by Erich Volkstorf
To help you differentiate your grip from your tip, here are the parts of a canoe paddle:
Grip: The end you hold on to. Grips come in different shapes, from pear (above) to T, and other variations.
Shaft: Can be straight or bent. Come in different lengths and materials.
Throat: Where the shaft and blade meet.
Blade: The wider, flatter part that propels you. Can be long and narrow, short and wide, or something in between.
Tip: The end of the paddle you put in the water.
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(Illustration by Sarah Lampe.)
