Not impressed with RBK 4K OPS - Impressed with Synergy II/Inno blade

[Nealoc187 10]

I picked up an RBK 4K 85 flex Datsyuk curve at MC Sports for $40. Only reason I picked it up was because it was so cheap. On the same day I also picked up a Synergy II 85 flex/Inno tapered short hosel Jovanovski composite blade combo for $140 at Perani's in Grand Rapids.

My primary reason for wanting a new combo was to get more whip. Being a skinny person without a ton of upper body strength I felt as though my quick snappers were not what they could be because of the stiffness of the Mission. Big slappers were great but those are like 5% of the shots I take - not worth the loss of pop on the snap shot.

Immediate impressions of the Synergy II/Inno combo were that of extreme lightness compared to what I'm used to. My previous combo was a Mission L-2 100flex with a bauer supreme wood blade and a 3-4" wooden plug. This synergy II/ inno blade is obviously far lighter - prior to the mission which I've been using for about a year I was using Titan/Jofa wood sticks since childhood.

Instantly I could tell the difference in warmups with the SynergyII. Snappers were much more consistent - more pop on them and more accurate. I could hit whatever spot I was aiming at on the boards and the net with better accuracy than with the mission/bauer wood combo. The next thing I noticed was that stickhandling feel is decreased a bit with the composite blade - it will take a little bit of getting used to. Slap shots - though I've only taken about 4 of them thus far - are a bit strange as well with a whippier stick but I expect I'll adapt.

Another thing I noticed and was hoping for was that I'm able to poke check with more quickness due to the reduced mass of the synergy II/inno combo - probably due to both lower overall mass and a higher balance point - easier for a weaker person such as myself to get the stick moving quickly to poke at/sweep the puck.

After warming up for about 5 minutes with the Easton I switched to the RBK 4K just to try it out. Immediately I noticed that it was a bit heavier than the Easton. I tried to take a snap shot with it and the stick just felt dead. Quite strange, no pop compared to the Easton I'd just been using. Tried another shot and it felt the same - dead. Immediately I knew I wasn't going to be happy with this stick. Took one more snapper and a slapper and then decided I'd had enough. This was a stick I wouldn't ever bother using. I put it back on the bench.

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

Kinda comparing apples and oranges there...

[Ngo_35 1]

Congrats my friend, you've found the true meaning of entry level ops compared to high end ops.

However, and I do stress however, there are some whos hands are blessed with entry level sticks and not high end.

[lb33knight 0]

You bought one for $40 and the other for $140. Are you surprised that one out-performed the other?

[Nealoc187 10]

You bought one for $40 and the other for $140. Are you surprised that one out-performed the other?

Not at all. This was just a general review - not intended to be a head to head comparison. I just happened to try two different sticks out on the same day so I made one post instead of two different ones.

[thejackal 46]

if mack were here he'd chime in with his comparison of black angus' and mcdonald's takes on beef

[Nealoc187 10]

if mack were here he'd chime in with his comparison of black angus' and mcdonald's takes on beef

I'm sure you're right.

[thejackal 46]

seriously though, if you're talking about the green and black 4k, that thing is a grade A piece of crap. crummy soft blade and a shaft that torques if u look at it crooked

[Nealoc187 10]

seriously though, if you're talking about the green and black 4k, that thing is a grade A piece of crap. crummy soft blade and a shaft that torques if u look at it crooked

yeah - i had no real intention of buying that stick, never did any research on RBKs or anything - i actually stopped by MCs for something else entirely. it was on the rack and the curve looked OK for me and the price was marked at $40 down from $80 so I thought what the hell - can't be that bad. I figured it was just on sale because most hockey guys don't go looking for sticks at MC Sports so they were having a hard time moving it. I was wrong. it was like taking a shot with a half cooked carrot lol. live and learn.

[mack 44]

Actually I would say something like "in other news, water is still wet." Never had beef so I'd feel like Vapor trying to chime in an argument over what girl is hotter than another girl.

[colt45 0]

seriously though, if you're talking about the green and black 4k, that thing is a grade A piece of crap. crummy soft blade and a shaft that torques if u look at it crooked

yeah - i had no real intention of buying that stick, never did any research on RBKs or anything - i actually stopped by MCs for something else entirely. it was on the rack and the curve looked OK for me and the price was marked at $40 down from $80 so I thought what the hell - can't be that bad. I figured it was just on sale because most hockey guys don't go looking for sticks at MC Sports so they were having a hard time moving it. I was wrong. it was like taking a shot with a half cooked carrot lol. live and learn.

don't let this stick shy you away from other RBK...if you spend the big bucks (or even buy a ProLite on clearence), then you'd be suprised at how different it is..all im saying is its not fair to judge a company after buying a low-end OPS.

and IMO if you looking for a whippy stick, look for the CCM Mid Flex, but get the longer SR one as opposed to the intermediate one...Im 150 and i hav a pic in the Show it Off thread if you want to see how much flex i get outta it

Actually I would say something like "in other news, water is still wet." Never had beef so I'd feel like Vapor trying to chime in an argument over what girl is hotter than another girl.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[lb33knight 0]

You bought one for $40 and the other for $140. Are you surprised that one out-performed the other?

