Tapered Blades

[mack 44]

That's exactly what I meant. Switching to a bigger/more open curve to raise a puck is the most common practise I see and I just don't get it. I get their reasoning but I don't see why they just don't practise and get the technique down.

[Jarick 5]

I like the bigger curve because I can shoot from any part (heel, mid, toe) without thinking. Trying to adjust to a flatter one though.

I rarely see any guys using 2-piece sticks. Most of the guys on my team use cheap crap one piece sticks that cost $50-60 new.

I'm certainly not going to whoore these guys out, but the Harrow/Christian blades run $40 new (or half that with the discount codes they always have). One of mine lasted six months while the other broke on the first shot. New one seems like it's a lot better built. Worth a shot if the 50% off is working that day.

[epstud74 24]

That's exactly what I meant. Switching to a bigger/more open curve to raise a puck is the most common practise I see and I just don't get it. I get their reasoning but I don't see why they just don't practise and get the technique down.

I'm too lazy to adjust Mack. I do know one thing. I struggle with really closed curves (Smyth) but can hit the Sakic/P92/Afinogenov/Draper/P14 easily. I can hit the Malkin as well. I guess my whole point is that I'm trying to open myself to different curves and use the slap shot and back hands more.

[ambro 0]

That's exactly what I meant. Switching to a bigger/more open curve to raise a puck is the most common practise I see and I just don't get it. I get their reasoning but I don't see why they just don't practise and get the technique down.

Not wanting to speak for anyone else here, but I would say the logic behind it is that it's easier to keep a puck low with a bigger curve than it is to raise a puck with a smaller one. That would be why I would go to a bigger curve, at least. I don't use a big curve (Modano or clone), but that would be a reason for me to switch if I wanted to.

[Orange&Black 1]

I jsut use ebay to buy tapered blades and shafts. As somebody else mentioned most people dont even know what tapered blades mean and give you a blank stare when you mention it...

I've had this happen to me several times. You would think my head just fell off and rolled across their counter the way they look at you. One guy got an attitude and told me they didn't exist. So, I asked him to pull out a catalog & kindly pointed them out to him...

...but the Harrow/Christian blades run $40 new (or half that with the discount codes they always have).

This is my answer to the above problem now. I'm very happy with the quality of Harrow blades so far & you cannot beat the 50% off codes.

[TBLfan 25]

The durability seems kind of suspect on the Harrow blades, the feel is fantastic though.

[kovalchuk71 212]

The durability seems kind of suspect on the Harrow blades, the feel is fantastic though.

I wouldnt worry about the durability as the blades come with a 30 day warranty...

[TBLfan 25]

I wouldnt worry about the durability as the blades come with a 30 day warranty...

That doesn't make them any more durable.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Very true, but at least the worry about blowing your money isnt there

[shotty 7]

i walked into a hockey store. i was browsing sticks, then went to check the blades & shafts. i asked why they had all the top line sticks but hardly any shafts and blades, the employee just said "no one uses 2-pieces!"

same. how ignorant.

[Griff 2]

I stock tapered composite blades and wood standard blades, really over the last 3 years we've sold around 40 or so blades per year mostly to people wanting to put them into cut down ops. I haven't even ordered shafts in 2 years because I still have a selection left over. A high end shaft and blade combo will cost roughly what the ops will and most customers just buy the ops, same with blades, $60 for a blade or $60 for a whole stick. If a shop isn't stocking something there's probably a reason. Here it's just that they don't sell very well.

[Chadd 916]

I stock tapered composite blades and wood standard blades, really over the last 3 years we've sold around 40 or so blades per year mostly to people wanting to put them into cut down ops. I haven't even ordered shafts in 2 years because I still have a selection left over. A high end shaft and blade combo will cost roughly what the ops will and most customers just buy the ops, same with blades, $60 for a blade or $60 for a whole stick. If a shop isn't stocking something there's probably a reason. Here it's just that they don't sell very well.

