Quick answer
Hold the paddle with the concave (scooped) face of each blade facing you, the longer straight edge of the blade at the top, and your hands about shoulder-width apart or a little wider. Your knuckles should line up with the blade’s top edge, and your grip should be firm but loose enough that your hands can relax between strokes.
Step by step
1. Know which way up the blade goes
Most kayak paddle blades are slightly curved. The scooped side is the power face, which catches the water as you pull. It should face you when you take a forward stroke. Many blades are also asymmetrical, with one edge longer than the other. The longer edge generally goes at the top.
2. Center the shaft and set your hands
A common way to check hand spacing is to rest the paddle shaft on top of your head and slide your hands apart until your elbows make roughly a right angle. Then bring the paddle down in front of you. Hands that are too close together reduce leverage, while hands too far apart can tire your shoulders.
3. Line up your knuckles
Your knuckles should be roughly in line with the top edge of the blade, with your wrists staying straight. If your wrists bend sharply, the blade may be rotated the wrong way.
4. Relax your grip
Many new paddlers squeeze the shaft hard, which leads to sore forearms and blisters. A loose grip with a “closed” hand on the control side, and the other hand allowed to relax during the stroke, usually feels better. Some instructors describe holding the paddle like a loose ring made by your thumb and fingers.
Control hand and feathering
Paddles with offset blades may be set so the blades are at an angle to each other, which is called feathering. One hand is the control hand and keeps a firm hold, while the other hand lets the shaft rotate. Many paddles let you adjust the angle, and unfeathered (0 degrees) is a common starting point for beginners. If your paddle has adjustable ferrules, try both and choose what is comfortable.
Low angle or high angle
Your paddling style affects how you hold your hands. A low-angle stroke keeps the paddle lower and is relaxed, popular in recreational and touring kayaking. A high-angle stroke keeps the paddle more vertical and is often used when you want more speed or power. Neither is wrong. Match your grip to your kayak and the conditions; see how to pick a kayak if you are still choosing a boat.
Choosing paddle size
Paddle length depends on your height, the width of your boat and your stroke style. Manufacturers usually provide sizing charts, and a shop can help. Our kayaking gear checklist covers other items worth sizing, such as your PFD. A paddle that is too long or short makes holding it correctly harder.
Common mistakes
- Holding the blade upside down, so the curve faces away from you
- Hands too close together or too far apart
- Gripping too hard
- Bending the wrists
- Dragging the shaft across the boat, which can drip water into your lap
Drip rings, the small rubber rings on the shaft, should sit so that water runs away from your hands.
What next
Once you can hold the paddle comfortably, practice the strokes in kayak strokes explained. For other starting skills, see paddling for beginners.