Thumbs Up Or Thumbs Down For Paddling?

While out with the wife on our first paddle I was watching her closely and she and everyone else for that matter holds the paddle differently than I do.

Most paddlers hold their paddle with their thumbs under the shaft or below the rest of their fingers. With this grip the thumb wraps around the paddle shaft. I hold the paddle with my thumb above or parrelel to my other fingers not really using the thumb for grip. For a visual imagine holding a hammer and that's the way most do it while I hold it like a monkey bar or how a monkey holds anything for that matter.

Is this wrong? I seemed to remember being instructed to do this in one sport or another to reduce fatigue. The one time I have been with an kayak instructor no mention was made as I recall but that was likely before I was doing it. 

Interesting. I hold my thumbs slightly above parallel... assumed everybody else did too...

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So, your grip is by your finger curl and not a thumb, index finger pinch?

Have you seen Tote's wrist / hook thingy?  He makes some sort of brace that straps to the wrist and ends in a curl in the palm of your hand.  Without any real grip strength, you can pull the paddle with wrist only.  Not sure he makes them to sell or what, but I want a pair!! 

I guess i'm thumbs down, but didn't really think about it before.  I know there are entire books dedicated to paddling techniques, and it's a skill all of us can improve on.  Will be getting some tips at the MBK course this Sunday

i do both. when trolling / going a long distance, i tend to go thumbs up because it starts to rub my thumb knuckle and it gets sore. So when i start feeling that, i switch to thumbs up and it does help.

So, your grip is by your finger curl and not a thumb, index finger pinch?

Have you seen Tote's wrist / hook thingy?  He makes some sort of brace that straps to the wrist and ends in a curl in the palm of your hand.  Without any real grip strength, you can pull the paddle with wrist only.  Not sure he makes them to sell or what, but I want a pair!! 

i have a pair of these=they do work great. when i first started yaking, i paddled by wrist, thinking i was being stealthy, but it only gave me carpol-paddlers syndrome. i purchased a pair from Tote and they do work as was advertised.

When I paddled I would switch like Fishhunter
Now that I pedal it's all toes up
Tad
 

I also switch it up depending on speed and fatigue

I switch up too. Now I have RodWrap on my paddle and it eliminated the blister/rubbing I used to get when paddling hard or a long way. thanks to Yakhopper I found my solution.

I paddle with a feathered paddle blade, which needs to be rotated a bit on each stroke in order to bite the water, so I'm a thumbs down guy. That said, as I try to fine-tune my paddling, I consciously relax my grip on the paddle so as not to tire my hands out. Too tight of a grip will wipe you out early every time (insert 6th grade joke here)
 I basically try to make a row-row out of my hand and it keeps me on the water longer, and still allows me the strength to pick up a 12oz beverage at the end of the day.

I think the important thing is not having too firm of a grip, like a death hold on the paddle. I believe that is why there is a lot of advocation for thumbs up, ie people tend to not grip as hard.

From the paddle class I have taken they advocated a loose grip on the paddle, either way.

Now I have RodWrap on my paddle and it eliminated the blister/rubbing I used to get when paddling hard or a long way. thanks to Yakhopper I found my solution.

i need those.

I think the important thing is not having too firm of a grip, like a death hold on the paddle. I believe that is why there is a lot of advocation for thumbs up, ie people tend to not grip as hard.

This is spot on. When we paddle thumbs-down, we're often exerting more pressure by gripping the shaft too hard (that's what she said!). It's the same thing with weightlifting or waterskiing. There are ski gloves with a built-in metal hook in the glove to reduce fatigue (or that are pre-curved). Similar to Tote's awesome gloves. My next gloves will probably be waterski gloves, like these: http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Chota-Neo/Fleece-Cold-Water-Gloves&i=33085&aID=600B2&merchID=4006

I utilize both grips: thumbs-down when I'm maneuvering tight spaces and thumbs-up when I'm trolling or paddling to a new spot. It also helps you "push" the paddle with your up hand [instead of "pulling" with your down hand].
Nothing to do with paddling, but Tim you should get some gloves for RF season man! It's so much easier to deal with the fish.

Now I have RodWrap on my paddle and it eliminated the blister/rubbing I used to get when paddling hard or a long way. thanks to Yakhopper I found my solution.

i need those.

http://www.betterwaysproducts.com/rodwrap-custom-fishing-grips.htm

Thanks for the replies. I tend to paddle thumbs up all the time even when I feather in the wind. I remember having some wrist fatigue early on but I have since bought a lighter paddle and felt that made a big difference. I will have to pay attention to how I hold it in the surf because I would definitely want to be thumbs down.

Pat- I fished my first few season with a few various pairs of neoprene types and I totally agree that they limit and almost eliminate the hand scratching and stabbing. After my last set crapped out I put a leather glove in my box and never used it. I just grab the RF and shaker lings by the head or lip and the keeper size lings by the gill plate. Once I have my thumb and forefinger pinching the lings cheek meat its over. I havent had one flop yet. I still do cut my hand on the damn gill rakes but they are so sharp I rarely feel it. I don't really net fish anymore and tried gaffing but the angle seems wrong not to mention the danger of the hook to the drysuit. I just grab em when they chill a bit.     

 Our kayak instructors at Aquan Sports told me that a tight grip is sign that you are paddling more with your arms rather than your core muscles. Rotating your hips helps a lot - your stomach muscles are more efficient than using your arms.

I've seen really good paddlers just using 3 fingers (the middle,pointer and the thumb) to hold on to the paddle.

Put it this way, if your arms and back are sore at the end of the day, your not using your core muscles. IMO: Paddling is a science.

Another reason to be a kayaker FIRST and a fisherman second