Little Experiment

[shnuggs 0]

6’2 190 Pounds

Intermediate player

Due to my current breaking of my sticks my M1 just broke and my Hex 1 blows-- I thought I would do little experiment till my new M1 comes in the mail. I have been using a various OPS over the last 3-4 years—I thought it would be cool to go from a OPS to using a wood stick for a week— then to a 2 piece – shaft and wood blade-- for a week, and then back to a OPS- and see if I could realize the differences – advantages and disadvantages to all of them.

Wood Stick—Went out and bought a Sherwood PMP 9030. Stepped out on the ice first thing I noticed was immediately much better feel. I was actually surprised how much feel my M1 – or any other OPS was lacking – I thought it was slight – but there was a huge difference. That’s pretty much the only advantage. On taking slapshots – the shaft twisted extremely when trying to shoot it--- on snapshots and wrist shots the puck felt as if it was lagging on the release – everything felt 1-2 seconds slower off the blade – almost like slight slow motion feel when shooting--- plus there was no consistency – some times u got good wood on a shot and sometimes nothing --- to much twisting when trying to put good power into your shot. I really felt that I had to literally change- relearn how to shoot with this stick. I would have liked to see how I progressed over the week with this stick but it broke on a slap shot in the second game I used it.

2 Piece—Took my broken M1 cut it off flipped it around – but in a but plug—errr but end – on one side – wood blade on the other and voila – new stick. First off the flex did feel different – weird after flipping the stick --- it may have been in my head but the flex did feel different once I flipped it. Feel on this stick was still good – not as good as the wood but close—still better then a OPS. Shooting there was more consistency then the wood – but it still had that lag and slow release to it. Not as much twisting on shots – although it was there occasionally. Extremely blade heavy now. After about a week and half of using it i actually got used to it and was starting to think of switching back to a ultra lite and a wood blade.

OPS—M1 came in the mail. First thoughts I felt when getting back onto the ice was – where’s the feel? Puck was hard to control and was sliding away from me—also on receiving passes the puck did bounce off hard ---but those were the only disadvantages to the stick. After a few snap shots I was like wow – I forgot how that explosive quick release felt. On snap shots a little flick of the wrist and boom top shelf – hard and fast. Nice easy flex and consistency when shooting. This is what a OPS is all about – consistency, accuracy, and hard and fast shooting. It did take a while to get used to the feel – or lack of it – but it’s well worth the trade off. I still can’t believe the shooting difference.

Conclusion— After doing this experiment – I cant understand how there are still NHL players using wooden sticks--- granted a wood stick has better feel – but the shot consistency and power are so much better using a OPS – its like using a wooden bat – and a metal bat. The one area OPS do have to improve on is feel – which they really really lack– which is what intrigues me so much about the Pulse—although I have sworn off newer Mission sticks—if the Pulse does what it claims to do --- I might have to think twice.

I know what I said here is not anything that hasn’t been discussed on this board before – just thought I would share my experience.

:)

[BK 0]

Good read.

I would have tried a few different woodies, there ARE very good woodies out there (your sherwood should have been one). I have been an ops guy for a while, but its always fun to go back.

[M-Cohen 0]

Good read. And I have two Pulse's and would say you should give one a try, they are really fantastic. Especially the feel.

[hockeymom 2]

2 Piece—Took my broken M1 cut it off flipped it around – but in a but plug—errr but end – on one side – wood blade on the other and voila – new stick. First off the flex did feel different – weird after flipping the stick --- it may have been in my head but the flex did feel different once I flipped it. Feel on this stick was still good – not as good as the wood but close—still better then a OPS. Shooting there was more consistency then the wood – but it still had that lag and slow release to it. Not as much twisting on shots – although it was there occasionally. Extremely blade heavy now. After about a week and half of using it i actually got used to it and was starting to think of switching back to a ultra lite and a wood blade.

Someone sort me out on this: I thought, because of the way a OPS is made, you can't flip it around because it alters the balance of the stick and becomes too blade heavy.

