Per Steve Cramer:
Your hand really shouldn't go past your hip, and it
should be lifting the paddle up out of the water as it does. Have a look
at this guy.
http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pa...ion/Exit.shtml
I'm just a duffer, but the word I get from serious paddlers is
that a short stroke like that shown combined with the lack of
torso rotation in the pix will lead to shoulder damage.
The ones I consult say that the paddle should exit the water
further back - but be further back by virtue of torso rotation.
Enough torso rotation feels extreme at first, but becomes natural
with practice. It brings other muscles into play - offloading
the shoulders.
--
PeteCresswell