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Sidz

Need some stick advice.

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Hello,

I started playing drop in hockey about two years ago. Since then I have tried a few mid range sticks out. I tried Crosby(sickick)/Hall(Stealth), Datysuk(Sickick), Backstrom(Supreme), Stastny(Sherwood) and Kane(Vapor). I tried all these because I never quite felt comfortable with any one stick. I was recommended to try the Hall and Crosby first because apparently they were the most popular. But after trying all these I wasn't quite happy so I did a little bit of research and found out that the Drury stick was another popular one. I found a Phaneuf(Reebok A.I.5) which apparently was the new clone of the Drury and for once felt comfortable with a stick. Mainly my discomfort with the other sticks was shooting but now my shooting feels great compared.

Now that I am more educated though and I know the difference between mid-kick, low-kick etc, I am now curious as to if I could further improve upon my future stick choices.

A little bit about myself:

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 195

Pos: Winger

Style: Defensively minded

Shot: wrist/snap

Apparently the stick I use is designed for slap shots and one-timers but I typically like wrist shots and banging it in the net from close range. So logic says I should have a low-kick stick for wristers but when I tried them they didn't feel as good as the one I have now. My guess is that it would then be the curve type that makes this stick more comfortable for me. So my question is: Should I try and find a low-kick stick with same curve or does anyone have any insight on this matter?

Thanks.

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if you have it in your budget, sure, try a low kick out. CCM's version is the ribcor, so maybe check out a 30k with the same pattern to see if it fits your game better.

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Sticks are an interesting thing. Different sticks are curves are designed for specific things, yet they're all personal preference. I typically like mid-kick sticks (designed for slap shots) but use an open mid-toe curve (designed for wrist and snap shots). If you like the curve you have, stick with it. Mid-kicks give you more power, and low-kick sticks are better for a quick release, so whichever is most important to you. I'd recommend giving a Bauer vapor or nexus a try, or even something like a Warrior covert or CCM tacks. Pick one up and go with what feels best to you.

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I'd say try a low kick stick and drop down a flex. I started at an 85 flex and dropped down to a 65 flex before I found my sweet spot with a 70 flex intermediate warrior (I'm 5'11" 190lbs as a reference). As far as models go, I don't think there are a lot of bad sticks out there, especially for guys at our experience level, so just find a low kick stick that has the curve and lie you like and grab it

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Simple game, you may be over-thinking the whole thing. Just play, most folks I know can take da snapper, wrister, and slapper with the same stick. Basic Pm9 type curve can do it all. I never hear the term kick point in the 60s yet we played and shot well.

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Simple game, you may be over-thinking the whole thing. Just play, most folks I know can take da snapper, wrister, and slapper with the same stick. Basic Pm9 type curve can do it all. I never hear the term kick point in the 60s yet we played and shot well.

you never heard kick point in the 60s because all the sticks were wooden sticks, before the materials allowed for different kick points on sticks. did people shoot fine during that era? sure, but they were also shooting on goaltenders with heavier, smaller padding and minimal face masks etc.

That said, maybe the different kick points wont have a huge effect on your game, especially at the lower levels, but its worth checking out.

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I might be old school on this but to me the curve is the most important thing. Your current shooting mechanics will determind how much "pop" the puck has leaving your stick. From your bio, a firmer stick would seem to fit your game.

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My head agrees with MN O&S, but when I use certain sticks (S19),my shot is a rocket. Use a different stick (widow eg) with same curve and flex and everything feels the same except the shots are not nearly as impressive. I understand that probably means my technique is off. Matter of fact, I'm sure it is, but I am also an old(ish) man with shoulder problems and if using a certain stick allows me to shoot the way I could when I was in my 20's and 30's, then I'll do it. That said I'm down to my last S19 so it's tIme to move on.... :)

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Buy some shafts on clearance- traditional if you wanna try mid kicks (I do not like traditional so I cannot help ya), tapered if you wanna try low kicks (Reebok 20K is on clearance at HM), and tapered "hybrids" to try all the kick points. I call the TotalOne a tapered hybrid (they call it amplified mid kick) since it is a kickpoint somewhere between a low kick point tapered and a mid kick traditional. (I have a couple of TotalOne 102 flexes buried in the "Sell" section here, will PM the link, after I write this)

Then, swap out the curves and see which ones you like on each. I had been going 2 piece and experimenting, which was good because I could make mistakes (on stick length) and always salvage the paddle. I have since gone 1 piece, but will be going back to 2 piece as I am constantly changing my stick lengths.

To further complicate your decision, pay attention to puck feel on the different blades. I find puck feel to be drastically different between Warrior Dynasty AXT1 and Easton Mako II blades. I have only used these 2 blades, in addition to the QRPro (OPS). I am not really crazy about any of them, and will be trying the Vapor 1X this summer.

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