What do you look for when buying a stick

[McCabe24 0]

The main thing I look for is a well balanced stick. I play terrible with a blade heavy stick regardless of how much I like the curve and or flex. I am pretty good at adapting to a curve, use anything for Modano to Lidstrom, and flex isn't much of an issue although I don't like a smaller curve on a stiffer stick. As you can probably tell I haven't found an ideal combination for myself and am still trying different sticks, shafts and blades.

[Rustybender 0]

Pattern first, then price.

My typical stick buying experience goes like this:

Walk to the sticks. Find the woodies. Find the left handed woodies. Find the cheapest Sher-wood I can find with the Coffey pattern. (Typically a 5030 but one I found a $10 8000.)

Why the Coffey pattern? I've used the Coffey curve forever, and my shot is the best it's ever been, so I am actually afraid to switch. (Is there anything close?)

Why the cheapest? It's weird, but the more expensive a stick is, the faster I break it. That $10 stick lasted over six months. My 5030's usually last a month to a month and a half. Anything more expensive and I'm lucky to get 3 weeks out of it. Lucky for me I found 5030's on clearance at Scheels for $15. (I bought all of them)

[hersheybears35 0]

QUOTE (Neo5370 @ May 12 2005, 07:45 AM)

I thought flexing a stick/shaft you hadn't paid for was a no no. No?

Every store I`ve been to has one of those cute little "you break it, you bought it" signs next to the rack of sticks, or at least some phrase to that effect.......

[2-Keys 1]

the first thing i look for is feel. it doesnt pay to have a good stick in which you cant feel the puck on you blade. then of couse it has to be in the pattern you like and the right flex. B)

[Chadd 916]

the first thing i look for is feel. it doesnt pay to have a good stick in which you cant feel the puck on you blade. then of couse it has to be in the pattern you like and the right flex. B)

How can you judge the feel before you get on the ice?

[hitz14 0]

i look at every thing but mostly pattern price and flex.

[Michael9 57]

the first thing i look for is feel.  it doesnt pay to have a good stick in which you cant feel the puck on you blade.  then of couse it has to be in the pattern you like and the right flex. B)

How can you judge the feel before you get on the ice?

I find that sticks, shafts etc. just feel right when i'm holding. i mean i can tell if i'm going to like it befor using it (usally).i like the feel of TPS and easton better than bauer and vector. even thought i'm only had 1 ccm stick and i've never had a bauer. I find that easton and tps have like the right balance, wieght, contour etc. for me.

[A_Steeves12 0]

i look for pattern 1st, then price.

[Sticks of Fury 0]

Mainly look at shafts:

price

flex

company