Top-of-the-line youth sticks?

[AIREAYE 248]

I accidentally broke my little brother's wood stick today and would like to get him a new youth OPS for Christmas. Now I know a youth stick wont make much of a difference in a 10 yr old's hands, but I want to get him something good.

So in terms of:

1. Flex (he's not really strong, a 40flex might be a bit too much)

2. Durability

and

3. nuances that would help improve his game (puck feel etc.)

Which is better at $60 in the X:60, One95, SE16 or the XXXX?

[Bucky25 0]

As you said the OPS won't do much for him at that age but if you do get him one it probably doesn't matter which b/c the difference to a 10 y.o. will be negligible.

I'd keep him in a wood stick for now or go with a shaft and wood blade combo.

[Composite Freak 0]

If you want a wow factor from him and the rest of your family, then that is all good.

But if you really want to help him improve as a player, then get him at the very most, a composite shaft and a wood blade.

Many of the local rep hockey coaches, some who are involved high in the hockey circles, are really trying to get their kids to use wood sticks or wood blades in composite shafts to help them improve the feel of the puck.

They can then go with a OPS later after they have a better feel for the puck.

I know that isn't what you are asking but I just wanted to throw that out there.

EDIT: Yeah, what Bucky said. They beat me to it.

[Chadd 916]

As you said the OPS won't do much for him at that age but if you do get him one it probably doesn't matter which b/c the difference to a 10 y.o. will be negligible.

I'd keep him in a wood stick for now or go with a shaft and wood blade combo.

A youth flex composite shaft will be far better for his long term development than a wood stick. The earlier you can get the right flex into the hands of a kid the better off you are. My preference would be for a wood blade, but only if it is going to be changed out once it gets soggy and waterlogged. If that isn't going to happen, he is better off with a composite blade.

But if you really want to help him improve as a player, then get him at the very most, a composite shaft and a wood blade.

Many of the local rep hockey coaches, some who are involved high in the hockey circles, are really trying to get their kids to use wood sticks or wood blades in composite shafts to help them improve the feel of the puck.

There is a significant benefit to a youth flex shaft over a wood stick. I'm a huge fan of the feel of a wood blade, but way too many parents will have a kid use the same blade for an entire season (or more) at the youth level. As often as not those sticks end up with an entire roll of tape holding them together because the wood is splitting and the blade is falling apart.

I've watched countless kids that couldn't shoot with junior wood sticks suddenly be able to shoot thanks to putting them in the right flex. Composite sticks aren't bad for kids across the board, there are benefits to having them

[tro 4]

Youth stick, so I am guessing he is 6-7.

He won't notice the difference in brands, performance.

Durability shouldn't be an issue for a kid using a yth stick, unless another kid falls on it.

Flex- I am pretty sure they all come in 40.

I was just buying my 6 yr old a new stick for x-mas, I wasn't going to move him to 1pc yet, but I cam across an Easton Elite Yth for dirt cheap, so why not, his stick handling and puck reception is getting really good and he will move to 1pc eventually.

But there are kids in his hockey that have 1pc, that have no control of the puck, it bounces of the blade to quickly for their skill level.

He has a couple of Calgary Flames players kids in his hockey, 2 use wood and one uses 1pc. So even the pro hockey dads can't decide.

[AIREAYE 248]

As you said the OPS won't do much for him at that age but if you do get him one it probably doesn't matter which b/c the difference to a 10 y.o. will be negligible.

I'd keep him in a wood stick for now or go with a shaft and wood blade combo.

A youth flex composite shaft will be far better for his long term development than a wood stick. The earlier you can get the right flex into the hands of a kid the better off you are. My preference would be for a wood blade, but only if it is going to be changed out once it gets soggy and waterlogged. If that isn't going to happen, he is better off with a composite blade.

But if you really want to help him improve as a player, then get him at the very most, a composite shaft and a wood blade.

Many of the local rep hockey coaches, some who are involved high in the hockey circles, are really trying to get their kids to use wood sticks or wood blades in composite shafts to help them improve the feel of the puck.

There is a significant benefit to a youth flex shaft over a wood stick. I'm a huge fan of the feel of a wood blade, but way too many parents will have a kid use the same blade for an entire season (or more) at the youth level. As often as not those sticks end up with an entire roll of tape holding them together because the wood is splitting and the blade is falling apart.

I've watched countless kids that couldn't shoot with junior wood sticks suddenly be able to shoot thanks to putting them in the right flex. Composite sticks aren't bad for kids across the board, there are benefits to having them

Thanks for the replies guys, and yes Im looking for that WOW factor. I agree with your wood blade comment CHadd, becasue my brother has a pretty powerful slapper at his age/strength and the wood blades all fall apart eventually for him. Also the flex comment makes sense as he's used wooden sticks until now and he cant really get the right shot with them. I think a good curve would also help.

In regards to curve patterns, I know it also wont make much of a difference, but is Heatley or Malkin better for puck control/feel?

So I assume all of the sticks mentioned all perform pretty much the same then?

Thanks again fellas

[Chadd 916]

In regards to curve patterns, I know it also wont make much of a difference, but is Heatley or Malkin better for puck control/feel?

So I assume all of the sticks mentioned all perform pretty much the same then?

Thanks again fellas

I'd be more concerned about the lie at that age than the type of curve.

[chrisg19 5]

My son uses the Mission Titanium Youth stick, and it has been really durable, and seems like a pretty good stick. It is pretty cheap at $35.00, but still carries the wow factor.

Titanium Youth Stick

[AIREAYE 248]

My son uses the Mission Titanium Youth stick, and it has been really durable, and seems like a pretty good stick. It is pretty cheap at $35.00, but still carries the wow factor.

Titanium Youth Stick

Ive heard a lot of good things about the Titanium, but it all depends what my LHS's and retailers have in stock

[chrisg19 5]

My son uses the Mission Titanium Youth stick, and it has been really durable, and seems like a pretty good stick. It is pretty cheap at $35.00, but still carries the wow factor.

Titanium Youth Stick

Ive heard a lot of good things about the Titanium, but it all depends what my LHS's and retailers have in stock

I included a link to Hockey Monkey, that has both left and right in stock. I always try to support the local guys, but I doubt you would find this stick locally anymore.