Sounds like you've already had way better success than me!  I've thought about buying a good one to play around with.  I tried making a couple, but they would never fly correctly.  Although I'll totally admit that my throwing was likely a big part of the problem.  I figured if I got one that's (known to be) good and should fly correctly, my crafting skill could be removed from the equation.

I made some more throwsticks that I think would be classified as aboriginal "kylies." These were both plywood and both have already broken after repeatedly hitting the rocks behind the target. The second photo is one of them with a crack around a third of the way from the tip.
Sadly the other, newly returned from the neighbor's yard, is now somewhere in the bushes.
The plywood throwsticks are really fun, as a medium or soft toss sends the larger one around 20m. With proper tuning, as I hope to give them soon, the range will be incredible.

I also made one from a fir branch that I found. It's a soft and somewhat brittle wood with a few termite holes going part way through it, but it wasn't rotten so I used it. I don't think the stick is sufficiently curved (or I just tuned it wrong), because it throws decently but not that well. It was fun to make, though.

Next, I'm thinking of making an HDPE plastic throwstick from milk jugs. That way if it breaks, I can just re-melt it and it's as good as new. Also, I can try sharpening it without having it splinter like wood might.