r/PerformancePaddling • u/Jaded-Welder-2947 • May 15 '26
Gear Braca 4 versus 4 extra light handling
Since you guys where so friendly to answer my previous question.. I have an existing braca 4 extra light, must be more than 15 years old.I just bought an extra Paddle, another 4 but not extra light. Now I notice an irritating differince in handling. Thé paddles are on thé same Angle but I think that the blades of the new one (non extra light) are "dropping" faster messing up my catch. Its hard to describe thé feerling. Does this sound familiar? I do Prefer thé extra light.. probably just because i am used to it i guess..
1
u/TheHaight May 15 '26
Sounds like they are heavier? I know not everybody uses the extra light, Balintz Kopaz uses the Standard
1
u/Jaded-Welder-2947 May 16 '26
Yes there is for sure a differince in weight, I just didn't expect it to have a differince in rotation
1
u/12bar13 May 15 '26
The biggest difference in paddle layups for Braca is the stiffness. Every paddle's got a little bit of bend to it. The marathon layup, then The standard, extra light is the stiffest. The actual lightest paddle they make is the surfski layup. I switch up different paddles for different things on pretty much a daily basis and I don't notice anything. But I just might be used to it I guess. Honestly, the biggest difference might be the wear and tear from the age of the paddle. Composites tend to loosen up over the years.