Therma-False Advertising?

[Cavs019 710]

I recently bought a si grip which is obviously an 04 stick, and i see no evidence that would lead me to believe this stick has a 20% strength increase in the shaft and blade etc. It feels exactly like an 03 si core in terms of feel, and is the same weight as well. Either easton is releasing a lighter "2004.5" model, or this whole gift from god that is the "therma tec" is a complete hoax. Anyone else have a view on this?

[stix04 0]

I agree. I'm willing to bet if you bought a '03 and'04 Si-core, and used them, I bet they'd feel identical. I bet this is a big hoax. I doubt Easton would change the process of making their sticks. They should, but i doubt they would, as if they did, maybe theyd find a way to make them more DURABLE!!

[Ryan 0]

Wow! And all this time all we had to do was look at a stick with just a naked eye to tell what we were doing wrong or how to make a better product. All that money spent on R & D, manipulation of layers, materials, temperatures, times, stress tests, slash tests was just a complete waste.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Ryan could you elaborate on the process a little more? Also how is the average consumer able to tell the difference from the '03 and '04 models? Is there a weight difference for each of the years for all of the OPS?

[Ryan 0]

The process for creating sticks is constantly being changed/revised/refined. Even in-line changes occur during whatever product line you happen to be in. By manipulating the layers, orientations, orders, materials, and probably a hundred other variables, you can effect the durability and probably performance of the stick.

Obviously, you are always in direct pursuit of the ultimate goal: making a better product. Therma-tec happens to be the term given to the current evolution of all those variables by which you end up with a product that is 20% stronger in the shaft and 15% stronger in the blade.

So where do 20% and 15% numbers come from? Hmmm...if you said naked eye testing you'd be wrong. If you said actually testing on machines you'd be right. Those numbers are derived from actual testing.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I understand that, but was there a change in materials? How were you able to keep or lower the weight and not effect (actually increase) the durability? How has the process changed from the past year? Sorry things like this kind've fascinate me.

[LkptTiger 1]

I recently bought a si grip which is obviously an 04 stick, and i see no evidence that would lead me to believe this stick has a 20% strength increase in the shaft and blade etc.

I wouldn't think you would be able to notice a difference for a couple more weeks or so. I don't think one would be able to "feel" an increase in durability.

[Chadd 916]

All that money spent on R & D, manipulation of layers, materials, temperatures, times, stress tests, slash tests was just a complete waste.

It seems to pale in comparison to the marketing dollars, though that's just an observation from the outside.

In other words, therma tec is the current combo of the factors you mentioned. Since that process is constantly being revised, will they be constantly changing the name or making it therma tec 1.0, 2.0 etc...?

[leafsrule1 0]

Therma Tec is a combination of design, materials, and processes never used in the before in the stick industry. The use of these materials, design, and processes delivers the 2004 synergy line a 15% boost in blade strength and 20% boost in shaft strength and a reduction in weight.it is a different way the combine the materials, judging by the name THERMA tec they are using heat to combine the materials which would make them molded together instead of layered, with them saying it stronger makes sense because things molded together would be stronger than them being layered. ex: somthing welted together is stronger than something nailed or screwed take how they built cars for instance.

thats for some people u havnt got a clue what it is...if im wrong about what i said im clueless too. but some of that is from the easton website itself only the beginning part.

[leafsrule1 0]

also, the sicore grip is a 2004 stick and on that chart easton gave out i think the call it the "one piece competitor" chart, it says 2004 synergy is 445, but because its a si-core GRIP the grip is sometimes 5 grams heavier than the non grip, but 5 grams come on give me a break, if you say a 5 gram difference is affecting your play your nuts.

[leafsrule1 0]

also, :D i have noticed that the normal si-cores are all 450, all the ones that i've seen atleast, so unless i just havn't seen a 2004 si-core yet i havn't noticed any difference.

i swear by all easton stuff so this isn't a bash, dont take it the wrong way.

[Chadd 916]

Please use the edit button, you don't need 3 consecutive posts

[leafsrule1 0]

sorry forgot about that

[Cavs019 710]

Ryan i understand completely, and im not trying to rant as i absolutely love the stick, but what good do machine statistics do for people using the stick if the difference is not apparent at all to the "naked eye." I don't know of any machines playing hockey.

[Buzz_LightBeer 974]

seeing is believeing i guess. if you love the stick, why second guess it?

[Cavs019 710]

Because i loved my 03 si core, and that didn't have therma tec, yet feels exactly the same.

[leafsrule1 0]

it should be lighter and more durable, and i don't believe you can really FEEL more durability. 04 synergy is 445 and grips are usually 5 grams lighter.

[chippa13 1844]

Ryan i understand completely, and im not trying to rant as i absolutely love the stick, but what good do machine statistics do for people using the stick if the difference is not apparent at all to the "naked eye." I don't know of any machines playing hockey.

How exactly are you supposed to feel a difference in blade and shaft strength and durability? Those are things that over an extended period of time you will realize as the stick lasts longer than previous versions. If there was a different feel to the shaft or blade then they would have failed in what they were trying to do.

[Cavs019 710]

For me, there would be no difference because my 03 has held up for almost a year with heavy use. They advertise the 04's as being lighter, which is my main concern since it isn't true.

[jay 1]

For me, there would be no difference because my 03 has held up for almost a year with heavy use. They advertise the 04's as being lighter, which is my main concern since it isn't true.

Just keep in mind that those statistics could be based on the weight of a whole bunch of sticks that all averaged out to be a few grams lighter then the previous model year. On average the new sticks probably are lighter but it might not mean every single stick is lighter.

[Keith 0]

If the stick feels the same to you and you claim to love it, you shouldn't really complain. You just have to wait and see how it holds up over time and then you can draw your own conclusions about their product refinements. I haven't really seen the rampant bashing of their sticks this year as we did with last year's so maybe there is something to their claims after all.