Buying A New Stick

[Jarick 5]

Where are you located?

Hockey Giant has that special on Endures, I picked one up and loved it, ordered another one. Dirt cheap for a solid OPS. They had some Pulse sticks as well but no lefties at the store for me to pick up. And a good deal on the Z-2 shaft and two blades.

A couple of the LHS around here are closing out the Easton SL's for $115 and under, maybe cheaper for intermediates.

[TBLfan 25]

Ok I have been doing some more research on the warriors, I have hear that the MacDaddy is just a Vapor XXX paintover (is that true?) and that the Dolo has blade durability issues along witht he Royal... So which Warrior would I buy?

And has anyone had any experience with a TPS Response?

Also no one has said anything about the stealth or a synergy.

If you're still at the point where you don't know what to get, and are looking for info on more sticks, your best bet would be to do a few searches and also check out the stick reviews. There are far too many sticks on the market; if you ask about them all, this thread could go on for months before you finally make a decision. There's a wealth of knowledge on the board, it's just a matter of knowing where to look. If you need any search tips, feel free to PM me.

but I'll throw you a bone:

I've got an original Response and an Adrenaline, and really like the kick on the TPS sticks, especially for my slapshots/snapshots. Everyone who's had one raves about the XN10s as well, but good luck finding one at this point. The R8 lite looks to be a very nice stick from what I've read.

Eastons always seem to have very good to great performance, but often lack in terms of durability.

I wasn't a fan of the adrenaline but that's neither here nor there. Commenting on the response lite; it reminds me a LOT of a XN10. The blade seems a bit lighter, as the balance point is better than it was on the XN10. It's only slightly lighter but it feels lighter than the scale would suggest. The big difference is the grip. If you have a glove with a grip palm the stick will feel really grippy but if you don't have a grip palm the grip is very nice and light. And of course it still has a boxy, concave sides shaped shaft.

[blues_91 0]

TPS shafts have the most kick out of any stick I've used. However, I've noticed that they "break-in", and get more flexible over time, which for me was a bad thing with my already noodle-ish R2Xn10, and my old Tri-Core 3.

[blueliner27 12]

Alright thanks for the replys so far... Looks like a lot of people like the warriors and the One90, I will check them out tommarow at the pro shop. Both of these sticks are supposed to have good feel for the puck right? Also one of my friends had the One70 and hated it, is the One90 completly different? or same model?

Lastly what about the RBK Sickick is that any good?

To answer you first half of the question, the One70 has more like a vapor-ish feel and is different (I wouldn't say it's completly different).

I don't have sickick but one of my buddies has one; he likes it.

[EBondo 235]

Ok I have been doing some more research on the warriors, I have hear that the MacDaddy is just a Vapor XXX paintover (is that true?) and that the Dolo has blade durability issues along witht he Royal... So which Warrior would I buy?

And has anyone had any experience with a TPS Response?

Also no one has said anything about the stealth or a synergy.

The MacDaddy is essentially the same thing as the Vapor XXX, but it's not a paintover. I had problems with the Warrior Dolomite blades, broke two within a month. The Royale might be one of the best Price-Point OPS that I have used. TPS makes a good composite stick, from the original Response to the current R8's [which I have yet to try, but have heard good things from members on here]. I suggest you take a look at the Equipment Review section on the bottom of the main page of MSH, it might help you out a lot getting different user opinions on different sticks.

I for one, stay with my opinion on the One90 sticks. Great choice, I have two of them.

[TBLfan 25]

I can take credit as one of those that says that the macdaddy is just a painted XXX. It's out of laziness to explain the whole real story and it gets the point across that it's basically the same stick. Maybe I should just save a common response about the similarities of the MacDaddy and XXX, then save it somewhere on my comp so I can copy and paste it. :P

[Sam 0]

@Locust

I know that reading reviews is helpful when trying to pick out new sticks. I have read most of the reviews on this site and many on other sites for the sticks I might want to buy. But the problem is that no one is going to right a review for a stick that they hate... all the reviews are biased because people want to brag about how nice their new stick is even if it sucks. Also there are lots of sticks that dont have reviews...

I have narrowed down my stick selection to two sticks

Warrior Mac Daddy

Warrior Dolo

[blues_91 0]

Check for the Inno reviews.

Inno 1100=Dolo

Inno True-1= Mac Daddy

[DamnLocust 0]

Sam, if someone makes it, chances are there's some info on this site.

I'm glad to hear that you've narrowed it down to the dolo and macdaddy.

IMO, the biggest difference between the two will be the handle shape. The MacDaddy is very square and a bit "bulky" as some have described it. The Dolo shaft is thinner and more rounded.

I had a Vapor XXX (same construction as the MacDaddy)and a dolomite, and I liked the dolo better because of the shaft shape. performance-wise, they were very close. I felt that the dolo had a little bit better feel due to a tad more weight on the stick.

[li7039 0]

you think about the kronik. Its basically a Mac Daddy shaft with a new blade

[sfael 0]

I had both the macdaddy and the dolo didn't like either that much. To me the macdaddy blade felt "pingy" sorta hard to describe. The dolo the blade flet better but shooting felt off. I wouldn't really recommend either. I'm currently using a tps response lite and like it so I would recommend it over your other choices.

[EBondo 235]

@Locust

I know that reading reviews is helpful when trying to pick out new sticks. I have read most of the reviews on this site and many on other sites for the sticks I might want to buy. But the problem is that no one is going to right a review for a stick that they hate... all the reviews are biased because people want to brag about how nice their new stick is even if it sucks. Also there are lots of sticks that dont have reviews...

