Principle Two
The Blade
In when it's working. Out when it's not. Nothing in between.
What good looks like
- Catch: quick, light, vertical placement. The blade drops in like a coin into a slot — no splash forward, no delay.
- Drive: blade fully buried, just covered. Not deep. Not shallow.
- Finish: hands tap down. The blade comes out cleanly while still square.
- Feathering: only between strokes. The blade is square at the catch and through the drive; it only rolls flat after extraction.
Cues
- Drop it in
- Square early
- Tap, then feather
- Clean puddles
Common faults
- Missing water. Slow placement at the catch. The boat travels a few inches before the blade grips — free seconds you can't get back.
- Washing out. Blade gets too shallow at the end of the drive, comes out early. You lose the last and easiest portion of the stroke.
- Digging. Blade too deep. You're lifting water, not moving the boat. Hard work, no gain.
- Feathering under. Rolling the blade before it's clear of the water. Hits the surface, knocks the boat, costs energy on every stroke.
Self-diagnosis
- Was the blade fully square when it touched the water?
- Did I tap down before I rolled the handle?
- Look behind: are my puddles round and clean, or splashy and torn?
- At the catch — was there a sound, or just a sudden weight on the handle?