TPS sticks

[Chadd 916]

Has any other standard shaft even come close to 250 Grams? I might have to pull mine out of the garage soon.

Cyclone or a t-flex is about as close as you will find.

[Homersonic 7]

The R2-R6 models are "price point" sticks that are all made overseas, and the higher the number, i.e. the R4 and R6, have less fibreglass and more carbon in the shafts.

The R8's still hand-made at TPS's factory in Wallaceburg, Ontario--there are different retail "Pro Stock" models from the actual sticks the pros use, but they use the same manufacturing processes from lay-up to baking and painting. They're not one-piece sticks--they're still fused shafts and blades.

They test every shaft's flex and dimensions, they weigh each shaft, and they sacrifice one of each bake's 100 shafts, flexing it to the point of brekage and analyze its contents to make sure that the batch is up to their quality control standards.

[kovalchuk71 212]

You work for TPS?

[Chadd 916]

The R2-R6 models are "price point" sticks that are all made overseas, and the higher the number, i.e. the R4 and R6, have less fibreglass and more carbon in the shafts.

The R8's still hand-made at TPS's factory in Wallaceburg, Ontario--there are different retail "Pro Stock" models from the actual sticks the pros use, but they use the same manufacturing processes from lay-up to baking and painting. They're not one-piece sticks--they're still fused shafts and blades.

They test every shaft's flex and dimensions, they weigh each shaft, and they sacrifice one of each bake's 100 shafts, flexing it to the point of brekage and analyze its contents to make sure that the batch is up to their quality control standards.

I know pro is still done in Ontario, that helps with turnaround when I have to order blades. I'll have to try one of the new longer hosel blades when my stack of P31s are gone. My R8 only says "designed in Canada" and had a "Made in china" sticker on it when I got it.

[TBLfan 25]

yeah, my pro stock R8 has "Made in Canada" on it.

[sds 0]

It's actually very simple to most people for the most part with the exception of a few SMUs.

OPS:

Original Response

Response Rubber

Response Plus

Response XN10

Adrenaline

Adrenaline Control

All discontinued (all above were made in north america)

Intrigue (low end) - first import model

Armor series - all import

Serious breakage problems with these models All discontinued

Current lineup (All import)

R2-R8, higher numbers are better and have similar paint jobs

The old R2 shafts have the same paint jobs as the original Response OPS and that makes it very easy to recognize them.

The Redlite XN10

They are VERY VERY good shafts. Nicest standard shaft on the market imho.

All of the XN10 stuff was amazing and is still unequaled in my opinion.

thanks - that will help my feeble mind.

Now, did you mean to say "was" or "is" because they still use that stuff correct? Are the current models up to snuff with the old ones?

[Chadd 916]

All of the XN10 stuff was amazing and is still unequaled in my opinion.

thanks - that will help my feeble mind.

Now, did you mean to say "was" or "is" because they still use that stuff correct? Are the current models up to snuff with the old ones?

None of the new products has "XN10" in the name. I just got an R8 shaft and I'll write up a review once I get a chance to use it more.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Chadd, does the R8 Shaft feel "shitty" to you? It feels very fiberglassy. If youve felt an r8 OPS, you will know what I mean. With the R8 OPS, you can feel the carbon ridges on the shaft and such. with the r8 shaft, it feels like the low end OPS.

[Chadd 916]

Chadd, does the R8 Shaft feel "shitty" to you? It feels very fiberglassy. If youve felt an r8 OPS, you will know what I mean. With the R8 OPS, you can feel the carbon ridges on the shaft and such. with the r8 shaft, it feels like the low end OPS.

I only feel ridges in the tactile grip area, nowhere else on the shaft. I didn't have much time to play around with it last week as I showed up just in time for my game and missed half or the warmup.

It does feel more blade heavy than my R2 XN10 but that's just because it's a full length composite and doesn't have a wood plug. I'd like to put them both on a scale and weigh them.

Since I use the older R2 blades on both shafts, the puck feel is pretty much the same with both sticks.

[sniper_23 0]

They have the Adrenaline at my SportChek and its just a piece of shit. Dont get it. They dont use the XN10 or the Shock Relief. Its no better than an RBK 4K with grip.

Yeah for sure. Once I picked it up I knew something was fishy. It's too bad because the Response+ was one of my favorite sticks in the past. TPS really blew it trying to rebrand a low end sticks with Response+/Adrenaline Graphics.

[trevor13478 1]

Has any other standard shaft even come close to 250 Grams? I might have to pull mine out of the garage soon.

Cyclone or a t-flex is about as close as you will find.

z bubbles are 275, that was the closest i could find other than the two chadd mentioned.

[Joker518 0]

so, these:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/tpsredlitexn10srsf.html

and these:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/tps-hockey-shafts-r2armor06.html

are totally different shafts and not just seasonal tweaks?

This is why I haven't seriously considered TPS. I would have no idea how to even get into one.

Both or those shafts are also XN10 shafts btw.

Chadd, do you know why the Armour series of OPS had breakage problems? They're constructed of XN10 and I like the feel of my Response Armour. Do you know if its the blade or hosel that snap or is it the shaft?

