores the dynamics of the stroke.
8. It negates the phenomena of "mass suspension" discovered by Victor Kleshnev.
9. It creates tension rather than the relaxation essential for good rowing.
10. The perfect catch is that of NZ Olympic M8+ as coached by Tony O'Connor.