The blade and shaft designs are going to be significant factors when deciding what type of fluid dynamic performance you want. Blade designs like dihedrals, concaves, V’s, scoops, angles, etc, will influence how the water moves across the surface of the blade. Certain blade designs are made for increased fluidity (reducing flutter), some are made for increased grab and control, while others are designed for channeling water in certain directions. The shaft of the paddle will impact the flex properties, overall weight, durability and comfort in your hands.

Determine which type of cadence you utilize when paddling and choose paddles that are most appropriate for you, where you use it and how you use it.

When trying to figure out whether or not you should choose a fixed or adjustable paddle, our general rule to abide by is:

Will someone be using the paddle 80% of the time or more?

If there is one sole individual who will be using the paddle 80% of the time or more, get a fixed paddle that is cut to that individual’s specs. Any use percentage less than 80% is when individuals using the paddle will have to think things through. Having a fixed versus an adjustable paddle is all about controlling the height of that paddle. If multiple individuals will use one paddle but they are all the same height and demand the same type of performance, it should be fine to get a fixed paddle cut to those individuals specs.

If your ohana plans to share a paddle and everyone has different heights, an adjustable paddle will probably be the most appropriate option as you can accommodate the varying heights.

Generally, fixed paddles maximize performance, don’t take on water and are generally maintenance free, whereas adjustable paddles maximize the ability to accommodate varying heights but sacrifice performance, can take on water and sink, and require regular cleaning and maintenance.

Catch:  Most experts will agree on this point: getting a clean catch is arguably the most most important part of the stoke.  The idea is to reach  forward and fully insert the blade by slicing it into the water from the side and/or straight down before applying power to the blade.  If you start pulling before the blade is fully submerged, turbulence from the blade edges create air pockets that get pulled down and create slippage, reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole stroke.

Power:  There are many ways to apply power to the stroke.  Without  getting into too much detail, most beginners  can start by pulling and pushing using only the arms.  To make the stroke more powerful and efficient, work on engaging the whole body by using a torso twist and by pushing down with your top hand, using gravity to lean your body weight into the stroke while pulling with only a slight bend in your lower arm.  Avoid pulling the paddle past the feet.

Exit:  Feathering the blade allows the paddle a smooth exit close to the rail and feet.   As you end the power phase, use a twisting motion of the top hand (pointing thumb forward) to feather the power face of the blade away from the body as you lift the paddle up with your bottom arm and start moving the blade forward into the recovery.

Recover:  A clean exit makes the blade come out easily and move back into the reach position quickly and almost effortlessly which gives you a chance to relax, inhale and re-set the body for another clean stroke.

Entering stealth mode:  A good way to check the efficiency of your stroke is to listen.  On a calm, quiet day, listen to your stroke.  If there is a lot of splashing when you enter the water, focus on getting a cleaner catch- slice the blade into the water smoothly instead of splashing it down into the water.  If there is a lot of gurgling during the power phase, make sure to plant the whole blade and slow down the blade movement. The speed of the blade should match the speed of the board moving past the planted blade.  If you are throwing water behind you or have a splashy exit, focus on the feathering and getting a smooth, clean exit out of the water.   If you are executing a stroke correctly, the stroke should feel very smooth, efficient, powerful and quiet.

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SPECIAL NOTE
FROM ROB

I have to admit that I am a little obsessed with paddles, I have owned or tested most of the best paddles available and spend a lot of time testing, comparing, designing, refining and improving our paddles.  

I strongly believe that  a good paddle is an essential piece of equipment. Many customers focus on the board and often end up with a cheaply made and poorly designed paddle that is included with the board or settle for something less than ideal as they already spent most of their budget on the board. I think that is a big mistake. The paddle is what you use to make that board move. It’s like the engine in a sports car, absolutely essential for maximizing performance. 

At Blue Planet we have been working on applying the lessons learned from our high performance paddles to all the paddles we offer, including the lower cost entry level paddles, so everyone can enjoy efficient paddle designs.    

The paddle strength to weight ratio is very important as you lift the paddle out of the water with every stroke, which in comparison to your board you only have to lift up twice, at the start and at the end of your session.  If you take 50 paddle strokes a minute, you will lift up your paddle 3000 times per hour,  so a lighter paddle is obviously more efficient and will make long paddle sessions more enjoyable.  It’s all about having fun and I hope this post helps you find the best stand up paddle for your needs and budget.  

See you on the water!

With Aloha,

Robert Stehlik