Stick advice for a short guy

[JSand 1]

Hello all. My first post here. Let me first say what a great forum this is and how much I have learned from everyone's thoughts. I have read nearly every thread on here about stick length, flex, etc. but am still confused somewhat. I am 40 years old, 5'4" and 135 pounds. I am beginning hockey again after a 20+year layoff - starting off with mostly drills and scrimmaging before jumping into a league. Based on my size it would seem that an intermediate sized stick could work because the thickness of an intermediate works well with my hand size and after cutting 3-4" off of it I would be at a flex of about 78-80. My concern here is that it may be a bit much. Having said that, someone suggested trying a junior size as well. Yes, the flex starts at 50 or 52 but I would still cut off about 1-2" and that flex would come up to close to 60. I'm not concerned about the fact that as an adult I might have a junior stick but I am a bit concerned about there being "too much" flex. Ultimately, I am looking to wind up with a flex somewhere in the high 60 to mid 70 range but I am having difficulty getting there and was hoping for some suggestions/advice to point me in the right direction before going out to experiment a bit more. Thanks much for everyone's thoughts.

Jeff

[AdamCV 0]

I would think an intermediate stick would be good for you. Depending on how long you like your stick to be. By the time you put on yourskates and get the stick to your desired length maybe around the chin, I would not think that you would need to cut 3 or 4" off of the end to get it to that length. Just my opinion

[beerleaguecaptain 1001]

Finding which stick and which flex you really like can take some time - in fact, I think your flex is less important than the lie you select. My reccomendation is that whatever you do, buy cheap. Don't plunk down 200 bucks for a high end OPS so this way you dont mind as much trying something elese out. That being said I think you'd be better off in an intermediate with the stiffer flex. At age 40 you'll be too strong for the junior stick.

[stick9 904]

At age 40 you'll be too strong for the junior stick.

I'm gonna guess probably not seeing how he's 5' 4" 135 pounds.

I wouldn't go to a junior stick, but I would most certain suggest looking at INT stick. I'm 5' 9" 160 pounds and I find after cutting Sr sicks down most 85 flex sticks are a bit too stiff, and 75's are just ok. I like a real whippy stick though.

I'd try both a Sr and an INT before going to a Jr. Get one of each and switch between the two and see what works best. There are plenty of good deals out there if you don't mind using last years stuff.

[VakarLajos 5]

5'6," 170. I was using intermediate sticks (65 flex), but i gained some muscle and they're becoming a bit whippy. Next shot is going to be 77 flex for me.

[syko_hockey 0]

5'2 105 I just stick with uncut juniors

[Chadd 916]

I would pick up a 65 flex intermediate and give that a shot. Another option would be a 60 flex intermediate from Harrow.

[forbs02 20]

We are the same size, only I'm a girl. I use a 65 flex stick and I usually cut off a couple of inches. It works out very well for me. A junior stick would be way too whippy for me.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

i posted this in another thread...but i feel it fits better here..our problems seem kinda similar:

my dilemma- i am best with a stick around 75 flex...but any senior length stick is going to have to be cut down quite a bit for me (im 5'6") so it would lose quite a bit of flex. an intermediate stick would be the right length...but would be too whippy...am i just out of luck? or is there an alternative here?

[tt350z 0]

How much are you willing to spend?

You can get X60's or One95's in INT length and 60 flex through My Bauer on their website.

I'm 5' 6'' 135 butt nekkid. My int sticks are cut down 3 inches, which puts it at about 77. I can load it pretty good on slapshots if I dig into it, but I'm only 23.

i posted this in another thread...but i feel it fits better here..our problems seem kinda similar:

my dilemma- i am best with a stick around 75 flex...but any senior length stick is going to have to be cut down quite a bit for me (im 5'6") so it would lose quite a bit of flex. an intermediate stick would be the right length...but would be too whippy...am i just out of luck? or is there an alternative here?

Same goes for you, if you're willing to spend X60 and/or One95 $$$ you can get int length sticks in 75 flex.

[Dolom1te 0]

I know that warrior makes intermediates with 55 flex, and others make 65 as well. I think that would be best for you.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

I'm 5'9'' 220ish and I use a junior stick 50 flex and a 65 flex RBK 9k and a 70ish Montreal Shaft. I like to cut my sticks pretty short. The shafts are 48in.

Your best bet is to try to hunt down a Light Flex (65 flex) RBK stick, an Easton UltraLight 60 flex shaft, and go from there.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

5'4", 130lbs using senior shafts, 75 flex with great success (prefer dolomites). i cut those maybe 6 inches. it's stiff ish, but on slappers i dont notice it, it shoots smoothly.

recently played around with an AK27 shaft, int, 70 flex. cut maybe two inches. felt pretty good. a little softer than my cut 75s, but not significantly. barely notice a difference between it and the cut down senior 75s im using, with the exception of a kickpoint in a different location, i dont feel like the 75s make me work any harder.

i tinkered with a junior stick for laughs, blade torques way to much for my liking.

