Bob wrote on May 4th: >>Make sure you are not gripping your paddle too tight. I totally relax the "pushing hand" and often change the position of my thumb.<<< A misconception many have concerning correct paddle technique is that the upper hand is a *pushing hand*. If you *do* push with the upper hand it moves the pivot point of the paddle to the center of the shaft. The result, with the pivot point at the center, is a much smaller blade arc. To increase the size of the arc, one must keep the pivot point high, say about your upper <or pivot> hand. This is done by rotating the torso and keeping the top hand and arm position rather static. Imagine watching your wrist watch while you take the stroke. Pushing and pulling will result in lots of arm action, little torso action. Kinda like the dog paddle in swimming. We stopped teaching the *push/pull* technique about 5 years ago. =O So........4 *keys* to proper technique and paddle efficiency are: 1. Proper Posture <paddlers box, sitting upright, balanced> 2. Blade Angle <controlled with the working or water hand, regardless of feather!> 3. Shaft Angle <vertical drives the boat ahead, horizontal turns the boat *and* offers support> and......... 4, Pivot Point <upper hand pivot keeps the paddle arc large> Steve Scherrer < ACA Instructor Trainer> Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr Portland, Oregon 97217 Phone: 503.285.0464 Fax: 503.285.0106 Web: http://www.aldercreek.com Email: aldercreek_at_aldercreek.com Email: acks_at_teleport.com ______________________________________________ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue May 04 1999 - 11:06:14 PDT
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