This |A| Not This /A\ - Keeping It Straight, Pt. 1

There are a number of factors that affect tracking and direction...and more importantly, your ability to paddle in a straight line. Some of these are equipment-related: board selection and width, fin choice and fin placement; while others are physiological: imbalances in strength, flexibility, balance, and reach.

Two things I'll mention now are keeping your paddle vertical and planting the paddle and pulling straight from there. 

Upper Arm's Bicep Grazing the Temple to Stack the Hands 

Keeping the paddle vertical is very important, because if you don't, you'll push the board to the opposite side, however subtly, with each stroke. So that this becomes automatic, what I recommend for students is to have the bicep of your top hand graze your temple, intentionally at first. This encourages that top hand to cross over and stack itself above your lower hand, ensuring that the paddle shaft is vertical.

Another important technique tip for paddling in a straight direction is to avoid following the outline of your board with your paddle stroke. Imagine the letter A is the nose and front end of your board. You do not want to follow the curved outline of your board. Instead you should plant the paddle away from your board's rail and pull so that it feels like your paddle is going straight back. Of course, if you've read my other posts you'd know that it's your board moving, not the paddle, but with regards to paddling straight, you just need to remember -

This... |A|

And not this... /A\

So if you've been struggling with paddling straight, I hope these techniques help. I'll have more in a later post...