stick9
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Posts posted by stick9
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7 hours ago, flip12 said:It just reads like you have two different sticks in mind, but you call them both VF.
Haha, yes that is a typo. Nice catch. I went back and read thru it and didnt catch it the second time around.
Correction, I meant to say the VS (gold stripe) is very supreme like. Whoops
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5 hours ago, flip12 said:Is there a typo here?
Also, why the false dichotomy: price and patterns or good product? Price, patterns, and product can all go in one.
I don't think so...
I'm not hating on PRO. For all the no names and lesser brand out there they are without question the best. I suppose that's true, it's not really one or the other.
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On 12/30/2025 at 6:03 AM, Radien55 said:I have tried some older Vapor sticks, but I can't say for sure if it was the 1X lite. However looking at the specs, it's 397g. That's the sweet spot of light enough and still durable. You don't need more and I rather have that, than a new $400 stick that shoots great for 10 shots then dies.
Sticks have fallen off a cliff in the chase of being light, I've never seen sticks break so often as they do now. There are 1-3 sticks breaking almost every NHL game I watch, which is pretty crazy because it is a new stick for basically every or every few games, it's not high mileage sticks that have been worn down.
Let me throw something at you... Do you think it's the quest for reduced weight that's causing the durability issues or is it maybe manufacturers looking to increase profits? I think it's the latter and the weight reduction is their way of selling it to you.
Circling back to PRO. I wonder, those who love them...do they love them because of the price and or the patterns or is it because it's a really good product? I have PRO custom and a VF. The custom is essentially a 2N but with a mega stiff blade which I hate. The VF is very older Supreme like but the pattern just doesn't work. I also tried their VF which I did not care for.
*Edit* I meant to say the VS (gold stripe) is very supreme like. Whoops
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14 hours ago, flip12 said:I'm with @xstartxtodayx. Most of the latest and greatest is just rearranging the deck chairs. Great for marketing, but the ship is still the same. The viability of Pro's lineup is strong evidence if not proof of this. If the technology were clearly superior between 2005, 2015, and 2025 sticks, Pro's OG lineup would show it. The big inflection point remains packaging the T-Flex + composite blade as a unit in the Synergy. Since then, any changes have been more subtle than substantial.
To answer the main question, though I haven't tried a ton of different lines, the one stick did just work for me off the shelf a bit better than anything else I've had was RibCor2. It just had a combination of soft blade feel when puck handling with good pop on shots and, most importantly, perfect balance.
Meh, I'm not sure I agree. PROs lineup is their thing not necessarily a snapshot of the greatest playing or selling sticks. I think they did a really good job at creating a line up to suite a wide variety of users. JMO though.
The best stick I've laid hands is the Jetspeed FT5 Pro. Great feeling and shooting stick with excellent durability and it looks fantastic. I like em so much Ive considered order some customs.
Runner up goes to the Nexus 2N. Not as good as a shooter as the FT5 Pro but it holds its own. Really nice feel and pretty durable too.
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On 12/28/2025 at 4:14 AM, JamesJo34 said:From what I’ve heard, the Tacks XF Pro aren’t just a new paint job — CCM made some tweaks to the boot shape and stiffness profile compared to the older AS-V line. It’s still in the same family, but people say they feel a bit more modern and responsive on the ice, not just cosmetically different. Would love to hear @VegasHockey’s take too!
Definitely NOT just cosmetic. It's a completely new skate. Even the composite used to make the boot is new. Fit has been tweaked as well, which has already been discussed.
I haven't tried the latest Netspeed but the XF Pro is by far the best skate CCM has produced.
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Here's my take.
The retail Bauer P14 is essentially a P88 with a mild toe hook. It's a very short blade, which can be a turn off for some. It's very close to CCMs old P30. Nothing like the deep mid of the Coffey.
The P46 as I remember it is a moderate mid curve with a slightly opened face. This is more like the traditional Coffey then any of the others mentioned here, just not as deep. The P46 was a favorite of own beerleaguecaptain.
You really need to put your eyes on them to be sure. Patterns tend to evolve over time.
