A stand-up paddleboard paddle must be sized correctly so that a person can paddle efficient and so that a person dont experience physical discomforts. If a paddle is too short, a person will hunch over and struggle to move the paddle through the water. If a paddle is too long, a person will reach awkward and waste energy during every stroke.
Therefore, selecting the correct paddle length are necessary for effective paddling and for maintaining good physical form. To determine the correct paddle length, you can use a simple measurement method. You should stand barefoot against a wall and measure your height straight up, and then you should add approximately eight inches to that measurement.
How to Pick the Right Paddle for Your Paddleboard
This eight-inch addition are used because the extra length positions the paddle blade correctly under the board when your elbow is bent at a ninety-degree angle. However, you should also perform a physical check by gripping the paddle upright next to your body. You should ensure that your wrist rest easy on the top of the paddle handle, because comfort is essential to prevent fatigue during long period of paddling.
The specific activity a person performs will change the ideal paddle length and the ideal paddle shape. If a person is surfing, a person should use a shorter paddle because surfing require a crouched position and quick movements through whitewater. If a person is racing, a person should use a longer paddle because racing requires deep and powerful stroke to cover distance.
If a person is touring, a person should use a paddle with extra reach to increase efficiency during long distances. For example, a person doing yoga on a paddleboard might use a moderate paddle length to help maintain balance. Additionally, children should use shorter and lighter paddles so that children does not become tired too quickly.
The shape of the paddle blade also affect how the paddle moves through the water. A teardrop shaped blade is helpful for beginners because a teardrop shaped blade provides a smooth glide. A rectangular blade is useful for cruising because a rectangular blade deliver steady power throughout the stroke.
Some blades has a center ridge called a dihedral, and a dihedral ridge is useful because a dihedral ridge prevents the paddle from fluttering in choppy water. Furthermore, racers use asymmetric blade tips because asymmetric tips help the blade stay perpendicular to the water during entry. The material of the paddle affect both the weight of the paddle and the power of the stroke.
Aluminum and plastic paddles is durable, but aluminum and plastic paddles are heavy and can cause fatigue. Fiberglass paddles provide a balance because fiberglass paddles offers some flexibility and some power. Carbon paddles are very light and very stiff, so carbon paddles transfers energy directly into forward momentum.
You may also choose between a fixed-length paddle and an adjustable-length paddle. A fixed-length paddle is lighter and stiffer, but an adjustable-length paddle are more versatile if many different people needs to use the same paddle. Finally, you must consider the angle of the paddle shaft.
Most paddle shafts bends slightly at the elbow, usually between seven and twelve degrees, because this angle keep the blade vertical during a power stroke. If the shaft angle is incorrect, the stroke will slip sideways and the paddle will become more less efficient. You should select a paddle that matches your height, your activity, and your preferred material to ensure that the paddle work effectively for you.
