Stick Reviews

[sn1per 0]

Please don't take this the wrong way in any manner, but I just want to bounce this thought off you guys and gals. I was reading another posting about the lack of credibility in a review about a stick that has only been played with for a few shifts. Most people seem to think this is completely the wrong way to go. I can completely see that side of the argument in the fact that I myself have hated sticks at first, but then have come to love them with prolonged usage. I can obviously see how short term testing would not hold water for any piece of equipment that needs a break-in period. Therefore, I am only isolating this point to sticks. I do know that sticks get more whippy with usage and so on, but let's continue. That being said, what comes to mind is the Ski Canada Test. I'm not sure the credibility of the test as I'm not an avid skier, but apparently, all the skis are tested by elite level skiers. The skis are all blacked out to reduce bias and hopefully isolate the review to performance. The other condition is that the testers ONLY GET ONE RUN on the ski. The reasoning behind this, is that apparently after a period of time, because they are such elite individuals, any run past the first, the testers will naturally start compensating for any shortcomings of the ski. Same thing applies to good hockey players. Any good puckhandler will make a horrible stick work. Obviously not to the puck handler's highest level performance, but I'm sure Wellwood could dangle the crap out of people using an octane shaft with an old Ultra Graphite blade. Maybe I'm trying to compare apples and oranges here by utilizing the Ski Canada Test as an example. However, the crux of my point is in the fact that for elite players, after using sticks for a lengthened period of time as opposed to a few shifts, they will naturally begin to adjust and compensate for the stick's possible shortcomings. This compensation may hide potential weaknesses of the actual stick. Obviously when comparing sticks, curve, length and flex must be consistent. Your thoughts on this guys and gals?

One thing I forgot to add is that this issue is only on performance and not durability. I know someone would throw that in there seeing as our reviews have a durability factor.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

That's what initial thoughts are for.

It is apples/oranges - you said 'elite skiers.'

That is the type of testing that is used to create hype for a product (ski A performs 50% better than ski B) - we are not trying to do that here.

[Chadd 916]

As you said apples and oranges, though it would be interesting to set up a completely blind test at some point.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

That is a very good idea. I know someone did one for their sticks, but a MSH one would be pretty interesting.

[sn1per 0]

But I figure that you'd obviously trust Jr A player's review over a complete beginner's review. The Jr A player would be able to pick up subtle differences in the stick that a beginner wouldn't be able to tell. I'm not trying to discredit your point, just that in a blind test, you attempt to remove bias and get objective observations. But it'd be interesting to do a blind test for one ice time and see how the results differ from those of a long period of time.

That's what initial thoughts are for.

It is apples/oranges - you said 'elite skiers.'

That is the type of testing that is used to create hype for a product (ski A performs 50% better than ski B) - we are not trying to do that here.

[cougarscaptain87 12]

well if anyone needs a voulenter to do the blind test with all the sticks id be more than happy to do it :)

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

But I figure that you'd obviously trust Jr A player's review over a complete beginner's review. The Jr A player would be able to pick up subtle differences in the stick that a beginner wouldn't be able to tell. I'm not trying to discredit your point, just that in a blind test, you attempt to remove bias and get objective observations. But it'd be interesting to do a blind test for one ice time and see how the results differ from those of a long period of time.

That's what initial thoughts are for.

It is apples/oranges - you said 'elite skiers.'

That is the type of testing that is used to create hype for a product (ski A performs 50% better than ski B) - we are not trying to do that here.

Not necessarily.

LOL Junior A players can't even put a sentence together properly...ever been on GongShow Hockey? :)

The industry already gets those kinds of reviews from their pro players.

We are a different demographic. We're the ones making the investment.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

I know which stick is the O-tech!

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

It would be hard - there are so many different handle shapes out there that our guys can sniff it out pretty quickly, just by feel.

[TBLfan 25]

yeah especially the feel without gloves. It's pretty easy to sniff out a one90, a tps, a easton grip or a stealth xxxlite or a ccm grip. The grips from just about every company feels different without gloves, with gloves it's a bit tougher.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

yeah, I was thinking the same. patterning too, like the one90's weird grid like feel, snake grip, etc.

I just had to go with the obvious :lol: