wooden peel sanding

just thought i’d start this thread because someone may find it useful.  im a bit of a noob so this might be common knowledge but here goes.

i bought a cheapish peal at the restaurant supply store.  when i got it home i washed it with dish soap and water and let it air dry.  when it dries the grain raises a bit and you can sand the raised grain off, i think i hit it with 120, 220, 400 grit sandpapers and after that the peel was much smoother and works better IMO. 

do you have any tips for how you prepare your peel?  I’m thinking about just making my own peel because im not sure if the round shape at the front of my peel helps with my launching style in a home over where im trying to maximize the pizza size.