Re: [Paddlewise] Switching paddle types

Shawn wrote:
>>But that's really more of a chapter for the feathered vs. unfeathered
>>debate. :)

Nick wrote:
>I find it funny how up tight people get about feathering. Uh, 
>horrors, you need to cock your wrist! Yes, it is there, no doubt. 

You cock your wrist with an extended paddle stroke?

Doing an extended paddle stroke with a feathered paddle feels funny,
because you lose your indexing reference when you're putting the
opposite blade in the desired position in the water.  My point is that
feathered paddles really don't lend themselves well to extended paddle
strokes.  Unless you're using a 90* or 0* offset...in which the inboard
blade pretty much tells you exactly what the outboard blade is doing. 

Personally, I have no problem with feathered paddles.  My Euros are
feathered, and they never give me any grief.  I do tend to cock my
forearm rather than my wrist, as cocking my wrist repeatedly makes it
sore.  I just don't tend to extend them, as it's not worth the hassle
involved.

If I understood your previous point correctly, you stated that the
benefits of an extended paddle stroke aren't the sole provence of
Greenland paddles.  I agree.  You can extend a Euro paddle.  I agree. 

With a feathered Euro paddle, extended strokes just get a little too
sloppy.  You have to start watching what the paddle blade is doing,
rather then being able to rely on reflex and the tacticle feedback of
your inboard blade.  I think the benefits are hard pressed to overcome
the drawbacks.

Shawn

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