Torn between a few sticks

[cforce 0]

I've been using wood sticks all my life, and I am know seriously considering a OPS. It seems the best choice for me is a lower end OPS because i cant afford to replace 200 dollar sticks. The following sticks have caught my attention and have gotten pretty good reviews:

CCM V110, Bauer Vapor VI, Nike Apollo, RBK 4K, and maybe a TPS Respose.

What are your views on these sticks?

[Chadd 916]

I find that TPS shafts perform much better for me than any of the others.

[Adam91 0]

I find that TPS shafts perform much better for me than any of the others.

I would agree. Also the TPS is the only stick other then the Apollo that when it came out was the best stick for its company. The others are price point sticks.

[blues_91 0]

The original Response was the best stick I've used, just didn't like the blade. I've heard that the Apollo doesn't last as long.

[A_Steeves12 0]

id go with TPS you can get any model of response for pritty cheap.

[tier 0]

My suggestion would be to go with a shaft and blade combo. Almost all the guys at my club have given up on one piece sticks. Too many breakages and it costs us a small fortune to buy gear here. Even with the price of sticks on the internet, customs stick us with duty when we bring them in! We're using the combos and they are proving far better.

I've got a TPS shaft and Bauer graphite blade and a CCM110 and Easton graphite blade. Some of my mates have the Easton Ultra Lite shafts and they swear by them. Hope that helps.

[twiztidwrista10 3]

If you are stuck on those sticks i would go with the response. The v110 blades seem to fall apart pretty quick. But if your looking for other options i would go tapered 2 piece. Epuck is selling the synthesis and synthesis grip for cheep(i think $67) just this week. Also dont think the r2 is very expensive. This way if the blade breaks, which they useually seem to go first u can just change it out instead of trying to cut a broken blade off a ops and all that mess. Also since youve been useing wood blades for so long you can put a wood blade in there if you like the feel. You are also able to experiment with curves for much less money. I would go 2 piece.

[Chadd 916]

If you are stuck on those sticks i would go with the response. The v110 blades seem to fall apart pretty quick. But if your looking for other options i would go tapered 2 piece. Epuck is selling the synthesis and synthesis grip for cheep(i think $67) just this week. Also dont think the r2 is very expensive. This way if the blade breaks, which they useually seem to go first u can just change it out instead of trying to cut a broken blade off a ops and all that mess. Also since youve been useing wood blades for so long you can put a wood blade in there if you like the feel. You are also able to experiment with curves for much less money. I would go 2 piece.

R2 shaft and wood blade is about $120, cheaper than most OPS.

[top_shelf_24 0]

aren't inno 1100 shafts pretty good too?

[Jim A 4]

look for the sales on OPS's, I think someone said something a couple days back regarding some True 1/XXX on closeout..etc..also the Winnwell at Perani's are Innovatives for $79...the McKinney might be as well..

look for sales..HG has had M1's for $69 earlier this week...

or as stated earlier..maybe start with a shaft/wood blade ..then go to a composite route, you can find some good deals here and ebay (I bought a TPS shaft for $0.01 + shipping!)

[jimmy 194]

If you are stuck on those sticks i would go with the response. The v110 blades seem to fall apart pretty quick. But if your looking for other options i would go tapered 2 piece. Epuck is selling the synthesis and synthesis grip for cheep(i think $67) just this week. Also dont think the r2 is very expensive. This way if the blade breaks, which they useually seem to go first u can just change it out instead of trying to cut a broken blade off a ops and all that mess. Also since youve been useing wood blades for so long you can put a wood blade in there if you like the feel. You are also able to experiment with curves for much less money. I would go 2 piece.

I have to disagree about the V110 blades, they are tanks compared to many other blades, especially anything Easton. Cut one in half and you will see it's nearly solid. They do start to chip on the ends, but if you use a little two-part epoxy to touch them up, they will last a long time. There are a lot of sales on the older V110 OPS now, I was selling a bunch for $99.

[Chadd 916]

If you are stuck on those sticks i would go with the response. The v110 blades seem to fall apart pretty quick. But if your looking for other options i would go tapered 2 piece. Epuck is selling the synthesis and synthesis grip for cheep(i think $67) just this week. Also dont think the r2 is very expensive. This way if the blade breaks, which they useually seem to go first u can just change it out instead of trying to cut a broken blade off a ops and all that mess. Also since youve been useing wood blades for so long you can put a wood blade in there if you like the feel. You are also able to experiment with curves for much less money. I would go 2 piece.

I have to disagree about the V110 blades, they are tanks compared to many other blades, especially anything Easton. Cut one in half and you will see it's nearly solid. They do start to chip on the ends, but if you use a little two-part epoxy to touch them up, they will last a long time. There are a lot of sales on the older V110 OPS now, I was selling a bunch for $99.

I found the vector blades didn't hold their stiffness for me.

[All Torhs Team 0]

I vote TPS sticks over anything. have the best feel by far and the blade holds up real nice. I would suggest getting the response plus or the R-xn10-2 because the response plus is alot better then the reg. response and the r-xn10-2 is a great two peice stick and it is the lightet shaft out there.

[jrhky36 1]

look for the sales on OPS's, I think someone said something a couple days back regarding some True 1/XXX on closeout..etc..also the Winnwell at Perani's are Innovatives for $79...the McKinney might be as well..

look for sales..HG has had M1's for $69 earlier this week...

or as stated earlier..maybe start with a shaft/wood blade ..then go to a composite route, you can find some good deals here and ebay (I bought a TPS shaft for $0.01 + shipping!)

McKinney is not Innovative. it a TPS reponse (org). scrape the black paint off and you will see tps graphics. its a deal perranis worked out with tps.

[Jim A 4]

cool..thanks I had forgotten what it was...

[jrhky36 1]

cool..thanks I had forgotten what it was...

no problem

[CardinalHcky19 0]

from watching NHL and just hockey in general the CCM sticks seem to break a lot