how much stick flex points is really noticeable?

[shoot_the_goalie 277]

Just curious for people's opinions.  How much a difference in stick flex is noticeable assuming same stick model?  3 points?  5 points?  10 points?

[GoalForFun 169]

From personal experience, around 8 is when things start getting really noticeable. If you increment up by 5 as you get stronger, you won't notice a significant difference.

[60PlusWinger 82]

It depends on how mechanically sound your shot is. I could put a top of the line stick in the hands of someone who has weak technique and I doubt anyone will noticed a difference. For me 3-4 is noticeable, I cut one inch off retail Bauer length so going from a 87 flex -1 inch brings it to a 91 roughly and it's noticeable. I use warrior now and after cutting them to that exact height the difference was noticeable even if it was 3-5 flex.

[OzziesDad 89]

There are a lot of variables.  You can take two 85 flex sticks off the shelf, and each might flex a hair different.  Not a ton different, but not the same either.

Say one 85 flex stick is a bit easier to flex than another, then you grab two 95's off the shelf, and each is a little different, it really leaves a bit of gray area in terms of how much is noticeable to you. 

Then factor in that some sticks brands generally play whippier than others at certain flex points/intervals (True and Warrior IMHO are whippier than Bauer or Sherwood).  Then of course your technique plays a huge role in all of it as well.

 

Maybe thats too much, and I'm overthinking it just a bit.  I would say on average, +/- 5 might not be overly noticeable in most cases.  I would say that difference might help dial you in better, but not be very drastic.  Where as, I would say +/-10 would be very different, and definitely take some getting used to.  Maybe cut the difference and say +/- 7 or 8 would be where you would start to really feel the difference. 

[Bakum 25]

Easton 85 Flex has been my go to for many years now but I have used the Bauer 87 Flex and there is a noticeable difference to me. It's probably the difference in the brand moreso than the flex itself though. In my personally experience, I feel that Bauer sticks are a bit more stiff than Easton. I recently got a CCM RBZ 270 with a 85 Flex and it's more familiar to the Easton whippiness.

[Vet88 673]

Eastons are renown for playing whippier than Bauer at similar flexes - then after a few months of use they can really turn into a noodle.