"Quick Shift" from Quickblade - Choking Down on the Paddle

[baddog]

Regarding the quick length change on the fly:  Look closely at the paddle with the Quick Shift.  It has some unknown skinny neck handle that might be exactly that.  At least, I have never seen that skinny neck setup before...

Regarding the thumb down thing which is thumbs down for me:  I think you need to have exceptional rotational flexibility in your shoulders and arms for the thumbs down choke up to be effective.  Whether it's genetics, age, or something else, my arms don't rotate like  Annabel's. 

[SUPsideATX]

Didn't want to start a new thread. Obviously it's 2015 and the last post on this topic was early 2013...

Since everyone's in different parts of the US and abroad, just wanted to get a feel if your area you seen any noticeable upward trends regarding people using choke method in races these last two years?     

I honestly don't know how many years people have been using the choke grip on SUP paddles, so I maybe way behind the trend. I just seen videos with people using choke grip and I haven't seen anyone in person in Austin, TX use it yet.

[Badger]

I learned a lot from this video a while back. It made me realize how moving your hand further down the paddle shaft gives more power.

[PonoBill]

Interesting to see this thread revive. As JohnRG said, a self centering paddle makes it simpler. The Konihi paddle is viciously self-centering. You'd need a pair of vice grips on the the shaft to turn it while you're pulling hard--to the degree that I simply can't do a J-stroke or any kind of bow pull. I hadn't been doing anything with either a choked or reversed grip in a long time, but a few days ago I just did it and was surprised how easy it is with a Konihi. You can do either grip and still relax your hands--it pulls straight. Takes about ten minutes to relax enough to open your hands, but once you have it, it's a piece of cake. 

really nice when you're getting tired at the end of a run because in the reversed upper hand you recruit some different muscles. Like opening the reserve tank. I haven't tried it for sprinting yet. Some of you younger folks need to do that and let me know how it goes. I sprint for a bump on downwinders, but that's about it.

[hbsteve]

Riviera has a new paddle called the bump, designed for choking down.  The top part of the shaft has a grip similar to a steering wheel.  The handle does too.  I'm
not sure about the handle.  Some of us like to make small adjustments on handle hand placement.