Inflatable Kayak Blog

This tip is more for beginners than experienced paddlers. Most kayak paddles on the market today have an optional placement setting when clipping the shafts together. There are two holes. One will align the paddles square or parallel to each other. The other setting aligns them in an offset mode. If you’re right handed, twist the right side of the shaft so the blade rotates toward you. If you are left-handed, twist the left side instead.
To paddle with offset blades, keep your dominant hand firm around the shaft and the other hand loose. The paddle will twist through your loose hand with each stroke while your dominant hand controls the blade angle. This technique often allows for better muscle efficiency than parallel-bladed paddles resulting in a smoother and less ‘twisting’ stroke.