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Has anyone ordered custom CCM sticks thru RG Hockey? Curious what the experience was like
It's rather tempting given the options available.
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@xstartxtodayx A tapered CCM sits somewhere between a Vapor and Supreme from the pre fit system era. Vapors were a little snug while Supremes a little roomy, either would work. My tapred CCM's are just right.
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6 hours ago, puckpilot said:I say this not to denigrate Super-feet, or any insole. I'm sure for some they are the difference between being able to play hockey and not. It's just that my experience makes me think supportive insoles are being overly pushed on the public. With muscles, it's use it or lose it, and if someone who doesn't need insoles starts using them, I suspect it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Where too much support weakens the arch. Obviously, sample size of one.
I totally agree. I see so many guys using Superfeet in skates they've never skated on. If I know them well enough I ask and the answer is always the same "the guy recommended them".
I've used Superfeet Yellow, Speed plates & Orthomove insoles along with retail and pro stock insoles. The Superfeet and the Orthomoves were strictly to take up volume. The Speedplates were the only ones to offer an advantage I could feel. They came with the skates and I did not use them in other skates. The best of the bunch or at least my favorite were the insoles that came with a pair of CCM pro stock skates. They were a little thicker than stock with a bit more density....comfy without sacrificing feel.
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On 10/27/2025 at 4:37 PM, malcb33 said:Is the Big Ben just as open as the CCM P90TM?
My understanding is that the actual Jamie Benn prostock is more open than the CCM P90TM. I tried the Sherwood variant, which was more open than the CCM version, and didn't like it.
It's close enough.
CCM's P90TM has been tweaked over the years so I am not surprised to hear Sherwoods variant is slightly different. From what I gather, Warriors version is an exact clone of the Benn prostock.
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On 10/24/2025 at 10:06 PM, malcb33 said:Does anyone know how the PRO92TM compares to the CCM P90TM?
7 hours ago, A2rhino said:Its very similar but has a bit more toe to it. Nice Max height though.
It really is as they describe, a P92 with a toe kink. It's also a 6 lie like the P92. I tried one and did care for it. I found the Big Benn closer to the P90TM. It has a bit more toe but plays very close to the 90. Same 5.5 lie too.
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On 9/13/2025 at 9:11 AM, start_today said:Ok, again, I’m jaded and don’t like anything.
But, this is just a brand name stamped on a mediocre stick, right? Like the “synergy” sticks that are a low tier Bauer with Easton graphics and a higher price point than they should have. No one under 40 actually cares if some ancient brand makes sticks again.
If this were a new, modern build offering something unique, wouldn’t they use a new name to capture the youth market, who is far and away the biggest selling point? And if it’s the “classic” TPS, why does anyone care about people who have been out of the game for 20 years?
And, outside of the XN10 (which, to be fair, people loved), TPS was never putting out GREAT sticks, right? They were fine, but it’s not like they were pushing boundaries and doing interesting stuff and suddenly stopped.
Nostalgia for the sake of nostalgia.
I’m happy to be proven wrong but, nothing about this strikes me as actually exciting.Yup, 100% dad market cash grab.
What sort of irks me about these things is trying to make it feel like the original, or hyping it like its some other worldly thing they are bring back for a limited time. Those TPS sticks were great at that point in time. I can't imagine they'd stand up to a modern composite.
I think CCM got it right with the retro Tacks.
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SkateTech
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**LIKE NEW** PRO VF series hockey stick. Stick was purchased a few weeks ago from the prostockhockeystick website. It's been cut to roughly 62.25 inches tip to end when measured against a wall.
Curve details from PROs website:
Exactly like the P92 Sakic but it has a little bit more of a cool factor with the toe kink. The toe kink helps make toe drags, and pull and drag shots just a little bit easier. This is one of the best all around curves that we offer, it plays a lot like the P92 only with the added bonus of a few more style points.
Lie: 6 Blade Length: Medium (30 CM) Blade Shape: Identical to P92
Currently listed on sideline for $139 + Shipping. I will do it here for $139, shipping is on me, continental US only.
