ACA-AQ Basics: 2 - Palm Rolls

[GregS]

Taken together, "ACA-AQ Basics" threads on Single Blade form a complete guide to ACA "Advanced Quietwater" or "Freestyle" canoeing.

See here for an index

This thread is for Palm Rolls.

[GregS]

Note from the Freestyle Instructional Thread on Paddling.Net...

The main utility of the Palm Roll is maintaining continuity of powerface - keeping force loaded on a given blade.

For example, in a Christie, one could, after a strong K initiation, flip the thumb up, but we'd loose rotational force and brace during the inversion. WE get a much smoother and more confident maneuver by rolling the top hand over on the grip.

The palm roll can also be used to keep force on the powerface during a compound back stroke, again, we don't loose energy as is the case when the blade in inverted.

There are also times when we're using a bent paddle that a palm roll is necessary because the bent is so extremely ineffective when the backface is loaded.

Grip design can be critical to smooth palm rolls, but practice is easy in Kim's kitchen with your fav paddle and a tennis or other ball. With the ball on the floor and loose hands on the paddle, sweep the ball in clockwise, then counter clockwise circles, ~ a foot in diameter using only the powerface against the ball. The top hand must loosen to allow the paddle to rotate, and you've just done a palm roll!