Author Topic: Lower hand position  (Read 7919 times)

hbsteve

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Lower hand position
« on: October 20, 2016, 11:50:18 AM »
When I first started, I learned to hold the paddle shaft by my fingers.  Picture the lower hand in a "C" shape, as in hanging from a pull up bar.
Someone recently told me to have the paddle shaft more in my palm.
What is the current thinking on this?

Bean

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2016, 12:28:41 PM »
As long as you are not expending unnecessary energy gripping the shaft I would think either way is fine.  It's always good to be able to modify the grip a little on a long paddle.

blueplanetsurf

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2016, 02:01:36 PM »
I prefer a loose grip with the lower hand, this also gives you more reach than a tight grip.
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DavidJohn

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2016, 03:34:35 PM »
I prefer a loose grip with the lower hand, this also gives you more reach than a tight grip.

Same.

yugi

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2016, 04:51:34 PM »
A death grip on the lower hand sounds absurd. Either hand  BTW.

mrbig

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2016, 05:01:48 PM »
Got a great tip from an elite racer. Keep your little finger loose and NOT wrapped at all around the shaft. . Helped me a lot. Tennis, hockey, baseball all the same! Looser is always mo bettah! Tense muscles 💪 are slooow.. 8)  8)  8)
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pdxmike

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2016, 05:12:47 PM »
Yes to everything said already.  Tight hands = tense hands = tense arms = tense body = poor performance.  Some athletes (like some sprinters) who don't keep their hands entirely loose still typically avoid entirely tight hands.  Tight grip also means more blisters.




Night Wing

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2016, 07:29:35 PM »
I also use a loose grip. My motto, "Go with what works for you".
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hbsteve

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2016, 08:42:38 PM »
The tension of the grip wasn't discussed.  The other person suggested that I have the paddle shaft in the palm of my hand.
I haven't experienced any problems with the way I've been doing it.  So, I'm reluctant to change, unless that is now the current thinking.

Off-Shore

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2016, 10:53:15 PM »
I definitely don't have the lower grip in the palm of my hand. I lightly grip using my fingers, and for some weird reason for my right hand I only use 3 fingers, and on my left all 4 (both of course with the thumb) 

Must be all that tea drinking we do here...
« Last Edit: October 20, 2016, 10:57:12 PM by Off-Shore »
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Area 10

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2016, 10:54:51 PM »
Try it and see. It's not the standard advice that's given, but I think we have to be open to new possibilities. If it were possible to keep the shaft in the palm and still remain as loose as a goose then maybe there might be advantages. I'd be worried about the loss of reach, and perhaps fine control over the blade orientation, but perhaps that's just a matter of practice. It is possible that the advice you were given was part of a package of things that work together to address a particular shortcoming, perhaps.

But the message here is clear: whatever you do, try to stay as relaxed as possible. If using the palm means that you tense up then you might lose any theoretical gains.

It's an interesting and unusual suggestion. I'm going to give it a go today. It doesn't sound "right" to me - but then again as Dave Kalama pointed out, there's not much about a good paddle stroke that is intuitive.

DavidJohn

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2016, 01:00:57 AM »
I'm not claiming to be an expert but check out my hands in this vid..  8)

And I'm not even a tea drinker..  ;D


Night Wing

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2016, 04:52:26 AM »
@DJ

When I watch your DW'ing videos, I pay attention to your footwork on your sup. This is the first time I've paid attention to your hand and finger work while paddling. After watching the entire video, I come to realize your hand and finger work at exactly like mine....which includes the pinkie.  ;)

Thanks for sharing this video again.
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supsurf-tw

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2016, 07:06:43 AM »
It's not so much about gripping but pulling with the least amount of stress you can put on hand\forearm.
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mrbig

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Re: Lower hand position
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2016, 08:12:07 AM »
Yes. As an experiment hold your left forearm with your right hand above the elbow. Slowly close your hand. Notice when the muscle gets tight. When your hand starts to close that is when you start losing speed and strength.

Baseball players are now taught to hold the bat in your fingers to minimize the tension in the forearms from a tight palm grip. Notice a lot more bats are flying around than in the old days!!
« Last Edit: October 21, 2016, 08:16:39 AM by mrbig »
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