is it necessary to have a decent sized plug?

[mremis 0]

I just received my Ultra Lite Pro Stock 100 Flex shaft from Cyclone Taylor. The shaft is 58 inches, which is a bit longer than the retail shafts. I will be using an ST blade. At the length of stick I use, I will be using less than an inch of wood plug.

Will the lack of any length on my wood plug make the shaft stiffer? Does the 100 flex rating include the wood plug?

I'm worried that the stick will be too stiff for me to use. I just want to check before I put in a blade.

[tomh7 2]

The technical answer to the question on the relationship between the length of a hockey stick and the flex is that cutting the shaft doesn't change the stiffness of the shaft (I fully expect to catch heat for saying that). What it changes is the distance between the supports (the top hand and whatever the blade is in contact with). Anyone that has taked a basic statics class should be able to under stand this.

Now, as for your questions, cutting the shaft down and inserting a longer plug will affect the stiffness of the shaft because you are changing the overall makeup of the shaft. Depending on the wood used in the plug, you may make it stiffer or more flexible. My preference is to use as little (i.e. short) plug as possible because it also affects the balance of the stick. Most people don't use very long plugs if they can avoid them.

[mremis 0]

I wasn't planning on cutting the shaft, but I have to give it a try. Because the shaft itself is long, I will be using little plug. I am going to test it out and see.

I'm just a tad worried the 100 flex may be too much, who knows.

Thank you for responding.

[hapamatt122 0]

I wasn't planning on cutting the shaft, but I have to give it a try. Because the shaft itself is long, I will be using little plug. I am going to test it out and see.

I'm just a tad worried the 100 flex may be too much, who knows.

Thank you for responding.

would u need to cut it if u just didn't use the plug?

[Andoy 5]

What flex do you normally use?

[mremis 0]

i'm pretty sure you need to have the plug in, and i was just going to cut it down to the end

i'm currently using a 95 flex cyclone, its pretty whippy.

i'm just going to put in my st blade and take a few shots and see how this works. i've wanted to try a 100 flex but reading all the posts here is discouraging

i used to have the 85 flex but with the end plug + the st blade it was a bit whippy. i didn't think that this shaft was going to be so long.

[flyerman 0]

i'm pretty sure you need to have the plug in, and i was just going to cut it down to the end

That's what I do. For me, it just balances the stick out better and feels a bit more stable. But I know some guys who take the plug out, and they're fine with it.

I'm sure it will work out for you. My experiences is that the shaft will tend to relax the more you use it. So don't be discouraged if it feels too stiff at first, esp. if you are going from a whippy 85 flex.

And remember, if you haven't already put the ST blade in there, the ST has a very short hosel, so the stick might end up being shorter than you were expecting once the blade is in there. But maybe you know this already if you have used the ST with your other shaft.....

[mremis 0]

nah i knew how long it was going to be before i put it in.

i put it in and will be trying it tomorrow, i know that sticks do lose a bit of their stiffness over time, i know that my cyclone def has become flexier and same with my 85 flex ultralite.

i must say with all shaft and the st blade it is a very light stick

i figured the plug at the end was there for balance, i cut it down theres less than an inch.

[supa 3]

I cant even imagine you could notice less than 1 inch of plug. I have around 1 inch on the end of my stealth and the only thing I could notice is that my poke check was was about an inch longer :D

[Remman 0]

Only problem is if you want to take it out. Having less than an inch of plug to pull on might be a pain...

[tsanga 0]

Just drive a screw in the end and clamp it.

[flyerman 0]

Only problem is if you want to take it out. Having less than an inch of plug to pull on might be a pain...

I find it's quite easy, actually. I just screw in a small wall/ceiling hook, heat, hook it around something and pull it out. I've managed to do this even when the plug is set down inside of the shaft.

Of course if it's a shaft and not a OPS, you can also take the blade out, heat the plug end, and shove a rebar in there, and the plug will slide right out.

And to answer mremis's original question, I am almost positive the flex rating is based on the full length of composite shaft itself, and does not take the plug into consideration. Technically then, if you add an inch of plug to your uncut 100 Flex shaft, your flex would end up being around a 97 (Depending upon the stiffness/materials of the plug). That's why if you had a longer end plug, your 85 Flex ended up being so whippy. The general rule thumb is one inch = 3 flex points, and it works in either direction (cutting down shaft or adding plug).

Let us know how it feels on the ice!

[wetwilly17 6]

The technical answer to the question on the relationship between the length of a hockey stick and the flex is that cutting the shaft doesn't change the stiffness of the shaft (I fully expect to catch heat for saying that). What it changes is the distance between the supports (the top hand and whatever the blade is in contact with). Anyone that has taked a basic statics class should be able to under stand this.

Now, as for your questions, cutting the shaft down and inserting a longer plug will affect the stiffness of the shaft because you are changing the overall makeup of the shaft. Depending on the wood used in the plug, you may make it stiffer or more flexible. My preference is to use as little (i.e. short) plug as possible because it also affects the balance of the stick. Most people don't use very long plugs if they can avoid them.

tomh, you are thinking too much like an engineer. actually, the flex does change because hockey players define flex differently than engineers. this is to make it easier for the everyday person. tomh, you are relating flex to the shaft moment of inertia about the bending axis. hockey players relate flex to the deflection of the shaft due to a moment. when you cut a shaft down, the moment arm is decreased and therefore the moment on the shaft is decreased. obviously a lesser moment means less shaft deflection. so cutting a shaft (or plug) does increase the flex (or stiffness), at least by hockey definitions.

btw, 'flex', 'stiffness', and deflection issues have nothing to do with statics. these are mechanics subjects.

[flyerman 0]

What would we ever do without you guys?! :)

[Remman 0]

What would we ever do without you guys?! :)

I'd still be using a 5 lie trying to figure out why my shot isn't going anywhere.

[chippa13 1844]

I never use a plug in my sticks.

[hapamatt122 0]

me too.. I'm short, I always cut down my sticks, no plugs in any of them. just a little tape over the top so the open hollow shaft isn't exposed.

[forbs02 20]

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h...ckimpalekd3.jpg Here is why you should have a plug in your stick. This happened to a kid in a local association here in MN. It's pretty gross...

[Law Goalie 147]

Good god, that's nasty.

[mack 44]

pit vag, awesome.

[Jarick 5]

Ew. I'm going to retape my knobs tonight.

[tsanga 0]

Why's it so hollow in there? Someone give me an anatomy lesson....

Also, would taping over the end of the hollow shaft avoid this? I see a lot of NHL'ers sticks without plugs and the hollow exposed.

[sdcopp 1]

Why's it so hollow in there? Someone give me an anatomy lesson....

Also, would taping over the end of the hollow shaft avoid this? I see a lot of NHL'ers sticks without plugs and the hollow exposed.

It'll avoid stuff like that as well as broken/torn off pinky fingers. I've heard of that happening as well.

[chippa13 1844]

I use a good size knob similar to what Leetch used to have so there is no danger from my sticks not having a plug.

[jcp2 2]

Why's it so hollow in there? Someone give me an anatomy lesson....

The rest of what should be in there is in the shaft of the stick :o