RBK 9K O-Tech Initial Thoughts

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Just got done shooting a ton of pucks.

It feels heavy to me. This also could be because I've been playing with a toothpick for the past 7 years. The balance is not too bad, but those who are looking for the lightest stick out there, this won't be it.

People I knew were offering over/unders on how soon it would break, and I normally don't break sticks. It's still standing...

It has good feel, which says a lot for me, who over the past year has finally started to use a composite blade full-time. I need someone to pass me some pucks so that I can gauge that a bit better.

So I decided to take a slapshot...

Holy hell.

I've shot almost every stick that has been out there, and this thing put more behind my shot than any other OPS I've ever used. That's what a high kickpoint is going to do.

Keep in mind this is first use.

One thing I did notice upon further inspection of the stick is that there is a line at the fusepoint that was not there when I got the stick. Time will tell about that.

[rollerskater92 0]

jr was it more aerodynamic

[sabre09923 0]

Hopefully it's worth the reported MSRP... Which will only happen if it has great feel, has an excellent shot, and it takes a lot of effort to break. Won't happen, IMO.

Hopefully the entire stick holds up well, especially the... "O-zone".

Worst. Joke. Ever.

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

And that's the section that now you can see a line on my stick.

[Havok19 0]

Well i for one waiting for JR use and comment to know if i will drop the $$$ for it.

[LkptTiger 1]

JR: Does it look like the "O-Zone" is high enough to accommodate a tapered blade? I'm curious as to whether or not RBK might have a 9K shaft in the works...I'd like to give this 'O' technology a shot, but since I'm not a fan of 1) RBK blades or 2) the Broken OPS-cum-tapered shaft, I likely won't be using a 9K unless RBK sells a retail shaft similar to that on the OPS.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

I keep reading "O Zone" and get all excited...

all in all, I'm curious to hear more feedback on the stick too... my LHS dosen't have much in yet...

[sds 0]

That's what a high kickpoint is going to do.

I thought low kickpoints were where it's at?

[kovalchuk71 212]

For a quicker release it is.

[swede 52]

One thing I did notice upon further inspection of the stick is that there is a line at the fusepoint that was not there when I got the stick. Time will tell about that.

hmm.. that's interesting. I have 2 teammates who both use the old 6k ops.

They noticed the same thing after 2 practice sessions. The line wasn't there when the stick was unused.. Now you could easily tell where the fuse point is..

However, the blade hasn't came loose or anything, it's just like if the paint can't stand the stress from the "abuse" while the composite material handles it with eaze.

[LkptTiger 1]

I've found that happens with a lot of sticks. Any XN10 I've ever used showed the same "cracking" you speak of, as did all of my old Nike Apollos. Most of those sticks broke nowhere near the fuse.

[EBondo 237]

It feels heavy to me. This also could be because I've been playing with a toothpick for the past 7 years. The balance is not too bad, but those who are looking for the lightest stick out there, this won't be it.

RbK/CCM also hasn't been known for making light sticks with the exception of the 7K and V10.0/130.

I still don't buy the technology, not for the price it's going for.. If I can get a good price for an 85 flex, then perhaps, just perhaps, may I be willing to give it a go...

[T-Dot. 0]

That's sorta funny about the high kick point because when Vector110's came out, i broke the blade on mine and I had to turn the shaft over to put a blade in it. After that, i liked it better because of the high kick point and I remember thinkin' about it for awhile. My slapshot got better. :)Hopefully they will start using CCM blades instead of RBK blades for this stick. ( rumor has it the blades suck ass) Also, I'm a lil dumbfounded on why this stick is not a true one -piece? (if there is a visible fuse point/line?)

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Vector has a low kickpoint.

[ktang 34]

Where is the kick point on this stick? I'm very curious, and I don't want to piss off the LHS by flexing one in the store.

Thanks in advance.

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Above the "O-Zone."

[hattrick74 0]

Thats about the same thoughts/issues i felt with mine. I liked the feel of it though, the blade to puck feel on the shot felt good to me, but i couldnt stick handle as well with it as say my SE. JR, does yours have a concave feel to it? because after using mine for the 1st couple of times, the tips of my fingers on my bottom hand were quite sore because of the concave shaft.....did you have this problem at all?

[Steve123 0]

I had a 9k stick a while back and it felt around the same weight as my Easton CNT Stealth. JR what kind of stick have you been using, it must be awful light?

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Mission Flyweight.

[LkptTiger 1]

How many more of those things can you possibly have?

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

7.

[Patrick67 1]

Isn't there any difference between the Rbk blades from this year (9kO 7k Sickick and 5k) and last years models? (5k and 7k)?

Thought they had changed the blades, but appearantly they still suck...

Know it's JR's therad (just like the Mission 120Ag thread), but it's a question regarding JR's stick, so I feel it belongs in here.

[top 0]

I don't know if I'm the only member getting this feeling but I think that this stick is gonna a hit or miss, either its gonna sell in huge quantities and be a big bust in hockey technology, or its just gonna be something so expensive people will stick to the conventional OPS and wont bother to use the 400 some dollar stick with hole's in it. Then again some people will still drop the dough for something that might break in 5 minutes or 5 months.

[Scurvy 3]

I agree with you top, I think this stick has great potential. Hopefully, it'll live up to the hype. On the other hand, it can be an expensive bust.

[top 0]

Im sure the stick will have some advantage's, but to all good things must come to an end, meaning its gonna make its time before people realize spending 400 plus dollars on a stick isn't worth it.