"Successor" to the XN10?

[Scotty 8]

My brand new RL XN10 showed up this afternoon. You guys are right; it's pretty light! Wood endplug included, it is just over 300 grams. Slapped a One95 blade in it for now and it balances pretty damn well, but I have a Z-Carbon CNT on the way for it. Seems to have pretty good pop just shooting in the basement, but I'll get a better feel for it tomorrow night.

Honestly, factoring out tangibles such as shaft shape/style and blade choice, it feels similar to the One95 shafts in terms of feel.

Oh, and Bostonjuniorblackhawk, to answer your question: Yes, the original Z-Carbon blades were much different than the S15/S19 blades. The new ones are a bit bulkier and offer a slightly different feel. The original black Z-Carbon blades (that look like the pro stock ones that could be found up until a couple years ago) played differently and, in my opinion, were the best of the bunch. They've just gotten more refined over the years and resemble the S19 blade very closely now obviously.

[mack 44]

The best part about the pro stock Z-Carbs are their complete lack of the bullshit focus flex.

[Scotty 8]

The best part about the pro stock Z-Carbs are their complete lack of the bullshit focus flex.

Exactly. Just a normal blade.

Wish I could find them now, but only occasionally see them as pro return Hejduks or Kovalevs at local stores.

[DarkStar50 679]

Scotty,

Do you play ice or roller?

[Scotty 8]

Scotty,

Do you play ice or roller?

Honestly both, but the only one I've done in leagues, high school, and at the college level is inline. So I guess I'm an inline guy. Played for about 14 years now.

[mack 44]

Exactly. Just a normal blade.

Wish I could find them now, but only occasionally see them as pro return Hejduks or Kovalevs at local stores.

They were a bitch to find when they were around, let alone now. The only recent ones I can ever find are Boyle T-Flex, but they don't fit in any tapered shafts I have. I did a quick inventory over the weekend and I still have a good amount, but the collection won't be growing anymore. Down to my last Kozlov after last week.

[Scotty 8]

Tried out the RL XN10 tonight and it does indeed KICK. Seeing as it's new off the shelf, it's still a bit stiffer (I've read that these are a bit over the rating when new, but break in well) and doesn't quite flex as much as I'd like on wristers, but it still has tremendous pop.

I had to get used to the feel of the stick at first. The shaft shape isn't anything unusual, but this is the first shaft I've ever had where the stick actually feels different than anything I've used before, even with a familiar One95 blade in my usual pattern. Once I got more used to it after warmups, the game presented me with some good opportunity for all types of shots and passes. I play on a team where 10 guys will sign up to play the session, but half of them won't show up for nearly half the games and people don't play position so I end up dropping back a ton to cover D. As a result, I took some good slappers from the point on the powerplay. The stick loads up nicely and even though I've obviously felt other shafts load and flex before, this stick does indeed have better kick than most any other stick I've encountered. You guys weren't lying! The shaft is just dying to recoil after flexing and rips back hard. On a couple quick snapshots off the inside leg, I really got a chance to bear down and load into it, which resulted in some great kick when combining with my style of wrister.

Only downside is I find that since the shaft is so light... and there's something about the finish of it... I feel like it could break on a slash. We have some awful pissy guys in my league that get angry as soon as you play solid D on them or beat them with a good move, so I fear a good whack could end this thing. Probably all in my head though.

[sickwilly 37]

Tried out the RL XN10 tonight and it does indeed KICK. Seeing as it's new off the shelf, it's still a bit stiffer (I've read that these are a bit over the rating when new, but break in well) and doesn't quite flex as much as I'd like on wristers, but it still has tremendous pop.

I had to get used to the feel of the stick at first. The shaft shape isn't anything unusual, but this is the first shaft I've ever had where the stick actually feels different than anything I've used before, even with a familiar One95 blade in my usual pattern. Once I got more used to it after warmups, the game presented me with some good opportunity for all types of shots and passes. I play on a team where 10 guys will sign up to play the session, but half of them won't show up for nearly half the games and people don't play position so I end up dropping back a ton to cover D. As a result, I took some good slappers from the point on the powerplay. The stick loads up nicely and even though I've obviously felt other shafts load and flex before, this stick does indeed have better kick than most any other stick I've encountered. You guys weren't lying! The shaft is just dying to recoil after flexing and rips back hard. On a couple quick snapshots off the inside leg, I really got a chance to bear down and load into it, which resulted in some great kick when combining with my style of wrister.

