How do you incorporate a new technique/correction

[FloridaWindSUP]

I did a race paddling clinic with Ryan Helm on Tuesday and got some good pointers identifying two things that have probably been a weakness in my stroke for a long time.

1. I haven't been getting enough positive angle reach at the catch. Suggested correction: Bend top elbow more and stack shoulders more.
2. I've been paddling too far past my feet. Suggested correction: Pull it out sooner.

When you're trying to incorporate stroke corrections, do you focus on the correction for the entire duration of your workout paddles, or just for short drills and intervals, reverting back to your instinctual-but-flawed stroke at other times, or what?

[hbsteve]

Paddle as long as you can using the new technique.  Then just let it go and just paddle for a break.  Repeat.  Repeat.
After a while you will you will just paddle with the new technique for the entire time.

[Eagle]

What works for me is to keep those items in mind - and just paddle away and have fun.  Like today - took out the AS23 and our smallest blade paddle for something different.  Was able to easily paddle 80 strokes on the same side with a bit of blade angle correction.  Did that on my other side and forgot about it.  That was my technique drill.  Took a couple of minutes or so.

Same with reaching and stacking - and pulling out early.  Did that for a while and gave that up.  Then just used my normal "non-optimal" paddle stroke and that was fine upwind and DW.  I was concentrating how nice the board was pounding upwind on the concave - and worried about how many waves I could catch DW.  The stroke was whatever could get me there fastest.  Racing is a non priority at this point - so I spend most my time on the board relaxing - but going relatively fast.

So am not that concerned with stroke mechanics much anymore.  Fun and balancing are my main priorities now.  Must be getting old and lazy.   

[PonoBill]

Short drills, but I keep pulling myself back to the changed method whenever I notice i'm drifting. I've been adding the Johnny Puakea stroke to my repertoire and it's a hard one to maintain. For that, I just do as much as I feel comfortable with, and then let it go. Changing a hand position to prompt yourself helps also. For the Puakea stroke, both on my SUP and in the OC6, I angle the wrist on my top hand a little extra, that reminds me to push down.

[supsurf-tw]

Go slow. Concentrate on form almost in slow motion the get your brain programmed for the changes. Once it starts becoming more natural speed up the tempo a little then a little more until you're running at the right speed.

[ruralwaters]

In addition to all the other fine suggestions on this thread, finish each paddle with 10 really good strokes (or whatever metric you want to use -  # strokes, distance).  Really focus on making those strokes perfect so they will be the last thing your mind/body remembers before getting out of the water.

I am a complete SUP beginner but "last perfect" has worked really well for me in other sports.