Wood Stick Flex - Bauer 1600 Mid Flex

[lkool 1]

I am getting back into competitive hockey this year and I am attempting to learn all I can about sticks.

About two years ago I bought a Bauer 1600 wood stick at the local shop. It cost about 20 bucks and has been fine for pond hockey.

It doesn't have a specific flex rating just say "mid flex" how does that compare to a typical rating chart?

I have been told that mid flex is typically around 75 flex. Any thoughts?

[Rustpot 1]

Companies that use "mid flex" on their composites are generally around 75, but wood does not correlate to composite flex charts. It's a natural material that changes properties from humidity, wears fast, and is inconsistent from stick to stick. These are some of the main reasons composite sticks have become so popular, they're consistent and measurable so the player knows what they're getting to a much better degree than with wood.

Not only that, but wood will behave differently and requires a slightly different shot mechanic than a composite stick. Going from a mid-flex wood stick to a 75 flex shaft would not feel comparable at all. Wood sticks don't add a whole lot of pop to the shot, especially after they're broken in, so a low flex wood stick has none of the same advantages that a low flex composite has.

I always thought the trend was to go as stiff as possible with wood so that as the stick breaks in you're still getting rigidity between the hands to allow the stick to deflect a small amount. This keeps the stick "feeling fresh" longer, but causes breakdown in the necked portion where the blade is joined since that is where the bulk of the stress will show up.

Going softer with a wood stick would allow the fibers to flex and break down, giving you a noodle that won't transfer or pop from a shot in a shorter amount of time. The stick would last a lot longer, though, since the stresses are more evenly distributed and then absorbed through the shaft that is just bending rather than loading and releasing.