The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
I have been curious to switch back (mainly because of cost). Don't get me wrong, I love, and think composites are far superior to wood, but I can't keep paying $150+ for a stick.
Has anyone gone back from composite to wood, or never switched from wood for that matter? I haven't used a wood stick since about 1995, when I was a bantam player. They seemed fine then, but at that time, it was all I had ever used and didn't know any different.
Thanks for your input.
Joe, I agree with you on everything as far as performance goes. As far as only lasting 3 or 4 games, I know they would last me longer than that, especially since I am just playing in a beer league.
I probably should go from wood to composite, I just don't have the cash for it right now. I am saving up for my first ice season since my eye injury in '08.
Originally played my first 3 seasons with the Sherwood PMPX 9050, which was tough to get a hard shot with, but definitely made the transition to lighter flexes much easier. I spent all summer taking shots at a wall in the park with that stick, and after returning from a two year hiatus, I switched to a more primitive composite my brother didn't want, and played with it for 5 games last season, until I was forced to play defense for scoring too many goals. That's when I switched to the heralded Sherwood 5030 because I didn't want to break the Vector stickchecking. I got about 20+ games out of the first 5030, but still keep the composite as a backup. The sticks are both comparable in flex and weight, but there is a noticeable difference in the release, something I don't want to be handicapped by. Still playing with the 5030, and have no plans on changing to anything else until I win the lottery.
Funny story. All up through minor hockey/AAA/ and Jr.B. I played with composite sticks and would not think about using a wood stick. Until last year when I moved into a new apt and some guy had left a old beat up Sher-Wood with a chunk gone out of the blade on the top down in the basement.
I didn't use it until one time I snapped one of my good ones and had no other stick to use, so I said screw it and I used the Sher-Wood. Keep in mind that I play defence and this stick was about inches shorter than I always used.
Fell in love with the stick immediately and have stuck with the same stick ever since. I just love the feel of the puck on your blade and the softness of your passes. I only play rec hockey now but I can't see myself paying $100+ for a stick in the near future.
I use an Sher-Wood with the old Paul Coffey blade. I like it for 30 bucks. The blades on composites chip or break to easily. I do like composites I'll probably buy one again but not until my Sher-Wood breaks.
The only time i see where going wood is better is after a long pause of hockey(1-2year+).
First because the weight will help you build muscle and second usually after a layoff of hockey you don't want to bust out 100$ for a stick when your not even sure you will get back fully in hockey.
I know someone who did but only cuz he is a centreman and got tired of having sticks broken in face offs against jerks who move in with a hard hack (in a beer league cmon dumbass).
I use a really long stick with a really low (whippy) flex, so unfortunately there's not really a wood stick out there that can meet my needs.
I don't want to open up a can of worms here, but the thing that people (i.e. wood stick fans) seem to forget is that wood sticks become useless just as quickly as composites. They just don't explode "spectacularly" the way that composites do. Nothing worse than using a wood stick or blade that's dead.
Joe, I agree with you on everything as far as performance goes. As far as only lasting 3 or 4 games, I know they would last me longer than that, especially since I am just playing in a beer league.
well... I can only talk from my experience. Wood sticks lose their "snap" and once the fiberglass is split, water creeps in, they get soggy and the break.
The wood sticks are great for 2 games, then blah. And if they survive past 5 games, they are rarely ever crisp feeling.
Just my opinion. I save money with a composite stick.
well... I can only talk from my experience. Wood sticks lose their "snap" and once the fiberglass is split, water creeps in, they get soggy and the break.
The wood sticks are great for 2 games, then blah. And if they survive past 5 games, they are rarely ever crisp feeling.
Just my opinion. I save money with a composite stick.
I still have & use a Koho Revolution from the early 90s.....
Retail? no way. Second part is absolutely true however, but we like good stuff anyway
Depends, things like the Bauer X:20 or Easton S5 are pretty solid sticks if you don't absolutely need the top of the line stuff. Look around at different online stores and compare prices, surely you can find a deal on one of those.
Depends, things like the Bauer X:20 or Easton S5 are pretty solid sticks if you don't absolutely need the top of the line stuff. Look around at different online stores and compare prices, surely you can find a deal on one of those.
It's all relative. If a person goes from using a woodie that has the wrong lie/curve and flex for them to a low-end OPS with all of the correct features mentioned above, then of course they're going to notice that the cheap (price-wise) OPS is much much better. However if their skills improves in the future and they upgrade to a high-end OPS with again, the same features, than I'll bet that they'll comment on how bad their old OPS was.
When I was in Peewee my dad gave me my first two-piece stick, an Easton T-Flex with a Sakic blade which I thought was the best thing ever. Up to that point I had only used wood sticks. That lasted me for two years before I upgraded to an Eastern Synergy Si-core, then a Mission Z-1 and a Reebok 4K. I never paid more than $80 for any of the composites (thank you summer clearance sales!), and all of those sticks lasted multiple seasons, in fact I still have all of them. The Reebok was used for 3 years including two midget and a year of junior. The Mission was just too bulky and I didn't like the feel of it, the Synergy was amazing but the blade chipped away at the end, it can still be used but I wouldn't rely on it. Anyway, point is that I love the composite sticks BUT...
I took them to university with me, so when I went home at Christmas I couldn't bring them on the bus. I picked up a $15 Sherwood at Canadian Tire and it was impressive, I can't see ever buying another composite. They're nice but since I'm pretty much done with competitive hockey I don't see myself spending $80 on sticks.
I've always used a wood stick. I like the feel of a really heavy stick, and haven't found any composites that are heavy enough. I really haven't looked for composites, though. If I find a heavy one with a good feel, I might just switch over, but I'm happy being a relic.
well... I can only talk from my experience. Wood sticks lose their "snap" and once the fiberglass is split, water creeps in, they get soggy and the break.
