1H weapons - prot or ret?Follow

I'm quite new to paladins and a 54 blood elf paladin is my highest toon at the moment. I've messed up my talent points often and respec up to 40g now. My solo leveling life before 40 was really bad. I've been a mix of prot and ret, then respec to full ret, using 2H after level 38 I think, then solo grinding and questing just turn out to be a bit better.

Now at 50s, with crusader strike, I found that it's actually more efficient to use 1H + shield than 2H. Using 1H doesn't significantly slow down my killing speed than 2H, and when I use seal of light/wisdom, I can steal more life/mana with 1H and CS. With me staying in retribution I can also switch to 2H without sacrificing much benefit when I want to (I have an amazingly looking 2H sword waiting for me in my bank). The survivability is really a lot better when I wield a shield, but then this play style tempts me into protection tree...

I've never tried full protection before with holy shield, reckoning and other great talents in that tree. I'd like to try that but I've respec too much before and it gets really expensive now. If I'm going to respec to prot, I'll have to give up CS, less mana cost on seals, large amount of dps and an even benefit with both 1H and 2H weapon (prot will surely favor 1H more than 2H).

I feel a lot improved in soloing after I got CS and use 1H + shield, but I'm really curious that if I'll get a lot more benefit on solo leveling from prot instead of ret. CS has really helped on my dps even with a 1H, but I've never tried to have reckoning or use holy shield. I'll accept all your suggestions, opinions and criticisms.

Hmm, IMO you should get your hands on the Ice Barbed Spear from AV for your level.

That thing rocks SoC and Crusader Strike hard.

i agree w/ the first person who responded b/c the speed of the weapon and dps will help you decide which way to spec. Right now on my dwarf im ret/prot speced and i have a sheild + 1h mace (2.5 speed)that does a good amount of dmg. i also have a 2h axe to switch to considering the situation. i chose the shield b/c it helps my armor a ton that way i dont have to use devotion aurora all the time. but hes right if its 2.5 or slower go ret or 2.5 or faster go prot.