I'm thinking of chucking a slice of the old tax return on a new paddle. For the past year I've been using a 9inch fixed paddle which is ok, with improving technique I'm not getting sore in the points of the shoulder blades any more. Anyway here is my list growing list of problems:

Are adjustable paddles any good in the surf, or do they fill with water? I've read and watched advice advocating for shorter paddles in the surf, has anyone cut theirs down only to regret it later?

do people find wider paddles better in the surf since only a few serious strokes are needed for takeoff? I find that most of the time im not paddling with any urgency so I'm not really stressing the shoulders. I've been told that 9 inches is a bit on the excessive side, but 7-8 inch paddles I look at and wonder whether I should just paddle with my hands.

Stats: 95kg/5'11 with 10' board usually in 1-3 ft beachies and points

Everybody that tried 7" paddles for surfing never went back.
Same with length: once you tried paddles your size (or less) you wont use anything else. Especially in small waves, and I weight 100kg.

The only exceptions are very short boards (7' or less). On these, I still prefer 8" blades, since I take off by one or 2 huge strokes rather than gathering speed. But ,mot other riders use 7" even on sub-7' boards. I still have a 9" paddle, but I see no advantage to it... but it is quite hard on the joints and the rails (heavier means hits do more damage)

In relation to adjustable paddles.

The most common plastic locking clip always lets the shaft slip under forceful paddle strokes like when going for a wave. I've had to smear a very thin coat of polyurethane on to the smaller shaft to help it grip.
www.google.com.au/search?q=carbon+sup+paddle+clip+adjustable&client=firefox-b&biw=1280&bih=923&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO497Ct9DOAhXGmpQKHaxrCfYQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=adjustable+sup+paddle&imgrc=I5e7FTsNvwYdiM%3A

The locking mechanism on the cheaper aluminum paddles and on some carbon paddles is better. Its the one where you see all the holes drilled into the shaft. Its very easy to setup and adjust and is always straight. It can't slip. I don't know why it isn't the norm.
www.google.com.au/search?q=carbon+sup+paddle+clip+adjustable&client=firefox-b&biw=1280&bih=923&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO497Ct9DOAhXGmpQKHaxrCfYQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=PwtT2FYT2tThFM%3A

www.google.com.au/search?q=carbon+sup+paddle+clip+adjustable&client=firefox-b&biw=1280&bih=923&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO497Ct9DOAhXGmpQKHaxrCfYQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=eLZASLCUyP9BlM%3A



They both get water in them after submerged a few times. They're designed with cheap foam in them to seal water out but it lets water in most of the time but not too much water . It doesn't bother me and you can just seperate the 2 pieces and drain it out if you need to.

Adjustable paddles have this collar that can get in the way while riding the waves. The hand movements on the paddle is quite a bit different than flat water paddling, watch some vids of wave riding, and you'll see the hands sliding up and down the shaft (no pun intended) as the paddle is being used in many different ways.
My solution, two paddles, one for wave riding, and one for everything else. The everything else paddle can be adjustable if you want, because the collar never gets in the way, and also good for lending the paddle out to a shorter or taller person.
Also I agree, the wave paddle should have a smaller blade, you need a more rapid cadence when going for a wave, so the smaller blade is the way to go.

Hey Potato ..
5.10 and 95 kg ..I've been though it to .I use to have 8.5 paddles .changed to a 8.0 naish wave ...it s perfectly shaped for fast release and is the perfect size for me .
adjustable paddles fill up with water ...every time you go under ..and get heavier and heavier and have to be emptied ...I have both ...and if I can paddle around the wave it's ok
but if its a day where your going to do some swimming ...go the fixed every time ...once I set my adjustable paddle ,I never move it .

I'll never go back to a bigger paddle ...I find them to slow for fast moves ...and less stress on the shoulders ..

all the dings on my board are from the adjustable paddle .falling off and the adjuster has small bolt heads .and the adjuster head .

Adjustable paddles are good in the surf they have more flex so you get a whip out of them when catching waves. But they are weaker I've snapped 3 or 4 in 2 years they do fill with water and that **** me that much I would duct tape the connection point to stop this.. Fixed paddles are lighter stronger a bit stiffer but far better in the surf they float too. As for blade size I'm a simmilar weight to you but on a shorter board, I found that a smaller blade I struggled to catch waves and had to put more paddles in to get on the wave I'm on a quick blade 100 and also have a naish fixed blade that's 96 cm2 ( I think that's the sizing ) length wise a bit shorter helps you swap hands easier when on the wave or catching it when my paddle was long I hit the nose of the board when paddling hard for waves or swinging around in the surf zone I do miss the flex of my naish adjustable though

I agree with a smaller blade - 85kg surfing 8'9 prowave, 7'' blade = great on my shoulders. Cut approx 'half' a shaka above my head. Plenty of speed and light in the surf Was using an even smaller blue planet lightweight paddle (6.75" ?) with plenty of flex - loved it. High aspect paddle allowed me to paddle much faster without any tension on shoulders and joints.

Thanks for the advice everyone

I now plan on cutting down my existing el cheapie 5cm at a time until i hit the sweet spot With length. Once I sort that out, I'll get a fixed paddle in the 7 inch range And know how long to cut it.