Growing into Int. Stick

[Innocent Bystander 5]

At what point do you make the jump with kids to intermediate sticks? My daughter is 5'2" and about 100 pounds. She has a junior sized Tacks stick that has been serving her well. I still had to cut about an inch off of that stick for proper sizing (bottom of chin). I notice that many of the kids on her team, many a similar size, are all into intermediate sticks now and their game doesn't seem to suffer at all. They shoot hard, they stick handle fine. I am actually beginning to feel as though the senior size blade that comes on intermediate sticks is probably quite advantageous to a kid.

Anyone have thoughts about when to make this transition?

[Chadd 916]

Depending on her strength and ability to transfer weight through the shot, she could probably get away with an 65 flex intermediate. I strongly believe that too many kids (parents really) rush into the next step up with sticks. Kids should be able to flex the stick they are using when taking a wrist shot. Otherwise, they never learn to feel a stick kick though on a shot and they never learn to shoot properly.

[Innocent Bystander 5]

That has always been my view as well. I do see some advantages in stickhandling and puck battles along the wall though. i would even argue that the intermediate sticks with their full sized blades are probably easier to receive passes with as well. I am just not sure that those advantages outweigh the need to have a stick that they can properly shoot with. Thanks for the input. Makes me feel better for sticking to my guns.

[JoshV 20]

I'd look into a softer flex intermediate (55/60 flex)

It's an easier transition than moving into a 65/70 flex

[Innocent Bystander 5]

totally agree on the softer flex, but at the same time, the stick will have to be cut increasing the flex up to something more like 70 anyway. Her Tacks stick with an inch cut off is still well below the 60 flex mark. It's a hard transition due to having to cut the next size stick.

[qmechanic 17]

I'm a 5'2" adult woman, 125 lb, and I started using intermediate sticks after using junior sticks for over ten years. I definitely prefer the longer blade and the much better selection of patterns at the intermediate level. I don't feel like I lost anything by going from junior to intermediate, but I'm not sure I was ever flexing my stick much on my shots. I use a Warrior Covert DT1 LT intermediate stick (55 flex) in W88 pattern, cut down from 55" to 50". I like it a lot. My passes and shots are definitely harder. The longer blade means that the puck stays on my stick longer. I don't have the quickest hands, so that helps me immensely. I no longer feel like the puck falls off my blade when I'm taking a shot; hard passes are easy. I'm finally getting used to the heavier stick (I used to use top-of-the-line Bauer junior sticks) when poke checking. It's taking me some time to get used to stickhandling with the new pattern, but it isn't too bad.

As far as I know, the Warrior Covert DT1 LT intermediate 55 flex is the shortest and lowest flex intermediate stick available. It's last year's model, so you can buy it online at a discount. Also, with Warrior low-kick sticks, you can cut 3-4" inches off without changing the flex, supposedly. I recommend having your daughter try this stick, if she likes low-kick sticks. Even though it's low-kick, I get pretty good slappers with it.

[Larry54 243]

BASE Hockey makes 45 flex intermediate sticks.

[qmechanic 17]

Right, but has anyone tried cutting a BASE stick by 5-7 inches? How does that change the flex and flex profile?

BASE Hockey makes 45 flex intermediate sticks.

[dangle7 0]

They have to be able to flex it. I would say even during passing. And also it can't be too thick in their hand.