

While still holding the T-grip with one hand, position your other hand on the shaft so that both arms form 90-degree angles at the elbows. Then, raise the paddle above your head, so it is in line with your shoulders and rest the shaft on your head. To make sure you don’t hold your hands too close together as I mentioned earlier, you can grab the T-grip on the end of the paddle with one hand and the shaft of the paddle with your other hand. This is because, with it, you push the water and power the board forward.Īt this point, you should make a hand position check. With the paddle blade angled forward, the back side of the blade is called the power face. 90% of the time, paddlers hold the blade oriented this way, and then if making a specialized stroke, you might hold it otherwise, but that’s for another topic. Because when holding it angled forward, it is easier to control it.īasically, the tear-drop-shaped blade at the bottom of the paddle should be angled forward, facing the nose of the board. Then, when it comes to the blade angle when holding it, it needs to be bent forwards and not back. Don’t forget: Never keep your hands too close together! This will limit the power you can yield with each stroke. Of course, it’s normal to make mistakes at first, but we are here to correct them.įirstly, your hand position should be with a light grip where one hand is on the T-grip while the other is on the shaft. How well you hold your paddle is how quickly you master the right strokes and become better at paddling.
#Atoll boards how to#
Most paddles are height adjustable so they are suitable for anyone How to hold a paddle board paddle Other articles that might be interesting to you With a properly sized paddle, the T-grip handle will rest in the bend of your wrist.

Reach an arm up above your head and notice where it lands on the paddle.Stand the paddle up vertically, so the blade is touching the ground.

To know if your paddle is the right size for you, do the following:
#Atoll boards plus#
Otherwise, adjustables are excellent because you can experiment with the size that suits you the most, plus you can share it among your friends or family. This is why, when touring on long paddle boarding periods or racing, paddlers tend to choose fixed length paddles. Fixed-length paddles are lighter and stiffer while the adjustable paddle will be a bit heavier. That said, paddle board paddles can be found in fixed lengths and adjustable lengths. On the other hand, if your paddle is too long, then your hands will tire too soon, and you won’t be able to make the right strokes with it. If you pick a shorter one that you actually need, you will be unnaturally hunching over it to reach the water. So, hopefully, by the end of this page, you will learn how to:īefore you learn all about how to hold a SUP paddle, you need to make sure you have the right paddle size for you.Ĭheck out the best SUP paddles for this year I was trying to hold my SUP paddle right, trying to stay balanced on the board, trying to see where I’m paddling and, most importantly, trying not to fall in the water for the 100 th time.Īh, happy memories… Luckily that’s all behind me now, and having mastered paddle boarding, I would love to help you do the same. I remember my beginnings, oh, it was a real struggle. Watching someone paddle gracefully in front of you in the water might look magnificent, but you trying to do the same might be something entirely different. Other articles that might be interesting to you.