Only downside is I find that since the shaft is so light... and there's something about the finish of it... I feel like it could break on a slash. We have some awful pissy guys in my league that get angry as soon as you play solid D on them or beat them with a good move, so I fear a good whack could end this thing. Probably all in my head though.

The finish chips pretty easily. My favorite blade with them is the one90 (over the one95 and AK). I can't explain why, but the balance just seemed to feel right to me.

[tml67 0]

Are the Red Lite (not XN10) shafts any good? I think they are the first RL shaft, made with Armid Graphite. It reminds me of the brownish Easton UL shafts.

I thought the XN10 OPS were only 395g? I put a prostock XN10 (Model C10) on the scale and it was 491g, and it felt blade heavy. It did have an endplug which probably added 30g. I remember my XN10s (I think I had Model C8s) were well balanced and and lighter.

[Chadd 916]

Are the Red Lite (not XN10) shafts any good? I think they are the first RL shaft, made with Armid Graphite. It reminds me of the brownish Easton UL shafts.

I thought the XN10 OPS were only 395g? I put a prostock XN10 (Model C10) on the scale and it was 491g, and it felt blade heavy. It did have an endplug which probably added 30g. I remember my XN10s (I think I had Model C8s) were well balanced and and lighter.

Without a plug, the Xn10 is blade heavy. With a plug, mine were all pretty well balanced. C8 was actually the original Response but the early XN10 sticks did have C8 on them, though I thought they were only pro stocks. I could very well be wrong on the pro stock part.

[tml67 0]

Without a plug, the Xn10 is blade heavy. With a plug, mine were all pretty well balanced. C8 was actually the original Response but the early sticks did have C8 on them, though I thought they were only pro stocks. I could very well be wrong on the pro stock part.

The XN10 I checked out was a prostock (Walker 24 Reg Flex, if I remember correctly). I was going to pick it up, but it didn't feel right and it was on the heavy side when I scaled it at 491g. I wasn't to crazy about the curve either. It has less curve than the retail PM9, which is what I use.

Chadd: do you know if the original RedLite Armid Graphite shafts are any good and worth picking up? The XN10 OPS & RL shaft are both brand new.

[TBLfan 25]

I liked the CS2 RL, it was a tank.

[sickwilly 37]

This may be a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway. Is XN10 carbon at all similar to what's used in sticks that use carbon nanotubes? (Stealth CNT, Montreal Nitro Lite, others that I don't recall?)

The RLXN10's are probably my favorite shaft. The stick that I've used that kicked the next hardest for me was a Montreal Nitro Lite (with "Nanotechnology"). Too bad the blades weakened and split quickly, because they were amazing.

[tml67 0]

I liked the CS2 RL, it was a tank.

Is this the CS2 RL shaft you're referring to?

http://2playhockey.com/Louisville_LouisvilleTPSSeniorRedLiteShaft.html

[Chadd 916]

The XN10 I checked out was a prostock (Walker 24 Reg Flex, if I remember correctly). I was going to pick it up, but it didn't feel right and it was on the heavy side when I scaled it at 491g. I wasn't to crazy about the curve either. It has less curve than the retail PM9, which is what I use.

Chadd: do you know if the original RedLite Armid Graphite shafts are any good and worth picking up? The XN10 OPS & RL shaft are both brand new.

It was basically the equivalent to the ultralight. A nice, solid shaft, but nothing special in terms of performance.

[TBLfan 25]

Is this the CS2 RL shaft you're referring to?

http://2playhockey.com/Louisville_LouisvilleTPSSeniorRedLiteShaft.html

That is a CS2 RL but I think it's was a newer version than the one I had:

[tml67 0]

For those who have used a Bauer One95 and TPS Red Lite shaft, how do they compare?

Thanks

[Scotty 8]

Depends on which Red Lite (regular or XN10) and which One95 (tapered or standard).

