Talon Ice Cutter Paddles?

[AC]

Has anyone used these paddles? Can someone give a review or comparison if they used or tried them out.

Thanks,
AC

[Jeff]

These paddles were introduced into Australia in 1996 with little success the step down in the blade made them difficult to use in goals. Plus the blade has an internal join with the shaft (ie the shaft goes inside the blade unlike most other paddles where the blade has a small shaft which fits inside the paddle shaft). This makes broken shaft replacement difficult. this problem was excentuated by the manufacturers insisting on making their own shafts instead of using the quality shafts made by Lenda. As a result these shafts broke frequently at competition making the paddle unreliable.

When they were being intoduced in Australia they were offered two for the price of one to national team members. At the time no one was seriously importing carbon blades into Australia. As a result I took on the task of importing streamlite paddles into the country as many of my friends were in the National squad and they did not have the time to organise shipments. I sold these at cost to the national squad members and at introductory margins to others. Over the next two years I imported about 70 paddles into Australia. Excep for 4 athletes all the members of the 1996 Australian Teams use streamlites and of those 4 only one has not converted to a streamlite.

I no longer import Steamlites into Australia as I was disapointed in the quality and reliability of supply back in 1996-97 particularly after I spent time promoting the product at the 1996 World championships in Adelaide. However as a result of the success of the Australia Nation Team using Streamlite paddles the market for Steamlites has grown improving their reliability of supply and quality (Or at least Duncan Cochrane who currently imports Streamlites into Auustralia has said this has improved).

The Talon blades did have one great advantage over other paddles and that is the prodct that is applied to the edge of the blade to protect it for paddle hacks. However most paddlers in Australia now apply a kevlar strip arround the outside edge of the blade to protect the edge.

I am not an elite paddler nor am I a glass expert I am just a vetera paddle who enjoys a game of polo. These comments are from personal experiance and I hope they help in you choice of equipment.

[becks.c]

I have used these blades and found them to be excellent.

As for the blade shape, I actually found the shape of the blade very easy for paddle dribbling and also blocking. I also had very little problems switching from my current paddle to the 204 talon during a comp when I had temporarily misplaced my own paddle (again)

The only things that really put me off the Talon paddles were:

1. Demos were not available in the offset nor length that I required (202) Although I did try a 204 which I found quite enjoyable to use.

2. There wasn't actually anything wrong with the paddle I currently used. However when I decide to replace my current paddle, it will most likely be with the Talon as for aprx NZ$100 less than the replacement cost of my current paddle, or a Streamlyte it is a better option financially.

I currently use a NZ-made paddle, made by a guy/company called Yoz, which is similar to a Streamlyte (being diamond shaped, it is also slightly more reliable than the streamlyte in that I have never had any blades spin) my paddle has carbon blades and a glass shaft (glass shaft chosen for goalie-ing and also bc I have girls-blouse wrists). I have had this paddle for almost 4 years now.

These are just my ideas, I have played polo for about 7 years now, have been to a couple of Australian Interstate competitions as well as having a few games in the womens 2nd pool at the 2000 World Championships held in Brazil. Throughout this time I have done goalie-ing and also charge starts.

[michielv]

Hi Becks,

Just curious: do you have a URL or e-mail address for Yoz paddles?

TIA,

Michiel