wally wrote on Apr 17^th, 2011 at 2:12pm:

The only thing you should ditch is the idea that there is a right or wrong stroke.

I disagree.
Also suggest avoid 'right' vs. 'wrong' and replace with 'efficient' vs. 'inefficient'.

If your J isn't correcting, then you're likely doing it wrong.  Air Js are common.

Try a C stroke.  Simplified as half draw, half power, half J.

Paddling solo, regardless of the boat, there are only a few situations for switching sides.
1 - Wind.  It's more efficient to paddle the leeward side.  Let the wind handle the correction.
2 - Rest the muscles.  Each arm does different work.  Switching it up lets different muscles rest/work.
3 - Evasive manoevers.  More used for moving water, but fun to play on flat water.

The physics is fairly basic, simple Newtonian action/reaction.

I know all sorts of paddlers who know nothing about paddling.  Their paddles at a 45 to the water, blades flat to the headwind, air-J, no idea what a draw or pry is.  One can go far without learning how to paddle.  One can go further & faster & easier by taking the time to learn.

I'm one of those who was using the C stroke long before I ever heard of it.