Re: [Paddlewise] paddle testing

I think the optimum paddle is only optimum for a particular paddler, using it for a particular set of circumstances. 

In both canoeing and kayaking, I started with a paddle too long and too heavy for me to paddle most efficiently. 

If a paddle is too long and/or too heavy, a person's stroke rate may be too slow to maintain speed in their particular boat.  Thus each stroke feels more like the first one when the boat is being accelerated.  

The preferred shape of the blade is also a function of the paddler's style and preference for speed, long paddles with the least effect on the body, or boat control. 

I'm 5'2" and need a narrow boat to be confortable paddling over it's sides.  I like to keep my paddle close to the boat to prevent the sweeping back and forth that happens in response to a low, partially sweep stroke. I found that when I manintain a kayak or canoe at it's best cruising speed, I am mostly feeling like I'm stirring water. I've also found that differently shaped paddles behave 
differently in the water and I now pick ones that feel good when paddled in my own paddling style.  

I currently use mid-Swift paddles.  This paddle has enough support for bracing while not being too big for me to be able to give it the quick move through it's forward motion part of the paddle stroke.  The spoon allows for a very quick and solid plant so the initial part of the stroke is very fast.  But... it is grabby at the end of the stroke and must be allowed to drift back alongside the boat before being taken out of the water so my speed could be improved by changing to a different shape, probably a modified wing. But I currently paddle faster than most people I paddle with so I don't need a faster paddle unless I take up racing. 

I have had physics courses and taught high school physics and I am sure that while a manufacturer wants to know how to make his paddles optimal,
the definition of what is optimal is very much subjective.  Each of us develops paddling strokes based on our body types, training and equipment. 

I have used paddles that fluttered and found that I could change the angle of attack and have them work better.  

But formulas for how a paddle works in a test situation don't have enough impact on real life paddling to matter except when comparing bottom and top end paddles.  If you are a big guy and like to apply a lot of force, get a paddle with a big blade.  But if you are short, female, don't have a lot of boddy strength, get a very small blade. You will be able to paddle just as fast as the big guys if you have the right sized paddle for you and learn the correct paddling techniques, using your stomach and leg muscles to paddle forward, and your arms to lift and push the paddle.

The biggest variable in paddling is technique.  The second biggest one is size and, strength, and stamina of the paddlers.  Then comes boat design, and finally paddling design.  

So you really first have to learn how to perform a really efficient forward stroke as well as the other strokes you need for the places you paddle, then find the paddle that works best with your technique and boat. Weaker people need to paddle with a high stroke rate and less attack, while the big guys can continue to use their big paddles with a slower stroke rate.  

The trick is to be sure you are using a paddle and techinque and stroke rate so your boat doesn't slow down between strokes. That way, you take inertia out of the picture and get to travel in high gear all the time. This results in the least output from your body for the maximum forward motion. Remember that work, after all is just force X distance. So if we have exerted a lower force (our energy on the paddle) over a long distance (the 14 inches or so of the forward part of the stroke (times the stroke numbers) both paddlers come out the same but the one using the least force on the smallest mass does less bad stuff to the body.

The equipment we started out with rapidly becomes obselete as we gain new skills and find our preferred paddling envrionment and styles.  We adapt to out equipment and then find it will no longer do what we want it to do as we gain new skills.  Since I haven't reached perfection in my paddling skills, I expect I may need different equipment in the future.  I've already changed my kayak from a Eddyline Raven to a Mayan Seas Performa so I could master higher level skills.  (The Eddyline is too wide and has too much volume for be to be able to do higher level paddling in it.)

So the best way to judge a paddle is to just try it out under the conditions you wish to use it.  The second best would be descriptions of how if feels to you, under the described circumstances you use it.  You also have to tell us about your size, including torso hight and width of shoulders, strength, paddling skills, attack angle, paddling circumstances such as flat water or big waves,etc.  Then we could judge if the paddle might work for us and at least build a list of paddles we might like.  The least informative information is the numbers generated by unscientific (uncontrolled variables) measurements. However, if each paddle was attached to a robot paddler at different attack levels and forces, etc. we could probably generate some measurements that we could use to make decisions as to the best paddles for our selves. 
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