On Mar 28, 6:22 am, Michael Daly wrote:
(PeteCresswell) wrote:
On Sunday, I heard a spiel from a major paddle maker's rep to the effect that
offsetting the paddle blades 45 degrees makes for the least wrist rotation:
namely none.

If I understood it correctly, the rationale was that if one's body is twisting
properly with each stroke, the blades just come down into the water at the
proper angle without having to rotate the control hand back and forth.

Define "twisting properly". Since different paddling techniques require
different paddle angles, torso rotation etc, then there cannot be _one_
"proper" way of handling the paddle.

In the real world, where I live, paddle angles can vary from ~30 - 60
degrees for minimal wrist action depending on the technique you use.
With my Lendal, I tend to use a 30 degree angle most of the time
(estimated, not measured - I have a continuously variable Lendal).
However, if I'm going to use a high angle, high power stroke for a
while, I will increase the feather angle.

With a Greenland-style paddle, there is no feather angle and you can
adjust any differences with your fingers, not your wrist.

The 45 degree paddle will be good for some paddlers, some of the time.
Some who only ever use one technique might think it's perfect.

That paddle maker's rep seems to have a narrow view of paddling - why am
I thinking it's Werner?

Mike

Seems to me that the rep is focusing primarily on paddling straight
ahead, also. Turning strokes will have you twisting your grip all over
the place.

BTW, do they make 'left-hand' and 'right-hand' 45-degree paddles?

--riverman