Hot take: I dropped $450 on a custom graphite paddle for shaping, and I'm still not sure if it was genius or a total waste. One side says it's the best control they've ever had, the other says a $50 wooden one does the same job. What's your take?

2 comments

2 Comments

Spot this all the time with gear. People chase the high end item hoping it unlocks a new skill level. Sometimes it does, most times you just paid a lot to learn you need more practice, not a better tool. That paddle might feel amazing, but only you can decide if the feel is worth the cost. The real waste is buying it and then being too scared to actually use it hard.

robinson.quinn6d ago

Honestly, the real test is after a full season of hard use. If that graphite paddle still feels like an extension of your arm and you're not babying it, then it was worth it. My buddy's $400 one cracked on a routine dig, and that sting lasts longer than any good feel.