Getting back into CW after 20 years away, and looking to upgrade my old Bencher BY-1. I've been reading that dual-lever paddles can be harder to master and contest winners often stick to single-lever to avoid timing mistakes. But I also see that dual-lever with iambic mode can reduce paddle strokes by 11%.

Those of you who've tried both, which do you recommend for someone getting back into regular CW operation? Any specific models that shine for learning proper technique?

I always tell new CW folks to start with a basic paddle and keyer if your goal is contesting or DXing because you can go much faster—much sooner. I'd suggest trying both at a hamfest before buying. Some operators prefer single-lever for simplicity, others prefer dual-lever.

I'm in the same boat returning to CW! Started with a single-lever and found it much more forgiving while rebuilding muscle memory. The timing is less critical and I make fewer sending errors.

Iambic keying is about the fastest way to send Morse - when you hear operators at 40+ WPM doing it manually, it's probably dual-lever. But honestly, focus on solid fundamentals first. A good single-lever paddle will serve you well for years.