Changing from 100 to 85 flex?

[msander 0]

I was thinking of changing from my standard 100 to 85 flex sticks. I don't take too many slapshots, and think my wrist and snap shots would have a touch more zip if I went to a slightly whippier stick. I'm about 6'0, 180lbs, and I just want to make sure that this isn't a completely idiotic idea. In my mind, it's never made sense that I'm using sticks with the same stiffness (or stiffer) as NHL pros who are heavier and far stronger then me.

[jjtt99 0]

I say go for it. Most people are using sticks that are way too stiff in my opinion. I'm about 170 pounds and I use an 85 flex. The only slappers I take are to warm the goalie up and usually break an 85 flex Ultra Light shaft about once a year. I play 2-3 times per week, year round.

[fatwabbit 93]

Its all about technique actually. I dont take many slappers either, mainly snappers and slapshots. I'm about 6' tall, and 210lbs.

I started out with a medium flex, and went to a stiff 100 flex for a few years. After switching to a 85, it was easy to load up and let the stick do the work for you. I've since started using an Easton Z Bubble intermediate flex, mainly cause i prefer the smaller profile of the shaft (similar to a cyclone). I've found that since going down to a 75 flex, I can load up a lot more, and my wristers are real zippy. When I do take the occasional slapshot, I dont have to exert as much force either. I believe that some ex-pros like brett hull were using a 80 flex as some stage, and his reasoning was the same: let the stick do the work for you

You'll need to try one out in order to see if you like it. Nothing beats the real thing, no matter what other people tell you. I've now got 3 Z bubble intermediate flexes as my primary sticks (2 are still brand new), and I'm getting rid of all the others I've got.

[Doctor Hook 0]

I went opposite, from 85 to 100. Slappers stay low and it took some getting used to, but I can swing both comfortably.

[bobovski 1]

I'm 6', about, uh , 240 or so and I find my wrist shot accuracy goes to shit with anything less than perhaps a 90 flex or so. I have a great snapshot and a terrible slapper with my 95 and up flex two-pieces. I really want to try a bunch of shots with a whippier stick to see if I can get used to it...

[TBLfan 25]

I was playing a lot of roller early last year and went from 110 to 85. I've loving the 85 flex sticks, I'm a really strong guy too... But I love it.

[msander 0]

Ok, well I think I'm going to give this a shot. Here's another question for everyone. I've been playing with an Iginla curve for quite a while now. Great zip on wristers and snappers, can pick my spot pretty well with it. However, slappers are almost impossible to get to the upper part of the net. I was looking at the Heatley curve, and I thought it's slightly more open, but I heard it's basically just an Iggy clone with a square toe and lower lie (which is great btw). I'm wondering if I need to swap curves or if the weaker flex might fix the problem with getting slapshots up when wanted.

[Tyler B 0]

im 135 pounds 5'7" and use 100 flex st's. 85 feels way to whipy for me and i take alot more wrist shots then slappers. So its all about the technique.

[Gummer12 134]

I believe that some ex-pros like brett hull were using a 80 flex as some stage

Hull used a 65

[mack 44]

I have MM "Z-Bubbles" of his that say 80.

[fatwabbit 93]

YEa, I remember seeing a photo of him using a MM Zbub and it had an 80 flex written on the side...

Taking his philosophy of making the stick do the work for you is a good idea. I dont have to use that much strength anymore, and can focus on using the right technique instead.

Mack, any chance of getting a photo of the MM?

[msander 0]

I think someone had some mission sticks of his that were actually 65 or 70 flex as well. I won't swear to this, but I'm pretty certain.

And...anyone have any thoughts regarding a whippier stick helping get slapshots up.

[mack 44]

They can get them up in a bad way by opening up more. I wouldn't go with a curve/flex to get your shot up higher though since it's more of a crutch.

[msander 0]

They can get them up in a bad way by opening up more. I wouldn't go with a curve/flex to get your shot up higher though since it's more of a crutch.

Mack, I'm assuming at the moment you're talking about lower flex getting them up. What exactly do you mean by opening up more? I think I will go with Heatley though. With the exception of getting slappers up, I really liked the Iggy curve and it seems to be the same curve with a lower lie.

