Tapered shaft w/ tapered wood blade

[Scurvy 3]

I tried searching but didn't find what I was looking for. I was wondering, how does a tapered shaft w/ a tapered wood blade perform? Is it similar at all to an OPS? Thanks.

[psh 25]

I think you'll find that it comes down to balance and the type of blade you like. I have slowly converted from OPSs to shafts with wood blades. I tried shafts with comp. blades earlier but had the same problem--unaccpetably short blade life. After lots of experimenting, I finally settled on a Sherwood Momentum Taper Comp shaft and the Sherwood long hoseled wood blade. This shaft is a little heavier, so the wood balances it nicely. It has become my favorite stick or blade/shaft combo I have ever used. You might lose a little performance with the wood blade, but I actually prefer the wood blade for receiving passes. The drop in performance, if any, is negligible if you ask me, and the wood is much more durable than any comp blade I have used. Besides, look at all the pros who still use use blades.

[saba 0]

Use this combo on smooth concrete: Synergy 2 shaft Mission Prostock blade or TPS R2 wood, not exactly like the OPS but still a good kick nontheless.

[providencebadboy21 0]

As a kid who held out until the very last possible moment to ditch wood, I find that the tapered shaft/wood blade combo is the best of both worlds. I went from wood to one-piece late last season, and used vapor XXX-lites through the playoffs. Loved the sticks as far as responsiveness and lightweight, but I couldn't stop thinking about how much better the feel was with my old woodies. I now use dolo2 shafts with bauer vapor XXX-lite wood blades and once you add an end-plug to the shaft it's perfect for me. All preference, but if you're anything like me it's definitely worth a shot.

[blues_91 0]

IMO wood performs better. Me and a few other friends have felt that our shots are stronger with a new wood blade than a new comp. That said, I've only been able to use wood blades for a maximum of 6 icetimes before they get too soft, so I opt for comp blades as they retain stiffness better and last longer.

[Chadd 916]

My problem is that wood blades get soft after a few uses on ice. I prefer the feel of wood but composites last a lot longer for me.

[BK 0]

My problem is that wood blades get soft after a few uses on ice. I prefer the feel of wood but composites last a lot longer for me.

I feel the same way. I hardly ever break sticks, so I find that wood blades tend to go soft before I feel like I get my value out of them.

[top 0]

Its got the same feel as an OPS until the wood blade gets soft.

[Chadd 916]

Its got the same feel as an OPS until the wood blade gets soft.

No OPS feels as good as a wood blade.

[TBLfan 25]

you definitely get a better feel with a wood blade but they last me all of two-five games before they start getting soft. Give me a composite that will stay stiff... *cough* Not the 8.0 *cough*

[psh 25]

My problem is that wood blades get soft after a few uses on ice. I prefer the feel of wood but composites last a lot longer for me.

I feel the same way. I hardly ever break sticks, so I find that wood blades tend to go soft before I feel like I get my value out of them.

That's funny. I have the exact opposite problem as you two. Over the last 4 or 5 years, I've found that my comp. blades chip, crack and separate as rapidly or more rapidly tham my wood blades go soft. And I've tried just about every major manufacturer out there. And, since wood blades are so much cheaper, I've finally decided to make the switch to wood for the long haul (or until comp. blades get better). It's just a bonus that the wood feels better to me.

[Jarick 5]

I'd love a tapered version of the ST blade, that thing is incredibly durable and the extra weight makes it play a little more like a wood blade.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Its got the same feel as an OPS until the wood blade gets soft.

No OPS feels as good as a wood blade.

I agree, but the VDS comes pretty close. Phenominal feeling composite if you looking for a blade that feels similar to wood.

[Chadd 916]

My problem is that wood blades get soft after a few uses on ice. I prefer the feel of wood but composites last a lot longer for me.

I feel the same way. I hardly ever break sticks, so I find that wood blades tend to go soft before I feel like I get my value out of them.

That's funny. I have the exact opposite problem as you two. Over the last 4 or 5 years, I've found that my comp. blades chip, crack and separate as rapidly or more rapidly tham my wood blades go soft. And I've tried just about every major manufacturer out there. And, since wood blades are so much cheaper, I've finally decided to make the switch to wood for the long haul (or until comp. blades get better). It's just a bonus that the wood feels better to me.

I'm getting 3-4 months out of my TPS tapered comp blades, compared to a game or two with wood before they lose their stiffness. The wood blades are still intact but aren't stiff enough for me.

[tips09 0]

For awhile I used a R2 with a woodie synthesis blade and really did like it. Only problem was the blade did go soft after awhile but they were only costing me about $35 cdn so no big deal

[D-MaN88 0]

I'd love to try a Mission VDS blade, but I can't come to shell out $65 for a blade that I don't know if I will like or hate. But like many others have said, I only made the switch to composite because I would break wood blades and they would go soft on me too fast so I just buy composites that last longer and cost as much as about as many wood blades I would be going through.

[psh 25]

My problem with the comps sounds like your problem with the woodies. My comp blades tend to chip and break down internally--delaminate for lack of a better word. My last one split right down the middle, so the blade itself was like two blades separating from each other. That was after about a dozen uses. Once they start to break down like that, they torque really easily and if I try to shoot off of the toe, the shot tends to go weak and right. At that point, the blade is worthless to me.

I'm using two shafts with Sherwood 950 blades in them right now. And both have lasted 10 to 12 games pretty well. They are chipped up, but I still have no complaints about the stiffness. I'm sure they'll get mushy soon enough, but dollar for dollar, I'm sold on woodies right now.

[Chadd 916]

I've had two of the TPS blades split at the toe in fairly short order. One was a tapered blade and the other was on an early pro stock XN10 OPS. I've had terrible luck with Easton blades and Bauer doesn't make anything that I like. Innos were ok, but were overrated and went downhill when they went to pre-preg.