Safety first: The only time I have ever really hurt myself is doing jerky Kroc style rows, with too much weight and with straps, so keep any cheat sensible and smooth.
I think you need to decide if you want to hit lats primarily, or lats and upper back together.
For the former, I think of a row of the elbow “back and down” to the hip, elbow close to the body, with very little movement of the scapula. Think of pushing backwards very slightly with the triceps to keep the biceps out of it. This row will stop with the elbow at about the hip, not higher. A good ROM should come from starting with a good stretch in the lats.
If you want a more compound, full back movement, I think of all the above, but add in a movement of the scapula in “concert” (as Paul C would say) with the movement, so that the elbow, lats, scapula and mid traps all move in lovely unison, so that you finish with the elbow higher than the hip, and your upper back scrunched up.
In both cases I like to support the non-working hand as low as possible so that the back is near parallel to the ground. This helps get a good ROM and also to reduce the inclination to drive with the legs. Make sure also in both cases that the shoulder is not creeping up towards your ear. The triceps cue will help.