OPS question.

[B-Nads 0]

Has anyone tried the Ultra g9 OPS? I saw a few today at a local mall - the price seemed reasonable and the weight and balance were nice. I would like to know how they perform and what type of durability they have.

Thanks.

[Stampede#11 0]

I have one. They are very very good for the price of the stick. I got an 85 flex expecting plenty of kick, but I just felt it was a bit lacking in that department. Feel and balance were good compared to other sticks in it's price position. I played with it for around 5-6 weeks playing 2 or 3 times a week (inline) and the blade did chip up quite a bit on the top and toe.

[wickedwrister 0]

Are these Graf OPS made by Busch or am I thinking of something else? I was impressed by the Busch OPS that I saw recently.

http://www.busch-hockey.com/

[B-Nads 0]

Yup - they are Busch sticks.

Lacking pop as in too much flex, or they wouldn't snap through? I was looking at a 95 flex, and it did feel a bit more flexible than the RM19.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

I found that the Busch sticks tend to run a bit stiffer than Easton "counter parts" flex wise.

As for the "pop", they do have pop - but you have to remember that they aren't tapered. Most get used to the kick they get off a tapered stick.

Anywho..... Busch sticks are built quite well. They last a long time, have excellent balance, probably the best puck feel composite made, and are true one-piece sticks. Downside is that they're a bit behind the times from a technology stand-point as they don't have a taper and some will argue are too heavy at the 500-550 gram range.

[B-Nads 0]

500 - 550 - really? I thought the G-9 felt reasonably light - then again, I have Axion blades in my tapered shafts, so I guess anything would feel light and balanced compared to that.

[B-Nads 0]

With the silver model of this stick, if the blade busts, will they fit a standard blade, or will they take tapered?

I am looking at going back to standard since it is too damned complicated finding good tapered wooden blades around here. I might get one of these and just start tossing standard 950's in - either that or buy a couple V6.0 shafts.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

500 - 550 - really? I thought the G-9 felt reasonably light - then again, I have Axion blades in my tapered shafts, so I guess anything would feel light and balanced compared to that.

I am not sure what model the G-9 is fashioned after. However, I believe (and it's here on MSH somewhere as well as the net if someone wants to double check my memory) that the Busch Laser was 500 grams and the Busch Gold was 550.

So, if the Ultra G-9 (and G-9 used to be one of their patterns, so suspect that what you're really looking at is a model called the Ultra and the G-9 is the blade pattern) is fashioned after the Laser then it's likely around 500 grams. If that's the case, we're only talking about 25 grams heavier than the new TPS R-6, which is less than an ounce. Not that much heavier, really, just marketing hype.

Of course, if you compare it to the old Stealths or XN10s, then you're talking 100 grams and 3 ounces.... that could be noticeable.

With the silver model of this stick, if the blade busts, will they fit a standard blade, or will they take tapered?

I am looking at going back to standard since it is too damned complicated finding good tapered wooden blades around here. I might get one of these and just start tossing standard 950's in - either that or buy a couple V6.0 shafts.

Are you talking about the Silver Shaft line, or an OPS model called Silver? The OPS can be converted with some work, but the ones I have worked with (the Sherwood Carbone model and Itech Balance Model) they wouldn't take either standard nor tapered. The shaft walls were too thick. It did, however, take jr models. So, I put composite jr blade in and it has held up nicely. When I tried wood jr blades, however, they snapped where the tenon met the shaft after just a few games.

[B-Nads 0]

Are you talking about the Silver Shaft line, or an OPS model called Silver? The OPS can be converted with some work, but the ones I have worked with (the Sherwood Carbone model and Itech Balance Model) they wouldn't take either standard nor tapered. The shaft walls were too thick. It did, however, take jr models. So, I put composite jr blade in and it has held up nicely. When I tried wood jr blades, however, they snapped where the tenon met the shaft after just a few games.

It is the Ultra G-9 that I was looking at. That is exactly the info I was after, Ogie...thanks. I was going to buy the ops and replace the blade with wood when it broke, but if the shaft needs some work to do this them maybe I'll just pick up a couple cheap standard shafts.

Thanks.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

If the price is reasonable you should do it. The blade will last a long time. As for the work involved, presuming it's the same as the one's I've delt with in the past, it's really not that hard - just use a drill to auger the foam out of the inside. Pretty easy, really, Knowing where to cut isn't so bad either (although, they use carbon fiber and it will dull a blade quicker than graphite).

ANYWHO, I'd recommend using a graphite replacement blade as the jr blade's tenon is too thin to last if you have reasonable size and / or take slappers.

If nothing else, just give it a shot. They're typically durable as tanks.

[B-Nads 0]

Well, I can get the Graf at a local Sports Experts for $100 CAD, or I can toss in an extra $15 and get a RM9 - that sound reasonable?

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

$100 for a Busch sounds pretty reasonable for me.

I have no idea what an RM9 is though.

[B-Nads 0]

$100 for a Busch sounds pretty reasonable for me.

I have no idea what an RM9 is though.

It's a Sherwood OPS - it is the model that came out before the new RM19.

Thanks for the info, Ogie.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

I'd say go for the busch (normally I say that to my wing man after a heavy night of drinking).

If anything else, it's extremely durable, typically unique, and has the best puck feel in a composite out there (and I have tried many, many composites).

I am pro-bush... (I like the stick, too...wait, let me qualify that one as the latter could be misconstrued.... not that there's anything wrong with that but I was talking about the busch hockey stick, not the.... oh, never mind....)