Which SUP Paddle Handle Do I Need?
Step #4 – Selecting a Handle For Comfort and Control
Your paddle handle is your main point of contact with the paddle, making it essential for comfort, grip, and control—but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The right handle shape, size, and material can reduce hand fatigue and improve paddling efficiency. The SurfGrip provides precise control, making it ideal for technical paddling, while the PowerGrip offers ergonomic comfort for long-distance efficiency. This step will break down everything you need to know so you can confidently choose the best paddle handle for your needs.
Understanding SUP Paddle Handles: Surf Grip vs. PowerGrip
Choosing the right handle ensures comfort and efficiency throughout your paddling session. Your grip preference, paddling style, and endurance goals all play a role in selecting the best option. The SurfGrip delivers precise control for technical paddling and surf conditions, while the PowerGrip provides ergonomic support for longer-distance paddling. In this section, we’ll dive deeper into the key features of each handle, helping you decide which is best for your needs.
- The PowerGrip
- The Palm handle (often referred to as the Ergo)
- The T-handle (similar to traditional Tahitian OC paddle handles).
POWER GRIP
The PowerGrip is triangular in nature, with a wider, flatter and more upright back than our previous handles. The slightly curved back fits naturally in your palm, while the indentation on the front adds comfort and security when wrapping your fingers and helps maintain grip when the paddle is rotated forward. The combined features of the new PowerGrip ensure that it remains comfortable during longer races and workouts, while maximizing energy transfer to promote efficient paddling and speed.
Learn more about the new PowerGrip
Available on: Hydro SprintX, Hydro FlowX and Hydro TempoX
PALM (ERGO) HANDLE
The Palm handle is ergonomically designed for comfort, particularly during longer sessions. It rests to the form of your palm with increased area and rounded edges, making it comfortable for high-intensity gripping and prolonged amounts of time. Because of the ergonomic shape, the Palm handle is a great choice for recreational flatwater as well as all racing disciplines. It’s curved nature enables you to rotate your hand easily throughout your stroke, and the focus on comfort helps keep your hand relaxed over long distances. The Palm is the easiest handle to pick up and go paddle with. If you’re not certain what handle works best for you, this handle is a great place to start.
Available on: Lava, Ohana, Pure, Grom & Paddle Specials
T (TAHITIAN) HANDLE
The T handle has a curved back and a flat front, making for a very different feel than other handles you might have tried. It is designed to be held in an asymmetrical manner with your thumb and forefinger looped around one end, and your other fingers on the opposing side of the handle. We recommend this grip specifically for surfing for a few reasons. First, the asymmetric shape of the handle allows you to know which way your paddle is facing without looking, giving you instant feedback that comes in clutch in surf. Whether you are grabbing your paddle after a wipeout or surfing the wave face, this quick reference point helps you react faster without much thought. While this handle is comfortable for long surf sessions, it’s not as ideal for longer distance flatwater paddling. Note: If you are coming from an ergo style handle it might take a few sessions to feel comfortable with the T handle, but the benefits can be worth the adjustment in the end.
Available on: Surge
HANDLE LOOK & FINISH
Our handles have a grippy matte finish. Our REFLEX carbon paddles come with our signature red handle while the TEXCARBON paddles come with the natural kevlar/carbon finish which matches the blade.
GLUING YOUR HANDLE CORRECTLY
We strongly recommend the use of our extra strength hot glue for all handle assembly to avoid leakage and breakage.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have collated some of the most frequently asked questions about paddles. If your question is not covered, on this page, in the 5-step guide or in these FAQs, you are encouraged to reach out to us for a personal consultation or support.
Thanks to our innovative designs, quality manufacturing and attention to detail, our paddles have a very low failure rate. For your peace of mine, we have a standard 1-year warranty to cover faulty manufacturing. Thanks to hot glue assembly it is possible to replace any damaged parts. If you feel that you have an issue which you feel should be covered, please contact us for support.
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your new paddle. If something goes wrong, we are here to help resolve any issues in a fast and effective manner. Please contact us for support.
We ship from our Maui workshop via FedEx 2-Day shipping to all 50 states, we do not charge for this service. We also offer low shipping rates worldwide via FedEx International Economy.
For maximum paddling enjoyment and performance, it is extremely important to choose the right paddle for your needs. At Black Project we pride ourselves in providing first class support and offer you a 1:1 paddle consultation via email, text, phone, or in person at our Maui workshop.
Ask a questions and arrange a consultation
Yes, if your local SUP store is an official Black Project retail partner they will be able to arrange your new paddle. If they are not currently one of our retailers you can either buy online or ask them to get in contact with us.
Refer to our Dealer Locator Map to find your closest store.
Paddle length paddle depends on your height, the type of standup paddling you are doing and the board you use. The correct length will protect your body against injury and maximize your performance. For recreational paddling and inflatables your paddle will be longer while for SUP surfing paddlers use shorter paddles. Use our paddle length guide to determine the correct length. Refer to the paddle specific guides on each product page.
Yes, our 1-piece paddles are assembled with hot glue. You can heat up the shaft just below the handle to remove it, and then shorten the shaft. We have a number of guides on our YouTube channel which explain the process. Be sure to use quality extra-strength, high temp, hot glue and not hobby grade glue. This is particularly useful if you move to different board or change focus.
We offer paddles for all types of standup paddling, racing, touring, foiling, surfing, and all-round recreation. Finding the right paddle which best fits your needs in terms of performance, price and preference is extremely important. Check out our guide to determine which paddle is best for you.
Choosing the right paddle for your experience, budget, and needs
Blade size depends on paddler weight, height, the type of standup paddling you are doing and any prior medical issues. Bigger blades offer more power and are suited to heavier paddlers while smaller paddler will want to select a much smaller blade size. Many paddlers are using the wrong size blade and that is reducing their enjoyment of the sport. Use our blade size guide to determine the correct size for you.
All Black Project paddles have carbon reinforced edges and can withstand a good amount of abuse. The use of protective tape is not needed for general consumer use.
When ordering via our website all paddles except the Lava Adjustable, are supplied complete with our Paddle Bag, bags can also be purchased separately. It is not a free bag and many US and international retailers do sell our paddles without a bag at an adjusted price. We strongly recommend that you protect your investment with a quality padded bag, ideally a Black Project one.
Paddles are very expensive to design, produce and ship, hence the price which you pay for your Black Project paddle is extremely reasonable. We have cut out a number of business layers and work directly with customers and smaller independent retailers to ensure that markups are reasonable. If we operated a more traditional business structure paddles would be 50-100% more expensive. Standup paddling is a small sport so it is hard to produce enough units to benefit from mass production and gain significant economies of scale.
Yes, our componentized paddle system enables you to swap or replace parts. If you decide that you want to change blade, shaft, or handle, due to preferences or damage, thanks to our hot glue assembly, this is possible and saves you needing to buy a completely new paddle. This is especially important for SUP foiling.
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