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 a two piece, which feels very heavy to me. But it was a freebie, so I use it for road hockey demo (I only coach nowadays). I have the first Synergy that was put on the market, but the end of the blade is all chipped away and cracked. Then this past year, somebody I knew bought the Total One Special Edition, and didn't like it, so I got a great deal on it. I really like the weight, feel and snap of that stick. I'm just glad my buddy hated it!!! Before the TotalOne I was looking at going back to wood, again because I only coach hockey. I only get the Sherwood 5030 Featherlite. I used that same model from the time I was a Pee Wee all the way up until I bought my Synergy about 8 years ago. Best wood model that I've ever used.
A buddy that I coach with, had one of his composite sticks break and he didn't have a chance to go and buy one before practice (the Pro Shop was closed), luckily he brought his old woodie from his Minor Pro days. We made so much fun of him for that stick! I don't remember what kind it was, but I want to say it Christian, but man was it funny!!! He still has his old skates too, but those even for being old, looked cool, because they were the old Bauer 3000's. I had a pair of those when I was younger as well!
My 13 y/o son an I did. Found a stock of Bauer Supreme One80 Wood sticks (wood with black reinforced blade). Bought 10 sticks for him (flex 67) and me (flex 102). 15 bucks per stick. Great stuff.
After not scoring in 10 games with his 250$ composite he switched to the wooden stick and scored 3 goals in the first game :-) He doesn't want to go back.
I'll always love my synergys, and they do last a while but a few years ago I tried switching back to wood for a bit and I found a stick I absolutely loved. It was Afinoganovs(sp) TPS IIRC. I had an absolute bomb with this stick. Problem was, I broke one every single game. I actually had loaded up on them too. Went out and grabbed 5 or 6 of them. Broke them all in about a months time. Back to the synergy I went. I break quite a few composites too but not anywhere near the same rate. I won't go back to a wood stick anytime soon.
My playing days have been long finished. Always used a wooden stick except my final yr, when the club had a stick program so I used an aluminum stick. Still have it and 2 blades that have never been used.
Until 2010, I had coached 25+ yrs at the bantam, m/midget or midget levels. So the old style woodie was fine.
Our trainer worked a deal with a retailer, each yr we offered a stick program to our players. The cost was anywhere from $70-$85 per players which provided 7-10 wooden sticks per player (4 each for the goalies). I've always maintained that kids can manipulate the wooden stick far easier than a comp or aluminum stick.
1 yr, kids chipped in and bought me a comp as an end of season gift.
I tried it and hated it. Ultimately I ended up giving it to a neighbour.
I'll be curious to try the new Bauer Nexus, which is supposed to have a shaft feel like wood, not just the blade. Obviously won't be the same but should be interesting.
I tried it once and could barely handle the puck. It felt as if the wood stick wasn't as "springy" as the composite. I'd push the puck forward and it wouldn't go as far in front of me as I was expecting, or I'd try stickhandling back and forth and lose control of the puck because it didn't arrive on my blade when I was expecting it. I ended up trimming that wood stick down and now I use it in my garage to practice stickhandling when I have some free time, which works well because I've found that the green biscuit is more responsive than a puck.
I'm sure that I would have gotten accustomed to it, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice performance while I re-learned how to stickhandle with it. I think that regardless of which way you go, you have to endure a bit of an adjustment period.
What I found odd was that it significantly improved my shot. I was ripping slapshots top shelf and even my wristers felt like they had more velocity and were easier to control. FWIW, I went from an Easton S5 composite (lower end) to an Easton SY90 wooden stick. Same flex rating (I don't know how you calculate flex on a wood stick) and same blade pattern (Zetterberg).
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.
Ive always loved these sticks, but they usually only last me one game before they break.
Its $40 for a wood stick, why not just buy one to buy it. Its really all about feel, and there pretty durable. Depending how heavy you are and how much you lean on it.
But its all preference, but in terms of just having a back up... buy a wood stick, buy two. Your practically saving $$$ and still have back up. Then have your one or two main sticks composite if it makes you feel better
As a goalie, it's always wood for me. I've tried a few different composites and they all have this weird bounce rebound effect. I'll take a nice solid foam-core wood stick over a composite every day of the week.
I could never go back to wood sticks. When I was in my teens, I constantly broke them after 6-7 games, and I was not a big kid, and I was not that rough with them.