[JSand 1]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I think I am going to start off with an intermediate. One thing I noticed and thought was rather strange was that if you cut equivalent amounts off of a Bauer intermediate and an Easton intermediate the flex on a Bauer changes more than on an Easton...at least according to the indicators on their sticks. (i.e. cut a Bauer 67 flex about 2" and it becomes 74 flex and cut an Easton 65 flex and it becomes 66 flex).

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I think I am going to start off with an intermediate. One thing I noticed and thought was rather strange was that if you cut equivalent amounts off of a Bauer intermediate and an Easton intermediate the flex on a Bauer changes more than on an Easton...at least according to the indicators on their sticks. (i.e. cut a Bauer 67 flex about 2" and it becomes 74 flex and cut an Easton 65 flex and it becomes 66 flex).

I'll tell you first hand that it's bullshit. my one 95 senior shaft was cut from a 75 down below a "100". no way in hell is it as stiff as full length 100 where you can get good leverage.

I think you'll be ok with an intermediate and cutting it down.

[Chadd 916]

It would be nice to get some demo sticks from the manufacturers and put them on one of these. Then cut an inch or two and do it again, and again and again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txp7oRjoUpU

[tt350z 0]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I think I am going to start off with an intermediate. One thing I noticed and thought was rather strange was that if you cut equivalent amounts off of a Bauer intermediate and an Easton intermediate the flex on a Bauer changes more than on an Easton...at least according to the indicators on their sticks. (i.e. cut a Bauer 67 flex about 2" and it becomes 74 flex and cut an Easton 65 flex and it becomes 66 flex).

You have to remember that the easton's flex rating only applies after cutting 2'' (i think) off.

Easton's are actually whippier than the listed flex at stock length.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I think I am going to start off with an intermediate. One thing I noticed and thought was rather strange was that if you cut equivalent amounts off of a Bauer intermediate and an Easton intermediate the flex on a Bauer changes more than on an Easton...at least according to the indicators on their sticks. (i.e. cut a Bauer 67 flex about 2" and it becomes 74 flex and cut an Easton 65 flex and it becomes 66 flex).

You have to remember that the easton's flex rating only applies after cutting 2'' (i think) off.

Easton's are actually whippier than the listed flex at stock length.

that's true but he is talking about the rate of change, not the amount of change in flex.

[JSand 1]

Yeah, the rate of change in flex was what surprised me.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

Yeah, the rate of change in flex was what surprised me.

i just wish you could calculate the exact rate of change for companies like warrior or reebok..im having trouble deciding what flex i should go after next.

[shotty 7]

At age 40 you'll be too strong for the junior stick.

I'm gonna guess probably not seeing how he's 5' 4" 135 pounds.

at that age, height and weight have little to do with overall strength. body and muscle control/development along with ability to adapt and execute far outweighs physical stature. and for those reasons, a junior stick wouldn't be able to offer the kind of performance he is capable of, 20 year lay off or not.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I think I am going to start off with an intermediate. One thing I noticed and thought was rather strange was that if you cut equivalent amounts off of a Bauer intermediate and an Easton intermediate the flex on a Bauer changes more than on an Easton...at least according to the indicators on their sticks. (i.e. cut a Bauer 67 flex about 2" and it becomes 74 flex and cut an Easton 65 flex and it becomes 66 flex).

You have to remember that the easton's flex rating only applies after cutting 2'' (i think) off.

Easton's are actually whippier than the listed flex at stock length.

that's true but he is talking about the rate of change, not the amount of change in flex.

as a guy who cuts a shit load off their sticks... it aint remotely right.

It'd be nice for some data, too... like chadd mentioned.

[Chadd 916]

It'd be nice for some data, too... like chadd mentioned.

I also need to get Joe to modify one to measure them my way. With a tapered shaft, the amount it flexes in the middle is irrelevant. It's much more important to know how much force it takes to load a stick one, two, three (or whatever number you pick) inches at the bottom of the shaft or blade.

[burrn 0]

Regarding the rate of change in flex, many things would be involved: the shape of the cross section, the amount of taper...etc. And if there's　some kind of structural transition along the shaft, that's going to change it too (O-tech, elliptical taper, focusflex...blahblah).

If the rate of change was the same, it basically means that the two are the exact same stick (mechanical performance-wise).

Although, whether the rate of change has any practical meaning, as Chadd has pointed out, is another issue.

[stick9 904]

At age 40 you'll be too strong for the junior stick.

I'm gonna guess probably not seeing how he's 5' 4" 135 pounds.

at that age, height and weight have little to do with overall strength. body and muscle control/development along with ability to adapt and execute far outweighs physical stature. and for those reasons, a junior stick wouldn't be able to offer the kind of performance he is capable of, 20 year lay off or not.

I agree, but to a certain extent. At some point in the equation you're dealing with a person 5' 4" 135lbs. Fully developed muscles, adult, adolescent, male or female, it's still a 135 pound person leaning in trying to load the stick.

FWIW, I wouldn't suggest a Jr stick either.