In my opinion, the RedLite XN10 and standard One95 shaft feel pretty close. The Redlite kicks harder, but both load very well. Some seem to think that the tapered One95 kicks as hard as the R2 and RedLite XN10s, but I haven't used my tapered one enough to determine that.

[tml67 0]

Depends on which Red Lite (regular or XN10) and which One95 (tapered or standard).

In my opinion, the RedLite XN10 and standard One95 shaft feel pretty close. The Redlite kicks harder, but both load very well. Some seem to think that the tapered One95 kicks as hard as the R2 and RedLite XN10s, but I haven't used my tapered one enough to determine that.

I'm looking for a comparison between the standard One95 shaft and the regular Red Lite shaft. Thanks.

How is the tapered One95 shaft? After you reported the shaft being rounded, it held off on buying them from TSR. Does it feel like the X60 shaft with the textile grip? Mid or low kick?

[Scotty 8]

How is the tapered One95 shaft? After you reported the shaft being rounded, it held off on buying them from TSR. Does it feel like the X60 shaft with the textile grip? Mid or low kick?

VERY nice shafts. Yes, they are quite rounded on the edges. As far as purely shaft shape, yes, it feels exactly like an X60 with textile. The kick on it is pretty much mid, nowhere near the ultra-low of the Vapors. TBLfan says that he feels these shafts are very whippy for their given flex, but I feel that they're right on. I bought an 87 and cut it about 1.5" and honestly, it's a bit stiffer than I'd like now.

[TBLfan 25]

VERY nice shafts. Yes, they are quite rounded on the edges. As far as purely shaft shape, yes, it feels exactly like an X60 with textile. The kick on it is pretty much mid, nowhere near the ultra-low of the Vapors. TBLfan says that he feels these shafts are very whippy for their given flex, but I feel that they're right on. I bought an 87 and cut it about 1.5" and honestly, it's a bit stiffer than I'd like now.

I wouldn't say "very whippy" but more whippy, yes. They break in a lot too. I rarely use my RLX10 and sold my CS2 RL but my main R2XN10 is a regular(roughly 95) flex and feels like an 80ish flex now. My CS2 was an X-stiff but felt more like 95-100 flex.

[sickwilly 37]

I wouldn't say "very whippy" but more whippy, yes. They break in a lot too. I rarely use my RLX10 and sold my CS2 RL but my main R2XN10 is a regular(roughly 95) flex and feels like an 80ish flex now. My CS2 was an X-stiff but felt more like 95-100 flex.

TBLfan - How long did it take for the 95 to really whip out like that? I'm a little nervous about the R9's I have doing that (since I usually use the Stiff flex).

[TBLfan 25]

TBLfan - How long did it take for the 95 to really whip out like that? I'm a little nervous about the R9's I have doing that (since I usually use the Stiff flex).

It took a long time and quite a while. I tend to do this to sticks, you should feel my U+. The U+ was an 85, cut down but now it feels more like a 70 flex now. Did the same thing to a V130 too.

BTW, the RL is also 3" shorter than a R2 XN10, both came with 3" plugs... the best plugs in the world btw.

[sickwilly 37]

It took a long time and quite a while. I tend to do this to sticks, you should feel my U+. The U+ was an 85, cut down but now it feels more like a 70 flex now. Did the same thing to a V130 too.

BTW, the RL is also 3" shorter than a R2 XN10, both came with 3" plugs... the best plugs in the world btw.

I'm glad to hear that it took a while. Thanks for the info. I liked the RLXN10 that I had in R, but it broke early on a fluky play. I never really got to "break it in". I'm dropping down from X flex R2XN10s to R flex R9's (took what I could find, would have preferred 'S').

It bummed me out that the RLXN10s were so short. Then again, the plugs really balanced out the M95/CMX blades I used to use in them. One of these day's I'm going to throw a composite plug in one of my RLXN10s to see if it changes the feel/balance with some of the newer, composite blades.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

Hey, is the XN10 stick, any similar to the XN10 shaft? I'm not sure if your talking strictly about the shaft or both. I've got my eye on a close to new yellow XN10, I'm considering picking it up.