Are expensive SUP paddles worth it? - Race Dr Bryce Dyer

Our race doctor Bryce Dyer is looking at answering the question... Are expensive SUP paddles worth it? With so many paddles out there to chosse from at all kinds of price points where do you start and is a $300-400 paddle different to a $100-200 paddle? This doesn't just apply to race paddles but all paddles. Believe it or not even a newer paddler would benefit from paddling a nice paddle. Once you have used a good paddle you will never go back!

[@TheJTHammond]

This is one of the best educational SUP videos I've seen. Great work!

[@SUPboardermag]

Glad it was helpful!

[@renoraines1553]

Supboarder page is quickly becoming my favourite sup page, You Guys seem to have all the asnwers to my question. The videos are great, i learn a lot of them!!! Thank You!!!

[@SUPboardermag]

Wow, big thanks Reno. We’re glad to have helped / Reuben

[@SUPboardermag]

If you get the time, please consider dropping us a testimonial here: www.supboardermag.com/what-our-readers-say/

[@St_M_]

Very nice explanation of the physical principles and geometrical basics and I was almost shocked when the video was over already. I could easily have watched twice of three times its length and see you compare a variety of examples. Maybe do a follow-up on this one and show how the various concepts apply to a handful of the most popular paddles on the market?

[@SUPboardermag]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah we could add on to it. Good idea.

[@kosmique]

what the heck this was some DARN good information. thanks a lot for the vid. i have been made aware of quite a few things now.

[@SUPboardermag]

Good stuff

[@bbggakkba]

I got a fancy race paddle simply for the fact that I bent two off the collapsing ones and was sick of having to replace them... Well worth the money though I'm enjoying it much more than the collapsing one

[@SUPboardermag]

Thanks for the comment. You will never go back to a cheaper paddle now.

[@dudeymcduderson]

This is such a well explained video. I'm very new to paddleboarding and this has taught me a lot.

[@SUPboardermag]

We're stoked to hear you learn a lot from this video. Thanks, Beau

[@shiroitake]

I've found with paddles with minimal dihedral (black fish for example) it's hard to control the paddle during the stroke, and this is especially so if I'm trimming the paddle to stay paddling on one side. If the angle of the paddle is anything but 180degrees to the direction of the board it'll flutter, requiring me to grasp the paddle harder causing frustration and loss of control. Minimal dihedral does make for cleaner entry and exits in/out of water but to me it's a loss in efficiency. Maybe a pro can comment about this?

[@SUPboardermag]

Thanks for the fab comment. You're right this does make a difference. And a paddle has to be efficient during all the paddle stroke and in all conditions. Its always going to be a combination between a paddle that enters and exits the water cleanly and a paddle that gives the paddler enough support during the main part of the stroke. I will ask Bryce to get back to you on this one too. Thanks Reuben / SUPboarder

[@bdyer4606]

Hi OS. You're absolutely right. The flatter face is quickly sending the fluid to the edges and with a few degrees of misalignment and you'll then get the flutter you mention due to fluid flow or pressure imbalances . Actually gripping the paddle too hard can also cause such problems as well. A paddle that has features like a single dihedral, double dihedral or scooped tips, will grab the water and sometimes help self-align itself in the water too. The tradeoff (as you infer) that any paddle with such features may not have as good a release but a lot of that depends on the size of the blade, type of blade shape and your exit technique itself. For example if you have a small blade, this may not offer a problem. Likewise if you use a slender blade (like a high aspect design), you find the release is often very light compared to a broad shape and releases very easily. Personally, I don't find release a worry so I'd be more focused on getting the feeling of the front of the stroke right (i.e. getting the power out) than I would about the feeling at the exit but its a tradeoff and a lot of this does depend on the individual. I always would tell someone to borrow or demo a few and see what they think and to find what feels best for their style/duration/intensity of paddling.

[@Fenlandia]

This was really good and I learned a bunch. Any chance there's a surfing specific paddle lesson in the works?

[@SUPboardermag]

Thanks Fen we're glad it helped. We have done a video feature on SUPboarder Pro www.supboardermag.com/2018/03/30/sup-surfing-paddle-blade-sizes-shapes-how-to-video/ that would help. Its a subscription service which supports us in continuing to deliver you top quality, independent stand up paddleboarding content by reducing our reliance on advertising. Check out the content list here if your interested : www.supboardermag.com/category/subscriber-pro/ Thanks Reuben/ SUPboarder

[@GreenWaterSports]

Great info here.

[@jameshardy6277]

Excellent explanation.

[@SUPboardermag]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@stevedogwildman2133]

Really informative! Thanks.

[@SUPboardermag]

No worries Steve

[@damianpoland5110]

Thank you ☺️🙏

[@SUPboardermag]

You’re welcome 😊

[@filobuslab]

Well done video. Pity that there is no text to facilitate a translation

[@SUPboardermag]

We will work on that next time. Thanks for the comment