Not at all. This was just a general review - not intended to be a head to head comparison. I just happened to try two different sticks out on the same day so I made one post instead of two different ones.

No problem. I just thought you were trashing the RBK in comparison to a higher model stick. For everyone here that think it's a piece of crap, it's not. It's just a entry level OPS. It is what it is. If you have played for a while like I'd like to think most of you have, then the stick is not for you. It doesn't mean it's junk and wouldn't be right for someone else...

[Nealoc187 10]

don't let this stick shy you away from other RBK...if you spend the big bucks (or even buy a ProLite on clearence), then you'd be suprised at how different it is..all im saying is its not fair to judge a company after buying a low-end OPS.

and IMO if you looking for a whippy stick, look for the CCM Mid Flex, but get the longer SR one as opposed to the intermediate one...Im 150 and i hav a pic in the Show it Off thread if you want to see how much flex i get outta it

I actually like RBK - Jofa came under their umbrella years back and I was aways a Jofa and Titan stick fan (and of course Titan eventually became part of Jofa prior to RBK being on the scene.)

[colt45 0]

don't let this stick shy you away from other RBK...if you spend the big bucks (or even buy a ProLite on clearence), then you'd be suprised at how different it is..all im saying is its not fair to judge a company after buying a low-end OPS.

and IMO if you looking for a whippy stick, look for the CCM Mid Flex, but get the longer SR one as opposed to the intermediate one...Im 150 and i hav a pic in the Show it Off thread if you want to see how much flex i get outta it

I actually like RBK - Jofa came under their umbrella years back and I was aways a Jofa and Titan stick fan (and of course Titan eventually became part of Jofa prior to RBK being on the scene.)

ohh...alright i thought u were saying you were dissappointed with RBK because of the stick...my bad

[colin97 0]

I love how he sounds surprised.

[TBLfan 25]

Cut the guy some slack... This info would probably be useful on most other message boards, I only know ONE message board that this is common knowledge for most members.

[colt45 0]

I love how he sounds supprised.

Cut the guy some slack... This info would probably be useful on most other message boards, I only know ONE message board that this is common knowledge for most members.

oops...i really didnt mean to sound like a dick, i thought he was saying RBK sucks, although he just used 1 4k...

my b

[jimmy 194]

What's even funnier is every entry level ops I sell to someone who was using woodies, absolutely loves them. I sold a 3-pac of Easton 200's today to a guy who said it's the best stick he ever used. There is a stick for everyone, not just gear whores. ;)

[thejackal 46]

i really like the mission toxic OPS i have. probably the only fiberglass-based stick i wouldnt mind using. the feel is good, even though shooting wise it doesn't compare well with the top-end stuff obviously

[mack 44]

I don't mind some of the lower-end stuff I've tried out. I bought a few of the "blacked out" shafts off eBay (that I found out were just Ballistiks) because they had 120 flexes and I really liked them. They were heavy, but balanced and I'm a man and don't worry about grams unless I'm buying something from a guy out of his trunk at a gas station.

[gxc999 7]

I think the same thing as far as weight is concerned. Comparing 475 to 410 is only a trivial difference, unless the 475 has no balance and feels really heavy. Balance > overall weight IMO

Still, I don't think I'd feel right using a 550 or 600 g stick anymore, it'd be too weird!

BTW, I agree that the higher end RBK's are worth looking at. Anyone hear anything about the sickick generation II?

[Nealoc187 10]

I think the same thing as far as weight is concerned. Comparing 475 to 410 is only a trivial difference, unless the 475 has no balance and feels really heavy. Balance > overall weight IMO

Still, I don't think I'd feel right using a 550 or 600 g stick anymore, it'd be too weird!

BTW, I agree that the higher end RBK's are worth looking at. Anyone hear anything about the sickick generation II?

Any idea what a typical wood stick weighs? after using my mission for the last year - going back to a wood stick feels unbelievably heavy (not that I'd ever do it by choice but I did use a wood backup one game). after i get used to this synergy II it'd be even weirder.

[Nealoc187 10]

I'm not worried about the comments some guys are making btw -I've got thick skin. I'm a moderator on a car forum with like 75,000 members that is absolutely brutal to noobs and I was once one of them so I know how it goes :D

I didn't post this thread to inform people who already know everything about hockey sticks of stuff they already knew, I posted it to give info to those who might not know everything about every hockey stick made - people like me who are budding gear whores and who haven't tried every combo made yet. I lurked and searched here for quite a while before registering and I figure there are probably more people out there doing the same that would find my impressions valuable.

I did not go into this intending to make a head to head comparison of a high end and a low end stick. In fact when I first started writing the original post I was only going to mention my impressions of the Synergy II but I decided to mention the 4K since I tried it on the same day.

[TBLfan 25]

Regardless, it's pointless to jump on someone for no reason... and this is coming from one of MSH's resident assholes.

I'm not a fan of price point OPS, I'd much rather use a high quality wood stick. The wood performs better than the PP-OPSs... They just don't last long.