scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2010 I have been looking at the easton se6 as a first OPS. Anything else i should look at in the same price range? I just don't want to spend that money and then a couple weeks down the road find out there is something else out there that is 10x better for the same money.ETA: I will be playing on mostly wood floor and sport court. I am 5'10" 195lbs. Didn't know if it would matter or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TLR156 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2010 I'd consider the S11 instead. This has been my regular stick for over 6 months now. When the blade finally gives out it's still a nice shaft, & you can use a SE16 tapered blade and an end plug in it without changing the feel much. I recently bought a SE6 as a backup (same flex & pattern as my S11) & it feels like a 2 x 4 in comparison. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2010 Thanks for the input. So is the stealth line generally better than the synergy line? Unfortunately I don't have a LHS to go see these for myself, I am only going off online reviews.And now the trick is finding one in a right Sakic 85 flex :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreww 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Are you partial to only Easton brand sticks? Or would you consider trying a different brand? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Any brand. Right now im using an old school nike stick and a trilage stick as a backup. I have no preference to any certain brand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TLR156 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Thanks for the input. So is the stealth line generally better than the synergy line? Unfortunately I don't have a LHS to go see these for myself, I am only going off online reviews.And now the trick is finding one in a right Sakic 85 flex :)Not sure I'd say that the stealth line is better than the synergy line overall, but there is definitely a difference in feel. I suspect that it has to do with the s11's tapered shaft compared to the standard shaft on the se6.Pricing is close on them now because the s11's are on close out, but if you price the current replacement for the s11 (the s13) they're on average $20-40 more, so there's probably some difference in engineering there (hopefully it's more than just updated graphics). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Not sure I'd say that the stealth line is better than the synergy line overall, but there is definitely a difference in feel. I suspect that it has to do with the s11's tapered shaft compared to the standard shaft on the se6.Pricing is close on them now because the s11's are on close out, but if you price the current replacement for the s11 (the s13) they're on average $20-40 more, so there's probably some difference in engineering there (hopefully it's more than just updated graphics).Yeah, I like the price point on the s11 but I just can't seem to find the pattern/flex combination I need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TLR156 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Yeah, I like the price point on the s11 but I just can't seem to find the pattern/flex combination I need.The "grip" model (which I prefer, but many do not like at all) is available here for $99. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 Alright, thanks! Any other suggestions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sghockey21 1 Report post Posted February 24, 2010 How about the Vapor X20? I just bought one from vancouver when I visited..seems pretty ok to me. alittle blade heavy but lighter then most budget OPS. Haven't tried playing with it though :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreww 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 The Reebok 6k sickkick was by far my favorite OPS retail stick around $100 price point that ive ever played with. It was super light and well balanced for its price. Shot nice too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 Thank you everyone for the replies! Man, I wish I had an LHS to handle all these! West Tennessee is the WORST for anything hockey. Sheesh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goaliemanshark 6 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 Yeah as much as i like easton's the lower end bauers are pretty freaking nice! For their price of course... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tml67 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 If you're going to spend $100, why not buy a high end pro stock stick for a little more? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neo5370 132 Report post Posted March 10, 2010 IMHO when you consider price, performance, feel, weight why do people even bother w/ low end OPS when a wood stick will cost less, perform probably as well (ask al iafrate and jason spezza), be way lighter (5030's have gotta be lighter than mid to low end OPS's) and the feel is much better as well.Best part? Woods cost between 20-45 dollars.From personal experience the only advantage my easton sl, one95,10K have over my 5030's is how they shoot. And at my level (rec league/drop in) I am embarassed that I have $500 worth of sticks ande even they don't make me play that much better.EDIT: I guess the point of my rant is that I think lower end OPS are rip offs, made to look like the high end sticks to trick consumers into wanting/buying them. Obiously this is personal opinion, hope I don't offend anyone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpionhockey55 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Well I thought about going for a woodie, but I've always used a 2 piece composite, which I decided to stick with. I went for the harrow deal and got a 300gs shaft. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TLR156 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 ...I think lower end OPS are rip offs, made to look like the high end sticks to trick consumers into wanting/buying them...To some degree, yes.Why do you think that Sher-wood painted Al MacInnis's wood sticks to look like their top of the line composite sticks at the end of his career? To sell more expensive sticks.Having never paid more than $120 for a stick, and used several OPS's that were quite a bit cheaper, I'd say most sticks that are regularly priced below $100 are no better than a $30-$50 wood stick, except you might be able to fit the shaft with a replacement blade if it breaks in the right spot. If you consider the additional cost of a replacement blade, & the performance / weight characteristics of them, I'd say you'd have been better off buying two $50 (the most expensive I've seen) wood sticks than most $100 composites.Having said all of that, I'm liking my $100 SE6 more as I get used it, though not nearly as much as my $100 (on close-out, regular $120-$130) S11.Once I am unable to find any more S11's on close-out, I may go back to using wood, rather than spending $100 on SE6's, or $130-$140 on S13's (the current replacement for the S11). A stick tends to only last me about 3 months, so I could certainly save some money over the course of the year by switching to good ole wood. If I lose a couple mph on my slapper, so be it, it's drop-in & rec league inline hockey.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neo5370 132 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 As a caveat to my rant/plug for old school sticks, I do believe for those who want to be in the 100-150 (as that seems to be the range for 2nd-3rd tier sticks) range, a shaft and blade combo is a great compromise! Esp. for rec/drop in guys like us. You break one, save the other. You can experiment/swap curves, even adjust the length....really good for someone who doesn't know what they like, hasn't found what they like, or just has commitment issues :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
