Twisted Paddle

Twisted Paddle

Our tool for propulsion in a dragon boat is our paddle. It is a simple piece of technology which if used correctly, can help a team get nearly 2 tonnes of craft moving at 20km/hr or more. However, used inefficiently it can hinder the motion of the craft.

Paddle blade twisted in the water

A twisted paddle blade means the power face of the blade is no longer perpendicular to the side of the boat (and thus, not perpendicular to the direction of travel).

When this happens, the paddle acts more like a propeller or a rudder, pushing water sideways and up instead of directly backwards.

The root causes of the twist are almost always found in how the hands interact with the paddle shaft, particularly the top hand.

Key Causes of Blade Twist

Passive Top Hand:

The most frequent culprit. The top hand is not actively gripping and controlling the paddle angle (the "power face").

Gripping with Fingers Only:

Relying on the fingers, rather than the palm and wrist, to hold the top T-grip. The T-grip requires a firm, closed grip to stabilize the entire paddle.

Pulling with the Bottom Arm:

Dominating the drive with the bottom arm and shoulder, which naturally encourages the top hand to relax and the blade to rotate outward.

Correction

Top Hand Drive

The top hand (on the T-grip) is the control hand. Its primary role is to set and maintain the blade angle and provide the downward pressure for the core-driven drive phase.

The Fist Grip: Ensure a firm, closed fist grip around the T-grip. This grip must be maintained throughout the catch and drive phases.

The "Push" Command: Think of the top hand as pushing the T-grip down and forward into the catch, and then down and forward through the drive. It’s not just a passive holder; it’s an active power contributor.

Bottom Arm Brace

The bottom arm's function is to maintain the shaft’s proximity to the boat and act as a lever, not a primary pulling muscle.

Straight Arm (But Not Locked): Avoid pulling with the bottom hand. Keep a near-straight bottom arm from the shoulder to the wrist during the catch and the initial drive. This creates a solid lever that prevents the blade from diving too deep or pulling out wide.

Maintain Posture and Connection

Your body position directly influences the paddle angle.

Vertical Shaft: Strive to keep the paddle shaft as vertical as possible. A vertical shaft allows you to pull straight back along the boat's axis. When the shaft angles too far inward toward the center line, the blade naturally rotates outward.