[Tyler B 0]

the flex will cause the blade to open up on your shots making the puck rise alot more by open he means the blade will twist to add more loft. you could adjust but like mack said its more of a crutch because most people think high shots are what score goals but thats not the case. Getting a stick where you can control where the puck goes when you wnat it with the proper technique of course is much better than a stick that does it completly for you.

[mack 44]

MSander:

I'm talking about it opening up too early on you if it's a flex that's way under than what you're used to. It may not just make it go up as with some shafts that had torquing issues the shots veered off like a slider.

[BluXington 0]

I was often using a 100 flex before ( I only weigh 150 ) and I always found I was fighting against the stick to get a good shot off.

Well this summer i decided to try out some lower flex shaft for road hockey and I love the way they feel ( I have a training ball thats weighted the same as a puck ) so I went for it and picked myself up a Bauer XXX 77 Flex ( half price, how could I say no :P ) .

I get on the ice for the first time latter on this month so I will have to see how things go.

[Chadd 916]

I was thinking of changing from my standard 100 to 85 flex sticks. I don't take too many slapshots, and think my wrist and snap shots would have a touch more zip if I went to a slightly whippier stick. I'm about 6'0, 180lbs, and I just want to make sure that this isn't a completely idiotic idea. In my mind, it's never made sense that I'm using sticks with the same stiffness (or stiffer) as NHL pros who are heavier and far stronger then me.

I ended up with an extra L2 last year and sold it to one of the guys on my team. Just by chance he used it for the first time tonight and was amazed at how much better his shot was with the 85 than with the 100 he had been using. Anecdotal story to be sure but he's about your size. I'm a bit bigger than you and prefer sub-100 flexes as well. You're never crazy for trying something, only for closing your mind to the possibility that something may help you.

[Jarick 5]

Another who says go for it. I find that I have pain in my forearm when using a stiff stick and have trouble loading it (5'8" and 170). The sweet spots for my slappers are about 85 flex sticks and wristers closer to 75. I've also found that a whippy stick that's broken in too much twists my shots wide more than I like, but an 85 flex is worth a shot.

The Heatley is basically a 5 lie Iginla that's slightly open at the toe and toe is a bit more square (not fully squared though). I like it but wish it were 1" to 1.5" longer. It can do some fun flip passes with that open toe though.

[leafs1967 2]

I'm a pretty big guy 6'4" and 215lbs and i to use an 85 flex stick. Definately find it much easier to load the puck real quick and get quite a bit off my snappers. Have been using this flex since the old z bubbles.Being a big strong guy i find the 100 flexes way to stiff for my liking

[saba 0]

Had problems for me probably in the way I take my slapshots. Was money for wristing shots

[Havok19 0]

Jarick i am in the same boat has you.But i cut my stick under my chin and we lose the 85 flex it become more of a 90 flex to 95 imo.I was thinking of trying a 77 flex bauer to see what the difference would be.

[B-Nads 0]

I'm 6'3, 235. I switched to an 85 AK27 last year after using a 100 Ultra-Lite. It was great for wristers and snap shots, but my slapper needed adjustment - I was loading way too early for the whippier shaft. For me it becomes a question of the use you'll need at the position you play. People can spout the formulae all day for chosing the appropriate flex for your size, but the fact is if you are a forward who doesn't take many slapshots then the benefits of the improved wrist and snapshot off the lower flex stick should be fine. I am sure this is a result of poor mechanics, but after a while I began to feel a major lag in my shots with the lighter flex - it seems like the lightest pressure would flex the shaft too much and my release actually slowed down - I went to Stiff TPS shafts and had no trouble after.

[Patrick67 1]

I'm 5'11 160lbs and use a 95flex, absolutely perfect for me, just a little hard to find in some brands since most only offer 85 or 100.

If I can't get a hold of a 95 I'd rather use a 100flex than something softer since anything under 95 will whip like hell on slappers (PP).

[bobovski 1]

By way of an update, I decided to try a whippier shaft and see if it made any difference. I'm coming from 110 UltraLites and 105 Mission Pro (M1) shafts.

I loaded up a Bauer one50 shaft, 87 flex, with a Forsberg ST blade and wow, what a difference in my wrist shot. Last time I tried a stick with more flex I was shooting wide, but now I'm dead-on and my shot velocity has increased significantly. My snap shot is a bit faster as well, and my terrible slap shot is still terrible.

So, I figure I've improved drastically in one area, a little bit in another and no change in a third. Success (so far)!