Re: [Paddlewise] Control hand that's most efficient

Here is a bit of an article I wrote back in the early 1990's for Sea
Kayaker:

Right or left hand control?  This refers to the hand that (according to
traditional instruction) controls the rotation of the paddle shaft on a
feathered paddle.  The control hand stayed fixed on the shaft and the shaft
rotates in the other hand.  Spoon blades, asymmetrical blades, and feathers
other than 0` or 90`, all make a paddle either right control or left control
(a two piece paddle can usually accommodate both feathers as well as
unfeathered).  If you are already a paddler you have probably made your
choice and will stick to it.  More than 90% of those using feathered paddles
paddle right feathered.  If you want to be in the majority or like the idea
that you can trade paddles with most other paddler's choose right hand
control or a two piece paddle.  I assume that this preponderance of right
control began because of the confusion between right control and right
handedness.  Since right handed people have more dexterity with their right
hand that would logically be the hand that changes position on the paddle,
leaving the left hand to become the control hand.  Also, if one is prone to
getting a sore wrist on the control side it might as well not affect the
best hand.   A kayak school did a (not totally rigorous) study of beginning
kayaker's by starting their students with feathers either the same or
opposite their handedness.  They reported that those using a feather
opposite their handedness learned quicker, stayed with kayaking longer, and
once they had learned to Eskimo roll to one side also could roll on the
other.  Those with a feather the same as their handedness had to learn to
roll to the opposite side much the same as they did the first time.  I don't
advocate switching feathers (except as a last resort to overcome a wrist
problem) because this will (at least temporarily) throw off ones reflexive
paddle brace.  Most people stick with the way they first learned since that
has become comfortable and any change feels awkward.

[Note: the information on the paddling school was reported in, I believe,
the mid to late 1970's in Canoe magazine (in a section of short pieces near
the front). I read it when it first came out but have been unable to find it
since. The paddling school that did the study had a name something like
Sundance, I think.}

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************