Ripshot Hockey

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

OK, so it has been mentioned before, but there's a company called Ripshot (http://www.ripshot.com/) that has some hockey products (a heavy OPS, a shaft, and blades).

ANYWAY, typically they just sell through Play It Again Sports, but not all of them carry the product (so they may be hard to track down at a location near you).

HOWEVER, I managed to hook up on some. I haven't used them yet, but I will say they are light... not sure if they're the 150 grams as advertised, but I bought the Shanny clone so it's possible it's slightly heavier due to the longer blade (it's got to be close though).

I will say this though - looking at it? It is pretty decent quality. Good finish (although, orange? Blech). The blade thought? STIFF! Considering I paid something like $22 a peice for these graphite blades, I'm really quite impressed!

Now, I haven't used them yet, so durability may stink, puck feel may stink - who knows? But I will say that it is light, it is stiff - all what I'd check out at a store when looking at a product like this. The fact that the price is so right seems like it's worth trying out if you can get them cheap near you.

[Quintin 16]

On the Blackfire composite hockey stick:

This is Ripshot’s newest piece to add to your hockey arsenal. This is a 100% graphite, true one-piece composition stick. We have created a compression molded one-piece that diminishes vibration and unwanted shaft torque associated with fused one piece construction. BLACKFIRE incorporates controlled flex points for controlled accuracy and consistent power.

- One-piece design increases player feel while reducing vibrations

- True one-piece graphite resin layering utilizing hollow core construction.

- Controlled flex point composition.

- 100% graphite resin composite.

- Ultra light at 625 grams.

- Available in 100 flex and 110 flex.

[furlanitalia 1]

On the Blackfire composite hockey stick:

This is Ripshot’s newest piece to add to your hockey arsenal. This is a 100% graphite, true one-piece composition stick. We have created a compression molded one-piece that diminishes vibration and unwanted shaft torque associated with fused one piece construction. BLACKFIRE incorporates controlled flex points for controlled accuracy and consistent power.

- One-piece design increases player feel while reducing vibrations

- True one-piece graphite resin layering utilizing hollow core construction.

- Controlled flex point composition.

- 100% graphite resin composite.

- Ultra light at 625 grams.

- Available in 100 flex and 110 flex.

Oh man all this time i've been buying the wrong stuff. I keep getting lighter equipment, but apparently heavier is where its at.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

Yep - pretty old school weight comparison, isn't it? And people think the Busch sticks are too heavy at 550 grams? A 395 gram XN10 is in the neighborhood of 7 oz lighter!

It must all be in the OPS design, too, as if they have the technology to have a 150gm blade.... oddly, how do the have a 300gm shaft and a 150gm blade and then make a 625 gram ops?

Regardless, the blade seems pretty decent.

[Jason 65]

Definitely let us know how the blade performs. I'm interested to hear how it feels/shoots. Does it feel like a genuine 150g?

[kovalchuk71 212]

Hey Ogie, what are your thoughts about the blade?

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I have a blade just waiting to break so wanted to squeeze as much life out of it as possible before putting on the new one.

Regardless, the out of the box feel is that is is light (not sure about 150 grams - but likely close. Bet a shorter blade is 150 grams, but the Shanny is pretty long). It's an impressively stiff blade for such a low cost. I am looking forward to giving it a shot (no pun intended).

[jimmy 194]

I use to sell both the sticks and blades a few yrs ago. Number one complaint about the stick was it was too heavy. Number 1 compliment was that it's a tank. The only negative on the blades was they were too thick, but most liked them and the durability was excellent, very excellent. They came in two easton clone patterns I believe. Funny, I just sold my last OPS I had on closeout for $56 yesterday.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

The replacement blades aren't too thick. They're not paper thin like Easton Focus Flexs perhaps, but they are thinner than, say, and Easton Ultra Graphite.