Cracked / Soft - Stick Blades

[SirJW 207]

The only way to describe my game is as a grinder; I play in a pretty competitive beer league in two divisions. I take faceoffs, go in to the corners to get pucks and stand in front of the goalie to screen and try and get a few garbage goals.

I've been going though sticks quite fast recently and I wonder if it's my game. The wood sticks get chewed up, cracked and/or soft in less than five games and I just bought a NBH Vapor XVI and the blade cracked in the third game. I’m not abusing my sticks by slamming them, so what can I do w/ out changing my game? Does anyone else have this issue?

[Joker518 0]

Where are they cracking/failing? On the toe? On the face of the blade? The bottom? Heel?

[vitaminZ 0]

only thing I can say is dont jab your stick blade perpendicular into the boards, thats the worst for me for breaking blades

[ktang 34]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

[Chadd 916]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

Take less ice, your still will last a lot longer.

[Leafsrule16 5]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

Take less ice, your still will last a lot longer.

What he says. Also, dont overlook the two piece option. In the long run, if you bought an ak 27 shaft with a wooden blade you get a fairly light stick with good feel, break the blade its no biggie haul it out and jam another one in it. I used woodies in composite shafts for awhile, i just grew to love the feel of a one piece.

[thehomez 0]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

Take less ice, your still will last a lot longer.

Taking less ice = weaker shot for me...

Also, can anyone chime in on how to tell if your blade is softening up? I've had my main stick for 8 months now and I think its softened up but not sure....

And to OP, I saw this thread a couple weeks back about how to fix a cracked blade. Might want to give that a try. Shouldn't be too hard to find if you run a little search

[Chadd 916]

Lighter flex will give you the zip back with less ice.

To test the blade put the thumb of your bottom hand in the middle of the blade and grab the toe with your fingers. Repeat with the back of the blade and compare the amount of flex with a new blade and you will have a baseline for determining how much stiffness has been lost.

[Ahriman 1]

Also, can anyone chime in on how to tell if your blade is softening up? I've had my main stick for 8 months now and I think its softened up but not sure....

should be fairly straight forward... does the blade bend in ways it shouldnt if you grab it at the heel and toe and pull? Do you feel like shots are going excessively wide right if your a right hander or wide left if your a left hander on wrist shots?

[SirJW 207]

The OPS the heel of the bottom of the blade is cracked (sent it back for warranty replacement). The wood blades get chewed up on the toe (taped), and heel (and crack); they are the correct lie as the tape wears evenly. I didn't consider the cracks come from slappers though (uggh).

[Joker518 0]

Something I do to extend the life of my blades is place a length of electric tape from heel to toe (prior to taping the blade), and grind it into the blade with a puck. It adds an extra layer of protection and you won't even notice its there. Most importantly, it help keeps water from getting into the wood which will kill the life of your blades.

In the same vein, consider waxing your blades. It helps with the water proofing plus it extends the life of your tape.

[ktang 34]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

Take less ice, your still will last a lot longer.

What he says. Also, dont overlook the two piece option. In the long run, if you bought an ak 27 shaft with a wooden blade you get a fairly light stick with good feel, break the blade its no biggie haul it out and jam another one in it. I used woodies in composite shafts for awhile, i just grew to love the feel of a one piece.

Yes, I am still a 2-piece stick user. I just started using composite tapered blades (from Law_Goalie) after I ran out of Bauer 7500s (wood). But, I just got some wood tapered blades from Hooah4, so they should last me for the next winter season.

I'm about 175 lbs, and I use a TPS XN10 whip, so I take very little ice. I think it's the slapthot impact with the puck that softens up the foam. I cut up one of the blades to see where the damage was, and the bottoms were fine; it was the middle part where the foam was breaking down.

I can tell when the blade is softening up when I take my slap shots. Also, when I put composite blades next to my ear and try to twist it and hear the crackling sound I know that it's softening. There is one defenseman on my team whose slapshots are accompanied by a distinct crackling sound.

[Chadd 916]

If I shoot slapshots in warmups to warm up the goalie, after a few games my composite blades soften and start making crackling sounds.

Take less ice, your still will last a lot longer.

What he says. Also, dont overlook the two piece option. In the long run, if you bought an ak 27 shaft with a wooden blade you get a fairly light stick with good feel, break the blade its no biggie haul it out and jam another one in it. I used woodies in composite shafts for awhile, i just grew to love the feel of a one piece.

Yes, I am still a 2-piece stick user. I just started using composite tapered blades (from Law_Goalie) after I ran out of Bauer 7500s (wood). But, I just got some wood tapered blades from Hooah4, so they should last me for the next winter season.

I'm about 175 lbs, and I use a TPS XN10 whip, so I take very little ice. I think it's the slapthot impact with the puck that softens up the foam. I cut up one of the blades to see where the damage was, and the bottoms were fine; it was the middle part where the foam was breaking down.

I can tell when the blade is softening up when I take my slap shots. Also, when I put composite blades next to my ear and try to twist it and hear the crackling sound I know that it's softening. There is one defenseman on my team whose slapshots are accompanied by a distinct crackling sound.