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On 6/23/2025 at 10:54 AM, stick9 said:I went ahead and ordered a stock PRO VS with the McKinnon pattern from their inventory. I'm not a High Kick guy so the VS isn't really my thing but they had the McKinnon in stock so what the hell, right.
The stick arrived less than a week after placing the order. The fit an finish was perfect, not a mark or blemish to be found. The overall feel, weight, balance, shaft dimensions were almost spot on to my beloved FT5 Pros. The build appears to be very close to the FT5 Pro as well...see attached pics. The pattern is definitely not my thing. Passing is crazy good. Nice puck feel though shooting with it, not so much. Different pattern and kick point plays into that. Anyway, I was more interested in how it compared to what I was currently using. I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. The VS didn't blow me away like the FT5 did but I was still very impressed with the performance especially given it's price point, $169USD. It's not all unicorns and show ponies for me. PRO only offers the pattern I'd like on customs and the OG lines, not the VS, VF or VX. And, they do not offer the VF, Hybrid kick point, as one of their custom builds. Argh..
Following up
A friend of mine really wanted to try one of these. Since he was ordering anyway, I decided to try a VF with the P92T pattern (closer to what I normally use). Well, I dont really like it. It looks nice and feels light and well balanced but there is just something about it I just don't like. Maybe its the lie...maybe its the hybrid kick point...? I suspect its the blade, not the pattern that I don't like.
Anyway. My buddy skates up to me last night and shows his VF. There is a huge crack in the blade about an inch back from the toe. Looks like you could just snap the end of the blade off. He's used three times, which is about 3-4 hours of play time. Maybe its just one of those things.
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I went ahead and ordered a stock PRO VS with the McKinnon pattern from their inventory. I'm not a High Kick guy so the VS isn't really my thing but they had the McKinnon in stock so what the hell, right.
The stick arrived less than a week after placing the order. The fit an finish was perfect, not a mark or blemish to be found. The overall feel, weight, balance, shaft dimensions were almost spot on to my beloved FT5 Pros. The build appears to be very close to the FT5 Pro as well...see attached pics. The pattern is definitely not my thing. Passing is crazy good. Nice puck feel though shooting with it, not so much. Different pattern and kick point plays into that. Anyway, I was more interested in how it compared to what I was currently using. I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. The VS didn't blow me away like the FT5 did but I was still very impressed with the performance especially given it's price point, $169USD. It's not all unicorns and show ponies for me. PRO only offers the pattern I'd like on customs and the OG lines, not the VS, VF or VX. And, they do not offer the VF, Hybrid kick point, as one of their custom builds. Argh..
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23 hours ago, bthompson1286 said:Hey everyone,
I recently switched from the Edge holder to the XS holder and noticed something strange — I feel slower and less responsive overall. Has anyone else experienced this?I’m wondering if it’s just in my head or if there's actually a difference in performance or feel between the two holders. Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences.
Thanks in advance!
Since the runners are not interchangeable you are likely experiencing a difference in profiles. Try having the new runners (blades) profiled to something that is close to your old runners and see how that feels.
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anyone using the PRO21 McKinnon pattern? If so, thoughts?
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56 minutes ago, iceman8310 said:Let’s look at the last few years:
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FT5 Pro (2022) – $330
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FT6 Pro (2023) – $349.99 (+6.1%)
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FT7 Pro (2024) – $359.99 (+2.9%)
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FT8 Pro (2025) – $389.99 (+8.3%)
That’s a total increase of 18.2% over 3 years, averaging about 6% per year — completely in line with normal tech product price cycles and inflation, not trade policy.
Meanwhile, tariffs on imported hockey sticks or composite materials haven’t significantly changed since at least 2022. If tariffs were to blame, we’d see sudden price jumps, not this kind of predictable, annual increase.
The real drivers?
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R&D and material upgrades (lighter sticks, better kick points)
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Branding and pro endorsement value
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Standard inflation and cost of business increases
CCM (and Bauer) are using a value-based pricing model — they charge more because people are willing to pay it. It’s more like buying the new iPhone every year than it is about government tariffs.
