<p>Holding the Paddle</p>
<p>Here's how to come to grips with your paddle:</p>
<p>Picture the width of your shoulders. That, or a little less, is the amount of space that should separate your hands when hold the shaft.</p>
<p>If your hand spacing is too wide: You'll gain power but tire out rapidly because this hand position requires a lot of upper-body strength to pull the paddle through the water.</p>
<p>If your hand spacing is too narrow: You risk having no strength in your stroke.</p>
<p>Wherever you hold it, avoid applying a death grip on the shaft. It causes fatigue. Instead, use a relaxed grip. Open your fingers slightly and create a loose handhold.</p>
<p>In each hand, press the tips of your index finger and thumbs and create an O shape to loosely hold the shaft. This is a favorable, fatigue-fighting grip that reminds you that you actually push the paddle during most forward strokes.</p>
<p>When your hands are in the correct position:</p>
<p>Knuckles are pointed up.</p>
<p>One of the blades is vertical (this makes it your "power hand").</p>
<p>Matched blades (blades fixed in a parallel position) are commonly used by beginners. In windy conditions, though, using a "feathered" (angled) blade can cut wind resistance.</p>
<p>When you pull a blade out of the water, wind may hit a flat blade and cause it to behave like a wind-catching sail, creating drag. Feathered blades present less surface area to the wind create less drag.</p>
<p>Most modern paddle shafts include a pop-up button in its center that allows you to feather a blade by 30°, 45° or 60°. Common feathering angles are 45° and 60°.</p>
<p>The ideal angle? It's a matter of personal preference, learned through experience. Most paddlers prefer a high angle because it reduces wind resistance. Beyond 60°, though, a paddler's wrist would be cocked too severely to maintain long-term comfort.</p>