Surfing backhand I always feel more comfortable with the paddle on my frontside.
(i.e. since I'm goofy = left hand down and right hand up on the handle).
Sometimes when going for a backhand snap, I force myself to place the paddle on my backside (i.e. I swap hands).
I do it cause, I've been told many times by experienced SUPers that it's the right way to do it, unless it's a fast section.
The orthodox theory claims that after a nice long bottom-turn, you are able to put more pressure on your rail before you go up for the turn.
Well, it still feels awkward to me. I only use it as a transitional sort of backhand-snap (e.g. when a section is weak) but I avoid it when the wall has a better/steeper section more suited for a proper backhand turn.
It just feels more comfortable and I see a huge advantage since you don't have to switch your hands again in the middle of the turn. Quite annoying it you are hitting a vertical or thick lip.
Many times I've ended up with the paddle in just one of my hands and losing the wave.
I've noticed on several videos that (IMHO) one of the smoother and more stylish worldtour backhands Leco Salazar, uses this very same approach (paddle almost always on his frontside).
His backside is both stylish and efficient. Maybe in competition he may get penalized for not moving his paddle around (?) but his backhand is vertical and solid.
This video is from 2012. A bit old but I find it useful as these guys were using more “real-world” boards (e.g. mine is a 7'7”x27) rather than today’s micro-tiny boards.
(Leco Salazar from approx. minute 2:00 to 6:00. The only other goofy on the video is Zane mnt. 1:25. Compare both backside paddle techniques)
What are your thoughts on this matter?
Is my backhand approach wrong?
is it sort of OK but inefficient?
Should I learn to do it the “right” way?
Cheers,
for my money it only appears to me to be a working move for cutbacks or draw out and hook backhand bottom turns.
the rest is just point scoring for comps - why I don't know it, looks clumsy .
on a serious wave you don't see the twirling caper
Great question. I'm a Bazza Crocker on backhand and need all the technique help I can get. Since switching the paddle to backhand as I begin to carve the bottom turn I find its a lot easier to commit to the turn as your weight is moving to the inside of the turn as you swap the paddle over as you initiate the carve. The flick of the paddle to the forehand side as you snap off the top (but not switching hands) is a bit clunky but again it seems to get the weight and commitment moving in the right direction. But I agree Leco looks very solid using the no swappie handie technique, as does DK here in NZ, and Dogman too I think uses this technique. Think it prob comes down to what you started doing first on backhand and then tend to stick at it and get it really tuned.
SO im far from good, but from what i have learnt from riding mainly Mettams as my local and being a natural im on backhand is i mix between the two.
I always paddle in on my forhand, so being natural i paddle in on right side so opposite hands to what you are calling frontside being goofy.
SO generally i stick with paddle front side and then use it after a bottom turn to pivot off to do the top turn. Works for me and my current board.
Sometimes i switch hands and paddle to backside, generally if the wave is smaller or fatter and use it to get a bit more out of my bottom turn and keep speed, but then i find i have to quickly switch hands back. switchign sides at speed is a practice thing and also a shorter paddle makes easier sort of thing.
I think also depends on ur board. Being a 7"7x27 you sound much further advanced than me and on a board that should turn on a dime and without too much trouble. I would think generally the whole paddle in to pivot off is to help with the size of boards and rails. riding smaller real surfy boards shouldnt need it.
At the end of the day i am working on trying to be good on both forhand and backhand, and with paddle in either hand. long way to go but depends what you wanna do and if you are out there for the stoke or the cheers on the beach.
ps alway keen to ride with others if you are local at perth, pm me if you ever wanna hook up for a surf.
pps there was a great vid posted here ages ago of a young guy on backhand really nailing it and doing these backhand paddle then it kind of hit the top of water and spunover into his forhand as he was doing his top turn i seem to remember. ill see if i can find it.
I'm the same. I find it awkward to switch sides with the paddle: I think it looks good on a cutback but am yet to master it.
Interesting question, since I have swapped back to SBs I've noticed how much I use my leading hand on backhand bottoms turns or forehand cutbacks to make the upper body twist in the direction you want to go (then the board will follow). Watch the pros for example and they quite often dig their hand into the water to initiate the turn.
A lot of guys apply this same technique on SUPs by holding their paddle on their 'heel side' when backhand bottom turning or cutting back forehand. They then have to do a 'cross bow' turn with their paddle as they hit the lip or whitewater. Then they may have to swap hands again (if riding forehand). If done well I reckon it looks good but can also look awkward as Lacey pointed out. It's tricky to do as well.
Personally I never swapped hands, the trick I found is to 'steer' with your leading hand by pointing the top (grip) of your paddle in the direction you're heading thereby twisting your upper body.
since ive been back on my shortboards ive been doing a bit of skateboarding surf technique style again
what I have noticed on the skateboard after a quite a few session sis if I lead where I want to go with the' side on' leading hip all the arms and body torque follow or intertwine with that motion. the beauty of the skateboard is if you get I wrong it will spit me off
and it converts fantastic when I surf
so in my mind you need to have your core doing the right movements as the base. if that's not right no amount of arms or paddling swapping is going to help.
sure im waffling on but that the threads fault
On back hand I like to put my paddle on back side to pull in wall or through section or to stall on the back of the board trimming.
But ii feel no good to do snap or leaning down the face inducing cut back maneuvers ...switching paddle side is a lost of time even more on a small board!
To do back hand snaps positioning paddle on my front side seems to me important but i pay more attention to centered my front foot in the middle of the board. This is why i minimize width of board like 26" on under 7' board as an other key to succeed snap off the wave.
To me this is the only functional backhand move to do. Not that I can do it anywhere to keahis level
I agree with RJK with respect to Keahi. Also check out Kai Bates' backhand attack. Another Aussie ripper who has arguably one of the best techniques on his backhand.
Keahi and Kai have awesome backhands but I still reckon Leco's is the best and he doesn't usually swap sides so obviously both methods work.
This guy is a maestro. As well in kite and windsurfing.
The french term to putting the paddle on back side, it says " deborder", i find " outflanking " for you .
Do you say that. 
Select to expand quoteKami said..
This guy is a maestro. As well in kite and windsurfing.
The french term to putting the paddle on back side, it says " deborder", i find " outflanking " for you .
Do you say that.
No, I call putting paddle on backside "spanking" or though some prefer a strap or wooden spoon
Thanks for all your tips and suggestions.
Now I tend to place more often the paddle on my backside. The idea is that I'll eventually get use to it. I guess it'll become natural and will use it without thinking about it, when a wave section requires that
I still focus on the common technique is to get front foot placement has to be centered Select to expand quoteRJK said..
To me this is the only functional backhand move to do. Not that I can do it anywhere to keahis level
Ok that's seems as the perfect move keeping paddle on backside while snapping exit from bottom turn or quickly switching it to snap,; please watch the front foot position of both SUPers 
Select to expand quoteKami said...
I still focus on the common technique is to get front foot placement has to be centered
Do you mean centered rail to rail?
Well, several top guys like Sean Poynter
Select to expand quoteGeoInstance said..
or Zane, tend to place their front foot closer to the inside rail when going backhand. I guess it's a matter of personal preference and the size (width) of your board.
If you look closely, the front foot on the rail is for specific situations (holding a line in steep faces), but it lock you in and if you do not move your foot back to the center you risk igging a rail and botching your turns. These pros are so nimble that they can move their feet around a lot, but for the rest of us, keeping the front foot centered is the best bet.
Note that your video is quite old. In the recent ones, most riders have their front foot always centered backside.