[Chadd 916]

Both or those shafts are also XN10 shafts btw.

Chadd, do you know why the Armour series of OPS had breakage problems? They're constructed of XN10 and I like the feel of my Response Armour. Do you know if its the blade or hosel that snap or is it the shaft?

Mostly shaft problems from what I recall. I believe it was a new factory and they had some growing pains.

[Bmplam 1]

Both or those shafts are also XN10 shafts btw.

Chadd, do you know why the Armour series of OPS had breakage problems? They're constructed of XN10 and I like the feel of my Response Armour. Do you know if its the blade or hosel that snap or is it the shaft?

Mostly shaft problems from what I recall. I believe it was a new factory and they had some growing pains.

The new Chinese factory??? <_< (sorry for another stupid "I hate the Made in China" rant).

[Thanos 12]

Am I correct in understanding that their sticks no longer use XN10 graphite, because i currently own an r2xn10 and was hoping to pick up one of the new r8 tapered shafts as I believed that process was being carried over to the new lines and would provide similar performance and feel.

[damian 0]

they need to get some good commercials with some stars in them. If you see crosby using sherwood vs. rick nash with tps , i think most kids are going with sherwood

[Chadd 916]

Am I correct in understanding that their sticks no longer use XN10 graphite, because i currently own an r2xn10 and was hoping to pick up one of the new r8 tapered shafts as I believed that process was being carried over to the new lines and would provide similar performance and feel.

I just got home from spending a couple hours on the ice doing nothing but shooting with my R8 and R2 XN10 shafts. I'm going to have to find some composite plugs because the difference in balance is very noticeable. The R8 feels blade heavy while you can really feel the R2XN10's wood plug. I think a comp plug should fit nicely between the two.

When it comes to shooting the R2 wins by a wide margin. When my new R2 shafts show up I'll compare them against the R8 just to make sure the difference isn't the fact that the one I used was already well broken in. It's disappointing to see a stick that was discontinued a couple years ago is superior to the latest top end model from the same manufacturer. I'll have a full review once I put the R8 through some more work. Maybe it will get better as it breaks in.

[Cavs019 710]

Same blades in both I assume?

[Chadd 916]

Same blades in both I assume?

Two brand new TPS P31s were used for this test. Both came from the same batch and were used for the first time in this test.

although I am sure you had mentioned this somewhere in your 20k posts, could you recap what blades you are using in these? Have you ever stuck in a Warrior?

1. see above

2. I haven't used Warrior since they changed from Inno. The newer Inno blades were a downgrade from the originals so I had no reason to try blades that have been called a downgrade from the newer Innos.

[sds 0]

I just got home from spending a couple hours on the ice doing nothing but shooting with my R8 and R2 XN10 shafts. I'm going to have to find some composite plugs because the difference in balance is very noticeable. The R8 feels blade heavy while you can really feel the R2XN10's wood plug. I think a comp plug should fit nicely between the two.

When it comes to shooting the R2 wins by a wide margin. When my new R2 shafts show up I'll compare them against the R8 just to make sure the difference isn't the fact that the one I used was already well broken in. It's disappointing to see a stick that was discontinued a couple years ago is superior to the latest top end model from the same manufacturer. I'll have a full review once I put the R8 through some more work. Maybe it will get better as it breaks in.

although I am sure you had mentioned this somewhere in your 20k posts, could you recap what blades you are using in these? Have you ever stuck in a Warrior?

Same blades in both I assume?

Two brand new TPS P31s were used for this test. Both came from the same batch and were used for the first time in this test.

thanks.

do you like the durability on the TPS blades?

[Chadd 916]

thanks.

do you like the durability on the TPS blades?

I had one or two that only held up for a game but most others have held up for months. I've been using them for so long I've become very used to them and the way that they feel.

[sds 0]

I had one or two that only held up for a game but most others have held up for months. I've been using them for so long I've become very used to them and the way that they feel.

I guess if you keep buying them then you're putting your money where your posts are... Thanks.

[Chadd 916]

I had one or two that only held up for a game but most others have held up for months. I've been using them for so long I've become very used to them and the way that they feel.

I guess if you keep buying them then you're putting your money where your posts are... Thanks.

I buy them partly because of the pattern, I don't like any retail patterns. I like a 5 lie, heel curve with some loft and nobody makes that available through retail.

[sds 0]

I buy them partly because of the pattern, I don't like any retail patterns. I like a 5 lie, heel curve with some loft and nobody makes that available through retail.

I was just going to ask where you got these because google isn't showing me any love. If I'm ok with the retail pattern, which line of blade is this considered?

[Chadd 916]

I buy them partly because of the pattern, I don't like any retail patterns. I like a 5 lie, heel curve with some loft and nobody makes that available through retail.

I was just going to ask where you got these because google isn't showing me any love. If I'm ok with the retail pattern, which line of blade is this considered?

I used to order them directly from TPS when I was running a shop but I had to solicit the help of a friend last time I ordered. The blades I have are the older style that match the R2XN10, not the new R8 style.