The Complete Guide to Our Canoe Paddle Grips
4-minute read
Here at Bending Branches, we use several different grip designs on our canoe paddles. Whether your top priority is comfort or technical maneuvering—or a combination of the two—we have a grip that will fit your needs.
Symmetric Freestyle/Palm Grip
This is the universal grip that can be used in either direction. Called either a freestyle grip or palm grip, it’s very comfortable on your hands, and good for long days of flatwater paddling.
This grip can be used with the paddle face in either direction. Because of that, it’s ideal for beginning canoeists, but also suits those with years of experience.
The Loon, Beavertail, Explorer Plus, Traveler and Java ST all have this symmetric freestyle or palm grip. It’s basic, functional and easy to use.
Some paddlers prefer to leave the blade in the water at the end of the stroke, then just turn it and push it edge forward through the water to begin the next stroke (some call this the palm roll).
This grip lets you do that you to do that in a way that allows you to push off the opposing face on the next stroke, basically twisting the paddle 180 degrees each cycle.
Asymmetric/Classic Palm Grip
The asymmetric palm grip is common with bent-shaft paddles that are only used in one orientation—the same face of the blade is always forward. It looks similar to the symmetric grip, but you’ll see this difference in the side view:
The undercut on the front face of this grip leaves room for your finger tips and helps put your hand and wrist into a neutral position. It's supremely comfortable!
The Arrow, BB Special, Cruiser Plus 11, Java 11 and Black Pearl II feature the asymmetric palm grip. The Viper has its own version of this grip that leans forward even more to help keep your wrist in the most natural position possible.
T-Grip
Nothing seems to provide the same level of control as a T-grip. Pushing your thumb against the outside end of the grip when maneuvering the paddle allows you to apply leverage to rotate and pry.
Whitewater paddlers tend to prefer this grip. A well-made T-grip is also comfortable to hold for many hours on the water.
Our Expedition Plus features our Ultimate T-grip, while our kids’ paddle, the Twig, features a kid-sized T-grip.
Variations of the T-Grip
Some paddles combine the features of the T-grip and the palm grip. This gives you a very comfortable grip with excellent control. This combination grip can be either symmetric or asymmetric, depending on whether it’s paired with a straight or bent-shaft paddle.
The Sunburst CB 11, Sunburst CB ST and Black Pearl ST all feature a T-grip/palm grip blend made of 100% carbon for our lightest canoe paddles.
Our 2026 paddles, the Waypoint and Horizon, feature what’s called a “hooked” T-grip. While still comfortable, it offers plenty of control as well. It’s made of shatter-resistant plastic, which is handy both for long back-country canoe trips (Horizon) and for outfitters, the family cabin and other venues where many people use the same paddle (Waypoint).
No matter the style of canoe paddle you prefer: straight shaft or bent shaft, palm grip or T-grip, you can be sure you’ll find what you’re looking for in our collection of wood or composite models.
You’ll be able to rely on its comfort, reliability and performance whether it’s tooling around the lake at the family cabin, on a several-week wilderness excursion, or anything in between.
[This content was first written in 2019 and has been updated.]
Do you have more questions about paddle grips? Contact our Wisconsin-based Customer Service team with your paddle questions today:
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