Advantages of butt-ends

[Roach 0]

For the longest time, I've been using the standard wooden butt-end that comes with the shaft of my purchase. Just last year, I switched to a composite butt-end. Some of the guys that I play with prefer no butt-ends and just tape up all the way to the corners of the top of the shaft (where they cut it) so that they don't hurt anyone in case that part of the stick comes into contact with them.

I have new sticks in and will be going back to my composite butt-ends but now trying out the Tacki-Mac grips.

Other than personal preference, can anyone tell me the advantages of using a butt-end versus not using one?

Thanks.

PS - Interesting to see several butt-end topics. Mods, I wasn't sure to post this topic separately or integrate with an existing one as the topics are somewhat different.

[TBLfan 25]

umm besides added length?

[ATLstealth09 0]

A "seamless" stick, one without a butt end, will most likely flex more, since there is more continuous carbon fiber shaft material. When you insert a wooden butt end, you essentially have less shaft material than you would have had with a shaft of equal length without the butt end. If the wood is stiffer than the shaft, which is usually the case, the stick will become stiffer.

Also, you may lose the "feel" of the puck, since the contacts are distorted by the glue and wood of the butt end.

Some graphite butt ends have a bit of flex to them. I tested the Oggi Grip, and it actually added flex to the stick, as it had integrated a flex into the material. Aside from that, whenever I add a butt end, I feel like the shaft just got stiffer. Sometimes, this is good, but it may offset what you had grown accustomed to with your original stick.

[wickedlite44 0]

Having the butt end of the stick in may also help balance out the stick as well.

[TBLfan 25]

A "seamless" stick, one without a butt end, will most likely flex more, since there is more continuous carbon fiber shaft material. When you insert a wooden butt end, you essentially have less shaft material than you would have had with a shaft of equal length without the butt end. If the wood is stiffer than the shaft, which is usually the case, the stick will become stiffer.

Also, you may lose the "feel" of the puck, since the contacts are distorted by the glue and wood of the butt end.

Some graphite butt ends have a bit of flex to them. I tested the Oggi Grip, and it actually added flex to the stick, as it had integrated a flex into the material. Aside from that, whenever I add a butt end, I feel like the shaft just got stiffer. Sometimes, this is good, but it may offset what you had grown accustomed to with your original stick.

I'm assuming you're talking about cutting a stick and adding an endplug, I'm not sure he was.

Adding an endplug will add flex. It can also give you the option of shaving the plug to the desired shape.

[Roach 0]

Thanks, guys. I'm only 5'9" and cut all of my sticks down. With the replies, it seems that I'm better off just cutting my sticks down to desired height and not adding a butt-end (provided that I'm happy with the balance of the stick). Did I understand correctly?

[--notorious 0]

You can shave a buttend to make it more comfortable in your hands, theres a couple topics on here about it.

[TBLfan 25]

Thanks, guys. I'm only 5'9" and cut all of my sticks down. With the replies, it seems that I'm better off just cutting my sticks down to desired height and not adding a butt-end (provided that I'm happy with the balance of the stick). Did I understand correctly?

Ok so what exactly are you considering? It would help us be able to give you the information you want...

Are you planning on...

Cutting your sticks and adding a buttend to add extra length?

or

Not cutting the stick and adding a butt end?

or

Cutting your stick shorter than you normally do and add a butt end to make it your usual stick length?

[Roach 0]

I normally do this to my sticks:

"Cutting your stick shorter than you normally do and add a butt end to make it your usual stick length"

I'm thinking of cutting it down to my usual stick length and not adding any butt-end. Performance wise, would this be better, again assuming that the balance is ok?

[thejackal 46]

i always felt weird playing with sticks with no wooden plugs. somehow shots dont feel as good, but i really liked the stickhandling feel of a skinnier grip when i flipped my cut m-1

[TBLfan 25]

Unless you really can't stand the shape of the shaft in your top hand I don't see why adding a butt end to your stick would help. I've heard a few people say that it helps with feel but honestly I don't believe it. I'd just keep doing what has been working, if it isn't broke don't fix it.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I think it helps with feel. Maybe its just in my head. But if a shaft is the correct size, i wont just cut it and add a butt just for that

[ATLstealth09 0]

If you can avoid the butt end, by all means, don't use it.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

My old TPS rep told me that having the butt-end in the shaft seals the stick by creating a vacuum effect inside the shaft.

[Roach 0]

If you can avoid the butt end, by all means, don't use it.

I think this sums it up. Thanks, guys.

So now I'm off to chopping my sticks to the desired height and not adding the butt-end.

[hockeydoc 0]

The only reason I would ever have a butt end is to add length. I cut mine to length, and use no end. Lighter, and no need for the end.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

If you can avoid the butt end, by all means, don't use it.

I think this sums it up. Thanks, guys.

So now I'm off to chopping my sticks to the desired height and not adding the butt-end.

You can also cut it flush.

