Fear of Composite sticks

[Muzza_77 0]

I am constantly reading how someone's stick just broke, 'my SL just broke' 'my XXX just broke'. I am looking for a new stick, and I am scared that if I invest in a composite stick ( I am in Australia = high prices ) it may break in my first game. Can someone please cure me? what sticks are the most durbable for composite? Which last longer OPS or Shaft and blade? Recommendations for OPS and shaft and blade? how does the XX hold up? Are woodies more durable?

Sorry about all the questions.

Thanks

Muzza

[kosydar 0]

I'd say only buy what you can afford. If you're playing with a stick you're afraid to break, any performance benefits can't outweigh not fully using it.

[kovalchuk71 212]

any stick will break dude, just buy it and use it to its full potential. If it breaks your first time, its still under warranty anyways. And when it breaks, you can make it into a shaft that preforms just as well

[DP_57 1]

If I was you, I would get a shaft and a blade, when ones break, you have the other one.

[TBLfan 25]

I use composite shaft/blade combos but there's nothing wrong with using wood sticks. If you aren't comfortable using it and constantly worried about breaking it the benefits of a composite won't benefit you at all.

Otherwise, just avoid sticks like a SL and XXXlites. Go with something like a redlite or maybe a ST.

[Chadd 916]

I would go shaft/blade and stick with shafts that have proved to be durable. As mentioned, you don't want to think about your stick while playing.

[willy0314 0]

Buy an Mission L2. Its a two peice, shaft blade combo, Shoots just like a OPS and theses things are TANKS. You will love it.

[All Torhs Team 0]

Of course the L2 will be a good stick for you, but if your set on a OPS I would go with a CCM Vector 110. (which is the original blue one)

They are flat out tanks. Played about 2 seasons with one of them before it broke. Still keep a back up around.

Another stick people will tell you is a tank is gona be a TPS Adrenaline. But with my personal experience, I'd say dont buy one in your case. Its an amazing feel/touch stick with its "shock zone" but its no tank at all. Broke about 3 in 6 months.

[blueliner27 12]

Go with Easton UltraLite shaft + wooden blade, nothing is durable than this (I believe).

[zochi 1]

I also (believe) that you are a post whore :o

[Roach 0]

Go with Easton UltraLite shaft + wooden blade, nothing is durable than this (I believe).

I second this. Great durability with the UL. Great feel when combined with a wood blade.

[srv2miker 0]

As stated above, I've heard that the CCM Vector 110s + 120s are built super tough, and I see a few of them around locker rooms here years after they were purchased.

[Muzza_77 0]

The CCM V100 shaft is $279, so if I save I can afford that. So what blade?

Are composite stronger than wood? so many people break there stick, are 99% of the cases the blade? and not the shaft?

What is the lightest wood stick? (senior) and what is the weight of that stick?

[Sven 1]

The CCM V100 shaft is $279, so if I save I can afford that. So what blade?

What the hell? Thats very, very expensive.

I mean you are from Australia but that is just a rip-off. Cant you try to import one from ebay.com or so? Even if shipping is high and youre unlucky with the customs it should be cheaper.

Im from germany and i know harsh prices. Years ago we had horrible prices but due ebay and other facts the prices got better and now we can compete with the states and canada (seriously!).

[SickLife 2]

it took me a while to get over that fear. i'm still not sure i fully am. but if you have that in the back of your head as you go into the corner against someone, you're not playing as hard as you can.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I bought a Bauer Truflex from OgieOglethorpe here, several months ago. I am not good enough to justify expensive OPS, but I love this stick.

It's probably heavier than most, but still lighter than wood, and it is a beast. Still going strong, and will probably scour e-bay for it again when it finally does break.

I got it for the price of a wood stick, so it was easy to jump into the OPS fray for me.

If you are a higher level player, it may not be for you, but if you are not playing high level hockey, and just want to try an OPS, this comes with my beginner adult league slow ass seal of recommendation

[srv2miker 0]

The lightest wood stick I've used is the Nike Zero-g, but its super hard to find. It weights almost what some low-end OPS weighs.

[David13 0]

TPS Rubbers are on the heavier side when it comes to ops but if you are afraid of breaking sticks I would deffinately consider this I used one for almost two seasons and got a xxx lite because I wanted something a little lighter but the stick is still in great condition no cracks or anything it holds up like nothing I have ever used before.

[yvan12 0]

I have used an Easton Z-Bubble shaft (85 flex) with an Easton Composite blade for over 4 years now and I love it. I play oldtimers (twice a week) and don't take slapshots (mainly because I don't have one). The shaft was slashed 2 years ago and has a small crack on the top and side, but it is holding up well. I have an easton Classic woodie (95 flex) as a back-up just in case, but, to date, I have not had to use it.

[Muzza_77 0]

The Z-bubble shaft is $349, so that is way off the chart. What if I bought 1 or 2 Z-Carbon wood sticks? they are $99 each, so that isn't two bad. Do they perform well enough? I am one who likes to put there stick on the line. The cheapest composite stick is $199, Vapor 5. I figure that if the only real difference between a Z-Carbon and XXX lite is the weight, so I can spend all summer working bridging that gap with training, as for power, I can just improve my technique.

[Nick23 0]

im sure one of the u.s guys would help you out here. i.e. getting the stick and sending it over as a give

heck, i would hand deliver it to you door by ferrari and it would be cheaper

[TBLfan 25]

vapor Vs aren't durable at all. Try to buy something in the for sale section and have it shipped to you, it would be waaay cheaper and you'd be able to get something better.

[sabre09923 0]

A lot of TPS shafts are tanks, namely the Red Lite (regular or XN10), and the TriCore3. If you ever find a TriCore, buy it, since they will probably be on clearance and they will hold up for a long time. Same goes for the Red Lites (original version).

[Patrick67 1]

XN10 redlight is the the only high-end shaft I've breaked like a toothpick. (3 in 3months)

Go with the Easton UL (or similar) + a composite blade.

[TBLfan 25]

i have an old redlite and I couldn't break it if i tried.