My blades always break down in the same place, it's just the nature of the beast. The blade is going to start breaking down from the first shot and, so far, the only way I've seen them make a more durable blade is by making it so hard that there isn't any feel.

[thehomez 0]

Lighter flex will give you the zip back with less ice.

To test the blade put the thumb of your bottom hand in the middle of the blade and grab the toe with your fingers. Repeat with the back of the blade and compare the amount of flex with a new blade and you will have a baseline for determining how much stiffness has been lost.

Thanks for tip of the lighter flex. And thats what I figured was the best way to test a blade but just wanted to make sure. I was thrown off by the fact that my old blade doesn't flex any more than a new one but when I take a shot with a new one it feels much harder. Might be a mental thing or that I'm not flexing the blade hard enough with my fingers.

What is the typical length of time a stick goes soft if your using it a couple of times a week? I know its hard to estimate but would you say 2-3 months or something like 6-7? Thanks!

[Jarick 5]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

[ktang 34]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

I've seen some broken Easton blades (from OPS) that were in the trash, and it seems like there isn't foam in all the gaps between the ribs that are between the two faces. Also, part of the hosel seems like it's also air. Maybe this is for balance and performance reasons, but without the foam I think that the blade would lose its structural integrity more quickly.

[thehomez 0]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

I've seen some broken Easton blades (from OPS) that were in the trash, and it seems like there isn't foam in all the gaps between the ribs that are between the two faces. Also, part of the hosel seems like it's also air. Maybe this is for balance and performance reasons, but without the foam I think that the blade would lose its structural integrity more quickly.

Thats a good point. Makes sense why they breakdown/go soft so quickly.

And as Jarick said, is it a generally known fact that Warriors build quality is pretty solid?

[jimmy 194]

One can also go to a place that does stick repairs and they can beef up a soft blade very easily. Cheap fix too. Stiffens the blade well and takes out the crack-foam sound.

[Bmplam 1]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

I've seen some broken Easton blades (from OPS) that were in the trash, and it seems like there isn't foam in all the gaps between the ribs that are between the two faces. Also, part of the hosel seems like it's also air. Maybe this is for balance and performance reasons, but without the foam I think that the blade would lose its structural integrity more quickly.

Thats a good point. Makes sense why they breakdown/go soft so quickly.

And as Jarick said, is it a generally known fact that Warriors build quality is pretty solid?

Warrior blades have been the most durable blade for me. Like Jarick, I haven't used much else lately either as my lhs doesn't have many tapered blades to choose from. TPS were ok, but they havn't been on the shelf for a while, and the Easton blades really don't last very long.

[thehomez 0]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

I've seen some broken Easton blades (from OPS) that were in the trash, and it seems like there isn't foam in all the gaps between the ribs that are between the two faces. Also, part of the hosel seems like it's also air. Maybe this is for balance and performance reasons, but without the foam I think that the blade would lose its structural integrity more quickly.

Thats a good point. Makes sense why they breakdown/go soft so quickly.

And as Jarick said, is it a generally known fact that Warriors build quality is pretty solid?

Warrior blades have been the most durable blade for me. Like Jarick, I haven't used much else lately either as my lhs doesn't have many tapered blades to choose from. TPS were ok, but they havn't been on the shelf for a while, and the Easton blades really don't last very long.

Thanks for the additional info. Will def keep that in mind next time I'm stick shopping :)

[nthn19 0]

S17 blades last me around 3 weeks.:( so much for 220.00

[thehomez 0]

S17 blades last me around 3 weeks.:( so much for 220.00

Thats insane. A friend of mine broke the stick 5 weeks out which sucks too. Wonder whats going on with Easton's quality control...

[stickfixchaska 0]

Depends on the blade for me, some Warriors can last me a year, Eastons last me a month, haven't used Bauers in a while, but there's a few different kinds of blades.

I've seen some broken Easton blades (from OPS) that were in the trash, and it seems like there isn't foam in all the gaps between the ribs that are between the two faces. Also, part of the hosel seems like it's also air. Maybe this is for balance and performance reasons, but without the foam I think that the blade would lose its structural integrity more quickly.

ktang - Bingo! Gotta remember though, Easton builds the high end sticks for performance. The voids/gaps keep the weight down. The high-end blades are terrible for long-term durability.

[IniNew 53]

S17 blades last me around 3 weeks.:( so much for 220.00

Thats insane. A friend of mine broke the stick 5 weeks out which sucks too. Wonder whats going on with Easton's quality control...

What are you talking about, that's exactly what they shoot for. 30 days up, breaks, have to buy another one. Perfect quality control.

[thehomez 0]

S17 blades last me around 3 weeks.:( so much for 220.00

Thats insane. A friend of mine broke the stick 5 weeks out which sucks too. Wonder whats going on with Easton's quality control...

What are you talking about, that's exactly what they shoot for. 30 days up, breaks, have to buy another one. Perfect quality control.

lol, good point. I stand corrected :P