Youth Stick Flex

[skater32 0]

My sister needs a whippier stick. She is currently using a youth bauer one90 stick. Its a 40 flex. I know the Dolo is listed as 30. Does anyone have any experience with those sticks? Is the dolo whippier? Also are there any other youth sticks less than 40 flex? Thanks in advanced?

[mack 44]

I think there's a grown man on the board here that uses them.

[Ahriman 1]

I'm sure your local home depot could find you a piece of balsa wood vaguely hockey shaft dimensions and tape a blade to it.

[goodguy 7]

Depends upon the length of the stick.

Most of the "Youth Sticks" are in the 30 to 40 flex range. My son uses a Bauer One95 Youth stick which (if I recall) has marking along the shaft to let you know what the flex will be at the point you cut it.

I would say the thinner youth shafts are definitely going to be whippier but if you cut it down, they lose flex pretty quick.

You are not going to get much whippier than 30 flex at the full 48" length. My kid is cut down to about 42" and it does not flex that much (granted I can tell a big flex difference between that and a same length 45 flexer).

If your goal is a different shot (height, etc) I think you should be looking at a different curve (rather than flex, although limited selection of curves at youth level) or maybe a wood blade to give her more feel for the puck. If you are trying to get he to feel how the flex works, the best thing I have seen if to get a heavy puck (maybe an orange puck would be heavy enough) and have her try to shoot that for a while. She will be feeling the flex more and will be flinging blue pucks better than ever.

I know plenty of 5-9 year old players who probably fall into the "youth" stick category who get by with cut down senior and junior stick which have no flex at all (as we probably did when we were kids) and they can still get some decent shots off. While I don't necessarily recommend that and I think the youth low flex technology is great - a whippier flex may not be the answer. Good luck and I will keep my eyes open at my kids next practice to see what his teammates are using - maybe there is some brand that give a more whippy flex. Considering there will be about 40 different sticks in his locker room, I should be able to tell a difference (if there is one) with that kind of stick sample.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Snapped my 70flex Syko today on a friggin' breakaway. Then I went to the 50 flex + 6in plug backup. :D

I think there's a grown man on the board here that uses them.

[J22 0]

My sister needs a whippier stick. She is currently using a youth bauer one90 stick. Its a 40 flex. I know the Dolo is listed as 30. Does anyone have any experience with those sticks? Is the dolo whippier? Also are there any other youth sticks less than 40 flex? Thanks in advanced?

My 8 year old has used a Compro, Mission fuel ti, and the Dolomite in the last 3 years. Of those three the Dolo has the most flex. The only other stick that i have seen that seems as "whippy" as the Dolo would be Sherwoods youth stick. FWIW the Bauer's seem to be the stiffest we have looked at.

[skater32 0]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My sister shouted at me when i tried to tell her she needed a whippier stick. So i don't think she'll get a new one. Sorry about that.

[Spartans87 0]

Check out the TPS R8 or R6. They make a regular flex and a whip flex. I could be wrong but i think the JR whip is a 35 flex. The stick has the thickness of a junior stick not a youth. Most places are clearing them out too so you may get a good deal.

[dc00 0]

Check out the TPS R8 or R6. They make a regular flex and a whip flex. I could be wrong but i think the JR whip is a 35 flex. The stick has the thickness of a junior stick not a youth. Most places are clearing them out too so you may get a good deal.

Great info. Also keep in mind that the flex will go up after cutting down a junior stick from its 52" length.

[UMWhockey 0]

TPS makes two great youth sticks.... well three, but anyone who pays the money for the youth R10 is crazy... a youth stick with the three flex zones, really? The R8 youth has been our best seller and I beleive it is a 35 or 30 flex. There is also the R61 which is the Nash stick. A little cheaper, but still not bad for a youth stick

[dumbpolak9 1]

easton sticks are amazing the jr flex is 50 which isnt bad.

[Koolman10 0]

My opionion is that 8 year olds shouldn't be using any Jr sticks. This is why they make youth sticks now. The 6-8 year olds need a thinner shaft and more flex so they can get a good wrist shot. That being said, the Sherwood white youth stick for $13-15 is perfect for the little players.

[SolarWind 23]

sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but this seemed like the most relevant place for my question:

I just bought One95 youth OPS (42 flex) for my 8 year old son

to make the length acceptable I had to chop a good 4" off the stick to make it up to my son's nose while in the skates (based on his liking I'd have to cut it even further since he likes shorter sticks)

I'm not sure what it did to the flex since there're no markings on the shaft, but it stiffened up considerably (50+ I'd guess) so he can't really flex it all that much.

Which made me wonder: can 8 years olds flex any sticks that are cut to their size?! :(

[raganblink 82]

Not really. At that age flex is pretty irrelevant anyways

[Jordan 13]

I think that most youth sticks are really pretty bad. by the time they are 8, it's better to get a junior stick. Much better blades, and some of the jr. sticks are very whippy...such as the eastons, warriors, and some of the bauers.

Not saying that you need to spend that much, but the sticks are a world better than the youth sticks.

If $$$ are an issue, buy a decent wood stick.

[Chadd 916]

Not really. At that age flex is pretty irrelevant anyways

I couldn't disagree more. I've seen a large number of kids improve their shot by going to a composite youth stick instead of a cut down junior or woodie.

I think that most youth sticks are really pretty bad. by the time they are 8, it's better to get a junior stick. Much better blades, and some of the jr. sticks are very whippy...such as the eastons, warriors, and some of the bauers.

Not saying that you need to spend that much, but the sticks are a world better than the youth sticks.

If $$$ are an issue, buy a decent wood stick.

Age is irrelevant, it's about height more than anything. I would go with a youth stick over a wood stick for someone that size in every situation.

[Jordan 13]

I couldn't disagree more. I've seen a large number of kids improve their shot by going to a composite youth stick instead of a cut down junior or woodie.

A friend of mine has his 9 yr old using a cut down sr easton...kid has the best shot on his team. That guy coaches university hockey and played in the NHL...different strokes for different folks. He feels that the bigger longer blade has more advantages than he gives up with the loss of flex.

I still stand by my statement that youth sticks a generally poor quality sticks. Thinking back, when my son was 8 and in novice hockey, virtually every kid that could shoot well for their age, was using a junior stick as opposed to a youth.

Height is certainly part of the equation; but, I think that strength and ability are of greater importance.

Probably the best thing would be for the kid to try out a few sticks and see for yourself what works bet for him. Some stores have shooting areas, or maybe he could borrow a couple of his team mates sticks.

8 years old is a funny age; there is a huge variation in size, strength and ability. I watched an eight year old a couple of years ago register a 67 MPH slapshot on radar at a showcase event. He was way off of the charts, but there were several more there that had shots that registered above 50 MPH...they were obviously far beyond the point of using a youth stick.

[Chadd 916]

And for every kid that shoots well with a junior stick I can show you one that doesn't. Sticks that don't bend create bad habits and kids thinking they need 120 flex sticks when they're 15 because they can feel the other sticks bend and it doesn't feel right. As for the construction, sure, they have more glass and less carbon than the juniors. Just like the juniors have more glass and less carbon than seniors, that's how they get the flex. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen an 8 year old that could hit 40 with a shot, let alone 50 or 60.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

it seems like all the kids around me think the higher the flex the better. My cousin just bought an intermediate total one and it's as tall as he is AFTER he cut a few inches off. He won't cut anymore off because he doesn't want it any stiffer . Needless to say, he can't shoot anymore