Hello everyone

I brought a brand new paddle (Double Dutch) from a store in Wellington and in under one year it has broken three times, the first two times they replaced it for free on the third time I was told by the people I brought it from that it was how I play my game.

They said my style of blocking is rough however before this brand new paddle my second hand paddle lasted about three years with my same style of play until it was stolen =(

They also told me that canoe polo is a rough sport and that I should expect these things to happen, which I do but I expect a brand new 700 dollar paddle to last longer than one year with out breaking three times under a year.

Apparently there has been this problem all over the country(new Zealand). I also remember reading somewhere that double dutch paddles have changed their manufacturer and are now breaking more commonly. I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems with there paddle or knows anyone with similar problems.

Thanks all opinions needed

And by replaced I mean they replaced the paddle blade, it broke at the spigot the first two times and this time the blade cracked 3/4 of the way down.

Hey paul
My DD broke 3 times on the blade before the spigot finally broke a couple of weeks ago. It lasted 2 seasons of national league. I've looked at several replacements so far:
Bracsa at about 800
G-Power at 650 plus postage
Dynamo at 500 plus postage
(all kinetic)
Hopefully one of these will last a bit longer.

Im no expert Paul but im pretty sure that under the consumer gaurantees act you are entitled to a refund at least.

you would have to argue the case with them of course but try quoting some of the consumer gaurantees act to them and see if they get scared and give in.

unless you do things like use your paddle blade as a baseball bat or push off the bottom of the pool to roll I cant see anything wrong with your style of play.

if not there is always Fair go, good luck

I'm selling my second hand paddles at the mo, but I think they'd be too short for a guy or a goalie, unfortunately.

I'm sorry you had problems with your Double Dutch- I have paddled with Double Dutch for years and I LOVE them. I'll be sorry to have to sell them. I had the shaft replaced because that fell apart one day when at an NZ training camp, and other than that, I've used those paddles to death and they're still going strong.

It does sound like the sets you've been given are inferior, and without seeing your style of play, (let's face it, that sounds like someone who played polo has told the shop to say that, because they're not watching you play or saying anything specific) I think I'd be pretty insistent about a new paddle blade lasting the distance. After all, my Double Dutch set have been going for years...

Similarly to you paul I had an older double dutch for ages and ages, it never broke or anything, I decided to get a new one because it was like 5 years old and getting scratched up... the new one broke after about a month and the replacement blade broke soon after I got it too. I had heard they were making them in china now or something and there were some quality issues too. I have just dont my own messy repair on it now as I can't be assed trying to return it for a second time! Will keep this as a trainer paddle and back to the old faithful paddle for me!