We have had a new atlatl design out for a few months now and recently included it in our new paper catalog. We will be updating this website over the next few months and we will be including the Canandaigua Atlatl.
The Canandaigua is a new atlatl design created for those looking for a paddle grip atlatl.
The Canandaigua uses a paddle grip rather than a hammer grip. In a paddle grip, the wrist is rotated so the palm or the hand faces up in the launching position and faces down to the ground after follow through. This method of grip gives the shooter about three inches more leverage.
We decided to design the Canandaigua for our customers who prefer a paddle grip over other grips. Some say the paddle grip atlatl is less traumatic for people with tendonitis and problems in the elbow.
The price for the Canandaigua is $85. (with three six foot darts, $120; with seven six foot darts, $160; with three seven foot darts, $126; and with seven seven foot darts, $174).
You can order, ask questions or comment by calling us at 800-836-4520 or email us at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com
Ray Strischek here, I just viewed your Canandaigua atlatl. Very nice. People suffering from atlatl elbow will find your paddle grip very therapeutic. When I first started out with a flexible, weighted, hammer grip atlatl, I got a bad dose of atlatl elbow (in part from using too large of a weight). For nine months, I threw with a numb at times, painful all the time, elbow. Then one day, I switched to the basketmaker atlatl, which like your paddle grip atlatl, has the atlatl shaft lying between the first and second finger. This switch (from having all the fingers on one side of the atlatl, thumb on the opposite side, visibly rotates the forearm muscles to the left (if you are right handed), taking the strain away from the elbow during the throwing motion. The atlatl elbow I had for nine months completely went away the third day using the basketmaker grip design.
Thanks Ray! Hope all is well. Our sons have bonded over the Mongol Rally! Looking forward to Peter’s adventure this summer.
I never heard of atlatl elbow before, but I have heard of tennis elbow, and pitcher’s elbow from throwing curve balls at too early of age. All three seem to share the sideways motion of the wrist in a snapping motion.
I was very fortunate as a teen when I was learning to play ball to be coached by a man with professional baseball experience. To generate maximum velocity with less fatigue to the joints, an OVERHAND delivery with straight back rotation (aerodynamics) delivers the best results.
For reference just watch any Nolan Ryan videos. I haven’t thrown either, but the paddle makes more sense to me.
Thanks for the information.