Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the kayak draw stroke. But just in case you’re new to the sport or just need a quick refresher, this blog post is for you! I’m going to give you a basic overview of what the kayak draw stroke is and how to do it. Stay tuned – I’ll also be sharing some tips on how to make your draw strokes more efficient. Let’s get started!
1. What is the kayak draw stroke and why it is important
The kayak draw stroke is a sideways movement of your boat with a paddle. It can help you move closer to a dock or another boat, and is also used for correcting and turning.
There are a few different types of draw strokes such as:
- the T draw stroke:
- the hanging draw stroke,
- and the sculling draw stroke.
Each stroke is explained in detail as you read further! Each one has a different purpose, and you should learn how to do them all.
2. How do you know which type of draw stroke to use?
The type of draw stroke you use depends on the situation. Let’s take a look at different situations that require you to use a particular draw stroke.
- When to use the T-draw stroke
T-draw stroke, also known as the basic draw stroke, is used when you want to pull your boat sideways – either close to a dock, or another kayaker you might be paddling with.
- When to use the hanging draw stroke
The hanging draw stroke can be used to quickly move your kayak sideways, either to avoid an obstacle or to change direction when your kayak is already in motion. It’s a useful movement to know how to do, but it takes a bit of practice to get it right.
For example; If your kayak is going too fast and parallel to a vertical cliff, with no place for you to insert your paddle on the side next to the cliff, a hanging draw stroke on the other side will save you.
- When to use the sculling stroke
The sculling draw is used when you want a more powerful and elegant way to move your boat sideways, (just like your T-draw stroke) but requires more paddle dexterity.
3. How to do each type of kayak draw stroke: a step-by-step guide
Now that you know what the kayak draw stroke is and when to use it, let’s take a look at how to do it. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
How to do the T-draw stroke:
- Start by rotating your paddle blade until it is horizontal.
- Reach out with the tip of the paddle blade to the side you want to paddle on, and touch the water approximately two feet from your boat.
- Use your bottom hand to draw the paddle blade towards you while maintaining the tip of the blade beneath the water.
- But be careful not to let the blade touch the side of your yak, or else your boat may capsize!
- You can slice your active blade (i.e. the blade in the water) out behind you and return to step 2. Repeat as necessary.
- If you do not want to slice your blade out but want your blade to remain in the water while you do the T-draw stroke, rotate or curl your wrist forward so your blade is at a 90-degree angle to your kayak, and without letting it touch your kayak, slice the paddle blade through the water right back to where it started – which is about 2 feet away from your kayak.
- Once you’ve reached that point, you can go back and forth with this stroke as much as necessary.
How to do the hanging draw stroke:
The hanging draw stroke is a variation of the regular draw stroke that is used to move your kayak sideways when your kayak is in motion. To do it, you need to:
- To move your kayak to the right, rotate your torso to the right and reach outwards with your paddle held as vertical as possible.
- Put the lower blade in the water around 2 feet from the side of the kayak and parallel to it, so that it moves through the water easily as you travel.
- You do not necessarily need to pull back and forth with the hanging stroke. However, make sure you angle your paddle blade correctly to pull your kayak sideways.
- To angle the blade correctly, twist your wrists so that the blade’s leading edge is slightly away from the kayak.
- The kayak will be pulled sideways as you move the angled paddle blade through the water.
- To prevent your kayak from moving the wrong way, you may need to place your paddle blade in the water closer to the front of your kayak – as forward as your knees.
As you practice the hanging draw stroke, you’ll notice that placing the paddle blade closer to the front or back of your kayak will create different effects.
How to do the sculling stroke:
If you intend to do a sculling stroke on the left, for example;
- In your kayak, sit up straight and hold the paddle in the basic paddling posture.
- While you rotate your torso to the left, lift your right arm so that it is at the top of the paddle shaft and across to your left until the paddle shaft is close to vertical and your right elbow is in front of either your nose (old school) or just lower than your chin level (newer technique).
- If needed, curl your so that the left blade’s power face is pointing to the side of the kayak.
- With your left blade, extend out to the side and plant it in the water approximately 1 foot from the left side of the kayak.
- Rotate the blade until the front edge is at an angle away from the kayak, then advance it forward in a straight line in the water parallel to the kayak until it reaches your shins.
6. Rotate your arm so that the paddle blade’s rear edge is pointing outward from the kayak and pull it backward past you as your upper body curls to the left.
7. Continue to repeat steps 5 and 6 (forward and backward) on an imaginary straight line, as your kayak moves sideways. Don’t do an arc.
4. Tips for making your draw strokes more efficient
There are a few things you can do to make your draw strokes more efficient, which will help you move your kayak more easily:
- Keep your paddle vertical as much as possible. This will help you provide a better sideways movement.
- Reach out with your paddle as far as possible – this will create more distance for the blade to travel and increase the power of the stroke.
- Use a strong and smooth motion when pulling back and forth with the paddle. This will help you move the kayak more easily.
- Rotate your torso in the direction you want to move the paddle. This will help you generate more power and keep your body in alignment with the stroke.
- Practice! The more you practice, the more efficient your strokes will become.
5. How to correct and turn your boat with a draw stroke
If you need to correct your kayak’s direction or turn it around entirely, you can do so by using a hanging draw stroke. To do this:
- Rotate your torso in the direction you want to move the paddle. This will help you generate more power and keep your body in alignment with the stroke.
- Put the lower blade in the water around 2 feet from the side of the kayak and parallel to it, so that it moves through the water easily as you travel.
- You do not necessarily need to pull back and forth with the hanging stroke. However, make sure you angle your paddle blade correctly to pull your kayak sideways.
- To angle the blade correctly, twist your wrists so that the blade’s leading edge is slightly away from the kayak.
- The kayak will be pulled sideways.
- To prevent your kayak from moving the wrong way, you may need to place your paddle blade in the water closer to the front of your kayak – as forward as your knees.
6. Conclusion
The kayak draw stroke is a technique used to move your kayak sideways. It can also be used to correct the direction of your kayak or turn it around entirely. There are several things you can do to make your draw strokes more efficient, which will help you move your kayak more easily. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it and you’ll be able to navigate like a pro in no time!
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or tips on how to do the kayak draw stroke!
