Red Paddle Co FAQ - How To Hold A Paddle Board Paddle

One of the most common mistakes that beginners make when learning to SUP is holding the SUP paddle the wrong way - we’ve all been there! The most common mistake is to hold the blade backwards with the blade bent towards you, rather than sloping away from you. This is usually because when you’re learning to paddle board starting from a kneeling position, it feels more natural to hold the SUP paddle closer to the shaft, pulling the water towards you like a big scoop. However, once you start standing ,you'll soon notice that this feels really awkward and definitely isn't the right technique for how to hold a paddle board paddle! It’s also really common for beginners to hold their hands too close together on the handle and the shaft, which can cause you to lose power on your strokes.

So, what is the correct method for how to hold a paddle board paddle? In order to answer this question, it’s first important to understand the 4 main components of a SUP paddle. These are:

T-Bar Grip: This is the handle at the very top that you’ll grip with one of your hands

Scale: This is just below the T-bar grip, at the top of the paddle, and this is where you can adjust the height 

Shaft: This is the longest and main part of the paddle that your second hand will grip

Blade: This is what propels you through the water (so long as it’s the right way round!)