[acollette49 0]

My old TPS rep told me that having the butt-end in the shaft seals the stick by creating a vacuum effect inside the shaft.

perhaps ive had too many post-game beers...but i dont see how that would be a benefit. or a detraction, for that matter.

[Roach 0]

My old TPS rep told me that having the butt-end in the shaft seals the stick by creating a vacuum effect inside the shaft.

JR, does this increase/enhance performance of the shaft and blade combo? What exactly does this do?

If you can avoid the butt end, by all means, don't use it.

I think this sums it up. Thanks, guys.

So now I'm off to chopping my sticks to the desired height and not adding the butt-end.

You can also cut it flush.

Sorry, JR. What does cutting it flush mean?

[Jason Harris 31]

I normally do this to my sticks:

"Cutting your stick shorter than you normally do and add a butt end to make it your usual stick length"

I'm thinking of cutting it down to my usual stick length and not adding any butt-end. Performance wise, would this be better, again assuming that the balance is ok?

That depends on the butt end. It's no secret I like Oggie's Ergo Grip, and the following reasons are what I consider to be better performance while using it.

1) It enhances the flex of a stick. In other words, it becomes less stiff than before it was cut. Because this occurs at the wrist of the dominant hand, it appears to lead into number 2, although we'd need a kinesiologist to confirm.

2) It increases shot speed. This is both anecdotal and tested.

3) It fits my hand better, so I'm able to hold onto the stick better when sweep-checking or poke-checking.

I can think of two relevant questions regarding possible disadvantages to performance.

1) Does it affect the weight? Yes, but not to an extent that I've ever noticed.

2) Does it affect the balance? I have no idea. I've just never been a good enough stick handler to ever notice stuff like that.

As with most pieces of equipment, it boils down to personal preference regarding its comfort, but I don't believe there are any questions regarding its performance.

[Roach 0]

Thanks for the input, SalmingUSA. I just might pick up an Oggie grip to try it.

[johnnyi 0]

In regards to:

I tested the Oggi Grip, and it actually added flex to the stick, as it had integrated a flex into the material.

and

It's no secret I like Oggie's Ergo Grip, and the following reasons are what I consider to be better performance while using it.

1) It enhances the flex of a stick. In other words, it becomes less stiff than before it was cut. Because this occurs at the wrist of the dominant hand, it appears to lead into number 2, although we'd need a kinesiologist to confirm.

...if the flex is built into the handle of the stick, isn't the stick not flexing at the desired spot - which I would think would be down towards the blade for a quicker release? Don't you want your shaft to do the flexing and not the handle? It just seems odd to me to flex at my top hand rather than down by my blade - and in that case I would think that something more solid such as wood or composite would be better - but please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Regarding composite stick ends, I just got a new AK27 shaft and used it for the first time last night with a wooden butt end. Halfway through the game on a pass I was making, the wood butt end broke off at the connection point to the shaft. No one in my area carries the composite ends and I'm not going to spend $12 in shipping to buy a $20 handle from an online store, so I improvised. When I got home I took a broken Easton Ultra Lite blade and sawed it off where the hosel starts to widen into the blade and inserted the hosel into the handle end of the shaft (it's already contoured to fit). I have yet to road-test it, but just in feel, it's more solid than wood, equivalent in weight (if not a tad lighter), and the thinness of the hosel (which becomes the handle) feels a little better in my hand... I'll let you know after I test and will try to post a picture of it if I can.

[Jason Harris 31]

...if the flex is built into the handle of the stick, isn't the stick not flexing at the desired spot - which I would think would be down towards the blade for a quicker release? Don't you want your shaft to do the flexing and not the handle? It just seems odd to me to flex at my top hand rather than down by my blade - and in that case I would think that something more solid such as wood or composite would be better - but please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Whatever flex points the stick/shaft has would still remain.

The Oggie has built-in flex which, obviously, is at the top hand, so I'm guessing there now would be two flex points. Presumably, it is the secondary flex at the top hand that is creating more snap on shots. I noticed harder shots when I first tried it, and Joe has run testing to compare the same sticks with and without the grip; he said shot speeds (on dry land) were increasing 2-6 MPH.

The irony of it all is Joe said the enhanced flex was never the intention of the design, just a byproduct. The goal all along was to create a grip for composite sticks/shafts that replicated shaving a wooden stick.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

My old TPS rep told me that having the butt-end in the shaft seals the stick by creating a vacuum effect inside the shaft.

JR, does this increase/enhance performance of the shaft and blade combo? What exactly does this do?

If you can avoid the butt end, by all means, don't use it.

I think this sums it up. Thanks, guys.

So now I'm off to chopping my sticks to the desired height and not adding the butt-end.

You can also cut it flush.

Sorry, JR. What does cutting it flush mean?

Cutting it flush means cutting it exactly to the end of the shaft. Only thing is when you want to remove it, you must use a long screw and pop it out like a cork.

[mack 44]

Naw, take the blade out and poke it with an old curtain rod.