I have narrowed down my stick selection to two sticks

Warrior Mac Daddy

Warrior Dolo

Not necessarily. My reviews on the Easton Synergy ST and Mission Hex-1 happened to both be very negative.

[kornsined 0]

I'll be trying my newly acquired SE tomorrow but so far I haven't found anything that matches the balance and feel of my mac daddy.

I've tried a CNT stealth but the curve threw me off so I couldn't pass a fair judgement. The old stealth seems too light, just not as balanced as the mac. Although it is a great shooting stick.

[sabre09923 0]

@Locust

I know that reading reviews is helpful when trying to pick out new sticks. I have read most of the reviews on this site and many on other sites for the sticks I might want to buy. But the problem is that no one is going to right a review for a stick that they hate... all the reviews are biased because people want to brag about how nice their new stick is even if it sucks. Also there are lots of sticks that dont have reviews...

I have narrowed down my stick selection to two sticks

Warrior Mac Daddy

Warrior Dolo

Not necessarily. My reviews on the Easton Synergy ST and Mission Hex-1 happened to both be very negative.

Well, the Hex-1 review was only negative after the blade imploded on you. You thought it was "t3h best stick evar!1!!" before you edited it.

But then again, the numerous positive reviews of equipment, if anything, serve as a great testament to show how well this site helps users find equipment that works for them.

[Sam 0]

@li7039

For a stick that has teh same shaft and just a different blade the price tag is just to much, plus no one has said that the Mac Daddy has problems with the blade, just the Dolo.

@Korn

That is good to know about the Mac Daddy because feel for the puck and balance are probably my top two criteria for the new stick... also tommarow post about the SE

Right now I am leaning towards the Mac Daddy because it is only a few dollars more then the Dolo, the only thing I like about the Dolo is the colors (not really important) and the fact that you can take the blade out if you heat it enough, so I can put a wood blade in it.

[EBondo 235]

@Locust

I know that reading reviews is helpful when trying to pick out new sticks. I have read most of the reviews on this site and many on other sites for the sticks I might want to buy. But the problem is that no one is going to right a review for a stick that they hate... all the reviews are biased because people want to brag about how nice their new stick is even if it sucks. Also there are lots of sticks that dont have reviews...

I have narrowed down my stick selection to two sticks

Warrior Mac Daddy

Warrior Dolo

Not necessarily. My reviews on the Easton Synergy ST and Mission Hex-1 happened to both be very negative.

Well, the Hex-1 review was only negative after the blade imploded on you. You thought it was "t3h best stick evar!1!!" before you edited it.

But then again, the numerous positive reviews of equipment, if anything, serve as a great testament to show how well this site helps users find equipment that works for them.

Alright I wouldn't go as far as to say t3h best stick evar!1!!...because I use correct grammar. I thought the stick was good, up until the blade just went to shit. Just updated reviews. Opinions change over time and mine did on the Hex-1

[kornsined 0]

mac daddy = bauer xxx = winwell g500. Go to hockey world and see if they have your curve. Great deal.

I've played now two games with my SE and am very impressed. The feel for the puck is great. It doesn't have the usual OPS feel.

It's a pro stock Pisani (drury clone) and am pretty sure it's a 100 flex. The kick on the stick is very comparable to a lower flex stick but without having the whippy feel. I normal prefer 85 flex but the SE has a great pop to it.

The shaft feels great in the hands too. I don't know if it's the shape but it feels very comfortable in my hands. I feel the mac daddy is more balanced but it's PP. Some may say the Mac is too blade light.

Mine also says it's a grip but it doesn't seem to have the usual tacky grip. It's not slippery like a non grip stick but it has a very minimal grip to it.

Only down side is the paint chips very easily like an SL. The blade should hold up stronger on my stick because it's coated with Z-tac.

Keep in mind I've never tried an SL so I don't know how it compares to an SL.

IMO best $100 I ever spent. Steal of a deal for me.

[Patrick67 1]

The pulse has just the blade your looking for... and they are blowing them out for $90's.

[sabres48 0]

Where did you find an SE for 100?

[sabre09923 0]

The pulse has just the blade your looking for... and they are blowing them out for $90's.

The slight downside of the Pulse is that I recall that some people on the board said that the it's slightly blade heavy. I bet some of the other guys who have held it (I think Chadd) could comment on it better than I.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Its nothing to loose sleep about. Its hardly noticeable. Slap a plug in the other end and cut it flush. Bingo, the extra weight to even it out.

Seriously, this weight thing is getting rediculous

[sabre09923 0]

I just said that someone commented that they were blade heavy, so it's not like I came out and said, "The Pulse is 20g heavier in the blade, therefore you shouldn't buy it. You should look for a Stealth since it's xx grams lighter and lighter=better." I agree that the weight thing is getting pretty bad, but that was the only negative I could think about the pulse; so it's up to the buyer if it's acceptable or not (and it should be).

But hey, any top end stick for <$100 is an outright steal IMO. I'd jump all over it right now if I wasn't saving my funds to buy new pants and shoulder pads.

[Sam 0]

None of the hockey shops in my area carry mission sticks so I would have to buy it online, I like to go to the store and feel it in my hands before I buy a stick so, I dont know about the pulse.. even though it is a good stick.

[sabre09923 0]

You're correct, and most of us are the same way... Unless you've bought the stick already, I'd stay away from buying online.

And BTW, if you do find a stick you like in a store near you, buy it, even if you can get a better deal online. The shops need the business to compete with internet retailers.

[TBLfan 25]

the pulse is slightly blade heavy. The balance doesn't feel horrible, just don't expect it to feel like a XN10.