Any suggestions for a OPS stick?

[dustygoon 0]

I am looking to move on from my woody (finally). I want to buy a one-piece composite, but there are so many to chose from. Given the price and lack of variety of demos available to me, I was hoping to get some advice on what brand and flex.

Me:

6 foot, 170 lbs. Play in advanced league (although it is still a beer league). I don't take many slap shots....mostly quick wrist shots, leaning on the stick off my left foot (i shoot lefty). I am accurate but I notice other guys with composites are getting more zip in their shots.

I want a very durable stick, flex leaning towards the whippy side (Easton 85 seems about as stiff as I would want), and cost of $100 or less for my first stick.

Also, any suggestions on super cheap ways, places to buy these sticks?

Cheers.

[All Torhs Team 0]

Response plus is my recomondation. They have whip flex as you asked for, but I would suggest at least a regular flex for you. Its very durable, took a year for me to break, it was the best stick i had ever played with. I loved the feel.

[Eazy_b97 1]

What curve do you use?

Look into some Close-out OPS that are currently on sale. Should give you a taste of an OPS for a decent price. I'd suggest a Vector 110, just because they are fairly durable, and perform decently. Puck feel is horrible though. Take a look around the review section and try to search a few sticks in your price range. The Xn10 would also be high on my list for you.

[hockechamp14 0]

I second the Vector 110. However, I don't think the feel on it is bad at all from my experience with it though.

I'm using an XN10 and Inno 1100 now, and although I think they're both superior ot the v 110, they're both also 40-60 dollars more.

[Project_2501 0]

XN10's can be had at www.hockey1.com for $110.

[dustygoon 0]

Excellent feed-back guys. I really appreciate it. Thanks!

Curve....i am not too sure what it would be called; but it would be lefty, no upwards angle, round toe, longer blade, curve starting in the middle of the blade but not too much of a hook.

Isn't the feel going to be a little artificial with all composites? Or are some noticeably different than others?

Also, are the RBK sticks any good (i assume those are the old CCM sticks)? Prices for these are pretty cheap.

[Chadd 916]

If you can score an XN10 around $100, jump on it. Otherwise most OPS at that price point aren't going to perform quite as well.

[hockechamp14 0]

The feel really depends on the stick you get, and your preference for feel, some people love the feel for certain sticks, while other hate it, so it's a mixed bag.

For your curve, if you get a CCM stick, I'd reccomend a Recci. :D

[dustygoon 0]

The feel really depends on the stick you get, and your preference for feel, some people love the feel for certain sticks, while other hate it, so it's a mixed bag.

For your curve, if you get a CCM stick, I'd reccomend a Recci. :D

What would be the equivalent curve to a recchi in the TPS xn10?

Nash or Tkachuk? I am looking at the TPS website now, but i don't see much difference between the two.

[Project_2501 0]

CCM Recci curve would do you well. A Rbk Datsyuk as well, but that has a square toe.

From TPS, I don't really know, a Nash is a Sakic clone, so you may find that too open, unless you like that.

Easton, an Iginla would probably be near perfect.

Bauer, Lindros is pretty close, less open than a Sakic, and a little more curved.

Mission, a Hull curve would do the trick, Iggy clone.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Use The MSH Pattern DB to help with curves. Loft is the "twistyness" of the blade, so I'd say Messier (TPS), Recchi (CCM) and Hull (Mission) should be up your alley. Those are the companies that are mostly on close-out right now (off the top of my head).

[Project_2501 0]

The Hull is a 5.5 lie, the Recchi is a 5.5 lie (IIRC) and the Messier is 6...

[dustygoon 0]

The lie.....that is something i know nothing about.

Is there a way of measuring my current sticks to determine the lie? I have a stable full of Montreal woodies which i use....all they say is "standard" to describe the curve, but no numbers to describe the lie.

[Chadd 916]

The lie.....that is something i know nothing about.

Is there a way of measuring my current sticks to determine the lie? I have a stable full of Montreal woodies which i use....all they say is "standard" to describe the curve, but no numbers to describe the lie.

What name is on the Montreal blades? I have a catalog and can help figure out what is the most similar.

[dustygoon 0]

The lie.....that is something i know nothing about. 

Is there a way of measuring my current sticks to determine the lie?  I have a stable full of Montreal woodies which i use....all they say is "standard" to describe the curve, but no numbers to describe the lie.

What name is on the Montreal blades? I have a catalog and can help figure out what is the most similar.

Chadd.....that would be awesome.....the stick has the following jibber jabber written on it (reading from grip to blade):

"Standard, Montreal, 7750, Powerglass, x70, M95"

[Eazy_b97 1]

How does the tape on your blade generally wear off, on the bottom. At the heel, toe or evenly?

[dustygoon 0]

How does the tape on your blade generally wear off, on the bottom. At the heel, toe or evenly?

Seems about even across...maybe a little more wear towards the heel but i wouldn't want to change it too much.

[dustygoon 0]

bump......

[ambro 0]

M95 would be the curve on your Montreal sticks.

For you I would recommend a Regular flex TPS Xn10 in the Tkachuk. It may be more than $100, but it shouldn't be much more because they are discontinued and are starting to get lowered price-wise.

[ultraman7k 0]

i'd reccommend the nike apollo ops, you can get em on close out for $69 from hockeygiant. they were nike's top of the line a couple years ago.

[Bauer_freAK 0]

For you I would recommend a Regular flex TPS Xn10 in the Tkachuk. It may be more than $100, but it shouldn't be much more because they are discontinued and are starting to get lowered price-wise.

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