Good info. However, these new tariffs are a real thing. Companies are not absorbing that cost. They are passing it on to the customer. Companies are also spending time and effort moving production out of high tariff countries like china. Not sure companies would spend the time, effort and capital if the threat wasn't real. I can say for certain there are companies that have already increased pricing due to tariffs.
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On 5/24/2025 at 12:24 PM, Sniper9 said:I understand we have our own experiences and I even said it's probably different in Canada in one of my first replies. But I would question how much easier it is to find a pro stock stick in a Specific spec you like over a discontinued retail stick. And with pro stock you actually don't even know the exact build sometimes.
You're giving solid advice, the same advice I've given to numerous people over the years. The disconnect is the ease in which you can find sticks on clearance and their pricing.
I fully admit, you gotta have the stomach to mess around with pro-stocks. It's not easy knowing what you are getting or even where to get them.
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10 minutes ago, Sniper9 said:"Scouring" the globe is really doing a 15 minute Google search.
I've used top end for years and just recently started to use second price point and it's little to no adjustment. Some second price points are better than others so i try to stay under 415 grams and it's been fine. Balance actually feels better when sticks are in the 380-400 range. Conversely, once you start using something in the 400-415 gram range you actually start to realize how pointless it is using a stick sub 380 grams and start to realize there is such thing is too light.
Prices are only gonna go up. It goes up every year and now with the tariffs it's getting worse.
I'll say it again, this time a bit more concise. Why bother searching for a retail stick on close-out when I can easily find a pro-stock version for less money... Before you answer, been there, done that. Its not as simple as you make it out to be.
Your experience is your experience. That experience may or may not translate to others. As I have stated, I have tried lower price points and while they aren't bad they lack something I notice in comparison to top tier sticks.
All of this is irrelevant to actual discussion at hand which is the price of top of the line retail sticks.
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20 hours ago, Sniper9 said:Maybe in the US. But in Canada, the trigger 7 pro was available up until earlier this year in terms of decent selection of specs. Most recently they've been cleared but that's because prohockey had them on clearance for $165 cdn. You can still find a few trigger 7 non pros. Like I said, might be a difference between Canada and US, but I've never had issues getting older top end or second price point sticks for no more than $220 cdn.
A second price point sticks doesn't feel bad. I've used them and they have the same pop and kick etc. The only difference is they are in the 400-415 gram range vs 380. 400 grams is already pretty damn light. And tbh, I'll gladly accept the added durability of a 400 gram stick... Not to mention the large price difference.
Why scourer the globe for sticks on closeout when I can buy a brand new pro-stock in the specs I want for roughly $200US?? I've done the closeout thing before. The major downfall is once they're gone, they're gone.
I'm not saying those second price points are bad sticks. I'm saying, once you start using the top tier model its hard to drop down. Its not about the weight or durability. Its about the feel and balance.
Back to the original point. It doesn't matter if FT7's are selling for or even pro-stocks for that matter. The current market price right now for the latest and greatest offering from CCM is $389US which I find absurd.
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3 minutes ago, Sniper9 said:Just get previous models on sale. Or second price point. The ft7 is only 395 grams
As a veteran in the stick trade, that is easier said than done. Even on closeout the 7pro will run you $289US. Selection is limited. Lower price points just down feel the same. Once you've played with a high end stick it's hard to go back.
I usually stick to pro-stocks anyway unless I come across a really good deal on a slightly used 5pro.
Your favorite sticks from the last ten years?
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I did the Readline build (recommended) and selected mid kick. It would have been a dream had it had a softer blade. You know it ain't working when guys on your own team are chirping about it.
I tried the VF. Here's my honest take. It's a nice stick, even better if you buy enough to get free shipping. It does however lack that magic that makes the Jetspeed the Jetspeed. Your opinion my differ. I have a buddy who's also a Jetspeed user and he loves his VF. The big turn off for me was the pattern. Their Benn Pro plays like a P92. They offer something closer to the P90TM (BigBenn) but only on customs. As a devoted Jetspeed user, I desperately wanted to like it. I'd give it another try if they start offering the BigBen pattern.