Hi Matthias,
Thank your the input. enabling the record-route (IP option 7) is a feature by itself. So, in the switch, it can be enabled all the time by the command, enable ip-option record-route. under this command, we have an explanation about this.
Snippet from the command reference guide under the command enable ip-option record-route:
Usage Guidelines
IP option record-route (IP option 7) means that each router along the path should add its IP address
into the options data.
Enabling means that the switch adds itself into the IP options header when the record route IP option is
enabled in a packet that is transiting the switch.
Under the ping command, it is just an additional parameter which can be used.
So, I believe command reference guide explains this option well and the article explains its application. Hope this helps!