With the so-called “efficient stroke technique”, the paddle length is determined like this: first, stand the paddle on the ground in front of you. Raise one arm and bend it slightly at the elbow. Then rest your wrist comfortably on the paddle handle. If you have to stand on tiptoe or lean over to reach the handle, your paddle is too long. If your arm is bent too much, the paddle is too short.
Once you have improved your paddling technique and speed, you can shorten the paddle. You can also shorten it if you decide to swap calm paddling on enclosed waters for catching waves at sea. To increase your speed when racing, you can make the paddle longer. This lets you catch the water further ahead and move faster.
A paddle that is too long can increase tension in your shoulders, while one that is too short puts strain on your lower back. The wrong paddle length and paddling technique can cause muscle pain or even inflammation. To be sure your paddle length is right, we recommend consulting professional SUP instructors, who will choose the best fit based on your build, the thickness of your SUP board and your paddling habits.