I was lucky in that I was able to get a lot of people to convert to tapered. It was a lot easier when manufacturers were essentially just using the same shaft and blade and while the initial purchase cost a bit more, they would save money over time. Now that so many are using the one piece shaft construction, it's a harder sell.

[TBLfan 25]

Very true, but at least the worry about blowing your money isnt there

Well for $20, it's still a fantastic blade... but you might want to buy in bulk if you really like them.

[epstud74 24]

I paid $85 for my One95 shaft and another $45 for my One95 blade set up.. Not a bad deal IMO

I think dealers and manufacturers are pushing the one piece stick for a reason

[Chadd 916]

Well for $20, it's still a fantastic blade... but you might want to buy in bulk if you really like them.

That's disappointing to hear, they used to be pretty solid when they had the other name on them.

[epstud74 24]

I stock tapered composite blades and wood standard blades, really over the last 3 years we've sold around 40 or so blades per year mostly to people wanting to put them into cut down ops. I haven't even ordered shafts in 2 years because I still have a selection left over. A high end shaft and blade combo will cost roughly what the ops will and most customers just buy the ops, same with blades, $60 for a blade or $60 for a whole stick. If a shop isn't stocking something there's probably a reason. Here it's just that they don't sell very well.

Where in Nebraska is your shop? I'm in Omaha quite often

[TBLfan 25]

That's disappointing to hear, they used to be pretty solid when they had the other name on them.

Well to be clear, it's really more of a chipping/going soft issue, not a breaking issue... yet. BUT a blade typically doesn't chip like these have, they're reminiscent of the old Fury blades, fantastic feel but they chip way too easily.

[Chadd 916]

Well to be clear, it's really more of a chipping/going soft issue, not a breaking issue... yet. BUT a blade typically doesn't chip like these have, they're reminiscent of the old Fury blades, fantastic feel but they chip way too easily.

Even the old ones looked like hell pretty quickly, but they held up pretty well.

[Jarick 5]

I'll ask how my friends harrow is holding up after three months...to be honest tbl that's the first I've heard of any harrow blade durability problems. Was it just one blade that went soft on you? Was it the newer glossy ones or the older matte finish? How long did it last?

[scorer75 9]

Anybody have a coupon code for Harrows? I'd like to try their blades out.

[Jarick 5]

Try ELITE TEAM

[hamstercaster 2]

or HKYRINK. It still works as of today. Gets you 50% off

[TBLfan 25]

I'll ask how my friends harrow is holding up after three months...to be honest tbl that's the first I've heard of any harrow blade durability problems. Was it just one blade that went soft on you? Was it the newer glossy ones or the older matte finish? How long did it last?

Glossy. It's not mine, it's a friend's stick. I've used his stick and the blades felt noticeably softer 3 games after and the toe is completely eat up. To give you an idea, my friend has used the koho 4490 tapered blade for the past year... ONE Koho 4490 tapered blade over the past year before it looked like this, his previous two Koho 4490s also lasted about a year a piece.

It hasn't broken yet, that's why I said "suspect" and didn't outright claim durability issues. It's still in the air whether the blade can survive with the 1/3" of the toe that is gone. We're going to epoxy it and hope for the best but it doesn't very look good... but if Chadd is correct, it may surprise. Either way, I'll try to update in the coming week(s).

[Jarick 5]

Good to know. I'll keep my eye out for mine and my friends.

The glossy Harrows should be the newest ones...I know they had some matte finish ones before. The Christian Torch, which I have no idea if it's the same or completely different, that had tremendous puck feel and looked and felt brand new until the tenon snapped after six months.

[Chadd 916]

Good to know. I'll keep my eye out for mine and my friends.

The glossy Harrows should be the newest ones...I know they had some matte finish ones before. The Christian Torch, which I have no idea if it's the same or completely different, that had tremendous puck feel and looked and felt brand new until the tenon snapped after six months.

Those old Christian matte finish blades were fantastic. Right up with the old Inno blades for me in terms of great feel from a composite blade.