I use a 9 ft paddle, and have taken great heat over two decades for the stupidity of same. For greatest efficiency one must use a 7 foot paddle etc. This was always accompanied by a severe overburden of personal testimonials. I never had any trouble keeping up with anyone, and my stroke rate was always low and elbows down. I bought a light-weight, same blade area, 7 ft paddle with the intent of making a quantitative comparison. I had a large scale project in mind, but only ended up with small scale pilot study, which seemed to have demonstrated that the plan was plausible and likely to be successful. As an experienced biochemist with training in experimental design and statitical analysis of data, I was painfully aware of every possible type of idiotic and annoying variable that can screw up one's ability to detect differences beyond noise. Instrumentation cost about $600., but doesn't count the new paddle or the computer equipment for recording results, etc. My pilot study indicated that, in the test case, the amount of work required to drive the boat under a specific set of conditions was the same for both paddles. I did expect to find some difference, but there wasn't even a subtle "trend". There was no statitistical difference and no suggestion that more trials would dig up a difference. Thus, my skepticism about the meaning of mathematical determinations of "WHAT the right answer must be" and testimonials about new found stamina when different sets of muscles are brought into the game. Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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