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Shoutout to the guy at the Tacoma studio who told me to try a $12 graphite paddle for shaping

I thought it was just a gimmick for newbies, but after burning through three wooden ones in a month, I finally caved and haven't looked back since.
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3 Comments
robert_ross95
Honestly, it's just a paddle. My wooden one lasted two years before it snapped. Maybe you're just pressing way too hard when you shape. I've seen guys get obsessed with gear instead of technique. A fancy tool won't fix a heavy hand.
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rowan_barnes
Yeah, I felt that. My first paddle broke in like six months and I was so mad. I was sure it was a bad piece of wood or something. Took me forever to realize I was basically leaning my whole weight into it like an idiot. You're totally right about gear not fixing the real problem. What finally helped you ease up on the pressure?
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emma_wells83
Wait, how much pressure are you actually using when you shape?
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