I know that it is important to choose a wooden handle with the tightest grain you can find, then position the grain perpendicular to the scoop, which is the strongest lay of the grain. (vertical grain) If you turn it the other way it will break much easier. Same reason they put a brand on a certain spot on a baseball bat, so you have a reference as to which way to hold the bat so it won't break when you hit the ball.
I used to rebuild wooden boats and the lay of the grain is very important to the strength you expect to get from the wood.
But then, sometimes a handle will just break no matter how you lay it. My brother used to break all the wooden handles on shovels, axes, sledge hammers, ect, so my dad started removing the handles when he bought a new tool and would weld steel handles in them.
At least wood won't sent your detector off when you make a swing in the direction of the scoop you are holding. My sandshark will catch the reflection of the bucket if I carry it forward. Even holding it behind me it will go off if I make a wide swing to the left. I have to stick it over my shoulder to make wide swings.
