Balance point
The distance from the butt of the handle to the point where the paddle balances, in millimetres.
Balance point tells you where the mass sits. A higher number means a more head-heavy paddle, which usually goes with a higher swing weight and more power; a lower number means a handle-heavy paddle that is quicker to manoeuvre.
Adding weight to the handle or butt cap lowers the balance point without much change to swing weight, which is the usual way to make a head-heavy paddle feel quicker without losing stability.
What the numbers look like
Across the 748 of 812 paddles in our database with a measured value.
- Lowest
- 210 mm
- 10th pct
- 231 mm
- Median
- 238 mm
- Average
- 238 mm
- 90th pct
- 245 mm
- Highest
- 261 mm
210 mmEach bar is one tenth of the range; the tallest holds 271 paddles261 mm
Average balance point by shape
| Elongated | 314 paddles | 240 mm |
| Wide body | 110 paddles | 235 mm |
| Hybrid | 107 paddles | 238 mm |
| Standard | 58 paddles | 233 mm |
Highest balance point
Lowest balance point
Rankings that use this spec
Related terms
Let the numbers pick for you
The quiz weighs every spec on this page against your play style and ranks all 812 paddles.