[jon93 0]

2 Piece—Took my broken M1 cut it off flipped it around – but in a but plug—errr but end – on one side – wood blade on the other and voila – new stick. First off the flex did feel different – weird after flipping the stick --- it may have been in my head but the flex did feel different once I flipped it. Feel on this stick was still good – not as good as the wood but close—still better then a OPS. Shooting there was more consistency then the wood – but it still had that lag and slow release to it. Not as much twisting on shots – although it was there occasionally. Extremely blade heavy now. After about a week and half of using it i actually got used to it and was starting to think of switching back to a ultra lite and a wood blade.

Someone sort me out on this: I thought, because of the way a OPS is made, you can't flip it around because it alters the balance of the stick and becomes too blade heavy.

you have to flip it around so you can fit a standerd blade in.

you can put a tapered blade in but he fliped it for his experiment

[Hooah4 12]

2 Piece—Took my broken M1 cut it off flipped it around – but in a but plug—errr but end – on one side – wood blade on the other and voila – new stick. First off the flex did feel different – weird after flipping the stick --- it may have been in my head but the flex did feel different once I flipped it. Feel on this stick was still good – not as good as the wood but close—still better then a OPS. Shooting there was more consistency then the wood – but it still had that lag and slow release to it. Not as much twisting on shots – although it was there occasionally. Extremely blade heavy now. After about a week and half of using it i actually got used to it and was starting to think of switching back to a ultra lite and a wood blade.

Someone sort me out on this: I thought, because of the way a OPS is made, you can't flip it around because it alters the balance of the stick and becomes too blade heavy.

Frok what I remember if you flip it you lose the kickpoint of the taper. Flipping it essentially turns it into a standard shaft with a narrow handle.

[TBLfan 25]

yeah the "different flex" was because you changed the flex point of the stick by flipping it.

*beat me to it, damn phone. <_<

[Cavs019 710]

In essence, the kickpoint is designed to be placed into the lower 3rd of the shaft on a regular OPS, when you flip it, the kickpoint ends up being between your hands, something I could never get used to/liked using.

[tsanga 0]

What flex was the M1?

[Patrick67 1]

To do the experiment justice, you should have used a high-end regular shaft instead of flipping your broken OPS. + tried it with both a wood & composite RB.

But ok, it seems you would have too buy a standard shaft just for 1 weeks use, so I understand you didn't do it that way.

Otherwise nice read.

[stickfixchaska 0]

In essence, the kickpoint is designed to be placed into the lower 3rd of the shaft on a regular OPS, when you flip it, the kickpoint ends up being between your hands, something I could never get used to/liked using.

Eactly the problem with "flipping". You'll go from a stick designed and manufactured to give you more "pop" on your shot, to a shaft "designed" to flex in your hands.

It would be interesting to see the results of a series of tests using OPS and a "flipped" OPS.

Speed and accuracy tests would be good enough...Is there a Robot that swings Hockey Sticks? A robot like the ones that are ALWAYS used to try and sell you new golf clubs/balls/gloves on Saturday and Sunday mornings?

[shnuggs 0]

In essence, the kickpoint is designed to be placed into the lower 3rd of the shaft on a regular OPS, when you flip it, the kickpoint ends up being between your hands, something I could never get used to/liked using.

Eactly the problem with "flipping". You'll go from a stick designed and manufactured to give you more "pop" on your shot, to a shaft "designed" to flex in your hands.

It would be interesting to see the results of a series of tests using OPS and a "flipped" OPS.

Speed and accuracy tests would be good enough...Is there a Robot that swings Hockey Sticks? A robot like the ones that are ALWAYS used to try and sell you new golf clubs/balls/gloves on Saturday and Sunday mornings?

It was a 85 flex.

Part of the experiment was supposed to be a flipped over OPS -- there has been so much debate over what happens to the flex when its flipped -- i definetly think it screwed up the flex-- But ya i would have luved to test a Z Bubble shaft and a wood blade -- and compare it to the other 3 things.

[DamnLocust 0]

i've got 3 flipped synergies with wood blades that I prefer to my custom prostock mission L-2 (it's fused, as an M-1 would be). I think it's mostly for the feel in the wood blades, but I find that the flipped OPS shafts don't have much difference in the flex from a regular shaft since the taper zone is generally held in between your hands when shooting, and most, if not all, of the flexing seems to take place below your lower hand.