G. Snapp., Spooned: like a spoon the blade has a shape that will hold water like a spoon. It tends to give a more immediate grip when the blade is first placed in the water for a forward stroke, it isn't as easy to scull with or release from the water at the end of a stroke. Dihedral: imagine a raised spine on the power face of the blade,it tends to reduce blade flutter. Werner paddles have a fair amount of both characteristics. Lightning paddles have no dihedral and very little spoon. Grey owl and Sawyer make good mid-priced paddles. I'm not familiar with the upscale wood paddles but the ones I've seen are very nice.