Most important aspect of choosing a stick?

[raygunpk 0]

I would rank from most important to least, curve -> flex -> lie.

For me, if I'm using a curve that doesn't have a mid or toe curve I can't do anything, shots and passes are way off. My shots also will suffer if the flex is too high. I rate lie as the least important (I know many would put it first) because when I stickhandle, I always have the puck on the heel no matter what, and shots are full roll from heel to toe.

I was going to include length and weight, but then you can have arguments for that while talking about lie and flex, and it would just have too many confusing variables. And anybody who put weight as their first would get roasted by mack.

Also, I wonder those out there who say a certain stick is bad...is it because it wasn't in their right curve or flex?

If I had a top of the line OPS with a Lidstrom vs a price point/woodie with a Naslund, I would go for latter everytime.

[TomMc#4 0]

i would go lie>curve>flex

[-knowlzey- 0]

Flex -> Curve -> Lie

I've never really been interested at lies, only really the curve. And I have tough time adjusting to really flexy or really stiff sticks.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

I am with Ray Punk: Curve > Flex > Lie

Back in the day of only woodies, length would be first and foremost, but with composites and being able to add plugs, not in the equation anymore.

[Stacey 0]

Negative. First as foremost is the lie then flex then curve. Although I really want to put Lie and Flex together as one and curve as last. There's no sense in using a blade if all of it is not in contact with the ice and there's no point in having the blade in full contact with the ice if the stick is 120 flex and you can't flex the shaft.

[dangle 0]

#1 is the lie. If your blade isn't on the ice like it should be, your not going to catch passes, be able to shoot, stickhandle or anything.

If you use a higher lie (like 5.5ish) go and try to use the pro Spezza curve and come back with your results.

[Balzinsker 0]

Lie > Flex > Curve

You can adjust to any curve with a bit of practice and time, a different lie changes more of your game than a different curve will. I went from a PM9 One90 to a dolo fedorov Lie 5, and found the change to be much greater than expected. I started making the adjustment for a while but found I was not as comfortable as I would be with something of a lower lie.

[interpathway 9]

Lie > Flex > Curve > Tackiness

[gerbe3:16 19]

Definitely agree that the lie is the most important aspect.

[roller to ice 0]

i would go curve,lie,flex although i may put lie first its just that i have used stick w/ every lie and i never have a problem as long as its above 4.5 (maybe i just havent found the right lie for me using so many different ones all the time and im used to crappy results lol)

[Chadd 916]

Lie/length is the only thing I need, the rest is just preference for optimal performance. Without the proper lie for the stick length that you are using, performance will suffer whether you know it or not.

[raygunpk 0]

#1 is the lie. If your blade isn't on the ice like it should be, your not going to catch passes, be able to shoot, stickhandle or anything.

If you use a higher lie (like 5.5ish) go and try to use the pro Spezza curve and come back with your results.

I've went from high lie curves to a pro Samsonov (posted pics in show it off) which was about a 3 lie, and it was quite an easy adjustment. The curve is what got me as I couldn't roll shots off correctly.

[Chadd 916]

#1 is the lie. If your blade isn't on the ice like it should be, your not going to catch passes, be able to shoot, stickhandle or anything.

If you use a higher lie (like 5.5ish) go and try to use the pro Spezza curve and come back with your results.

I've went from high lie curves to a pro Samsonov (posted pics in show it off) which was about a 3 lie, and it was quite an easy adjustment. The curve is what got me as I couldn't roll shots off correctly.

The wrong lie will make shots not come off the blade properly as well.I've also never seen a samsonov that was below a 4.5

[dangle 0]

I've went from high lie curves to a pro Samsonov (posted pics in show it off) which was about a 3 lie, and it was quite an easy adjustment. The curve is what got me as I couldn't roll shots off correctly.

3 seems a bit extreme.

I went from a retail Sakic to a Pro Elias and couldn't shoot.... because my blade wasn't making enough contact with the ice. The lie was way off for me.

[raygunpk 0]

3 is extreme, surprised I could do anything with it. I wish I could adjust to curves though rather than lies, it would make stick selection a lot wider.

[Andoy 5]

Lie, flex, curve.

Lie is the most important to me because i'm such a bad player to the point that a change in lie just messes up my shooting mechanics, stickhandling, and posture (especially if i have to change the length of the stick to compensate).

As long as it's the same lie I don't really care what kind of curve as I dont have to adjust much.

[McDougalfaschnitzer 32]

Before I check the flex, lie, or curve, I just pick the stick up and see if it feels good to me. A stick that doesn't feel balanced or just feels awkward will go back on the rack before I check the other stuff out.

[phunky_monkey 6]

Curve - Lie - Flex for me I think.

I find Flex's easier to adapt to that an off lie.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Lie/Rocker>Flex>Curve

Going from lightly rockered blades to heavily rockered blades creates an issue for me, which is why I added it.

[noodle3872 40]

1. Curve

2. Flex

3. Lie

The curve and flex have to be right for me but I can always adjust to the lie.