Paddle blade

The paddle blade is the all important flat bit at either the end of a paddle, which pushes the water during a paddle stroke

It is the shape of the paddle blade, more than any other factor which describes the type of paddle, and defines the proper stroke.

Euro paddles have blades that are:

• flat - these tend to be cheap, poor performing paddles.
• dihedral
• spooned
• wing shaped

A paddle blade can both be spooned and have a dihedral.

The face of the blade that directly pushes the water is the power face. The other side is the back face.

Most high-end Euro paddles are feathered with blade faces typically between 45° and 90° to each other, though smaller than 45° are available. These paddles are right or left handed. There are variable feather paddles that allow you to set the blades at any angle. Take-apart versions can easily be set to unfeathered as well.

Greenland paddles have blades which are not as wide as Euro paddles and are seldom feathered.