When to move a kid to a higher flex stick

[oldman 1]

Guys,

My son is currently playing with an EQ50 65 flex (Iginla pattern) with about an inch cut off the end. He is a big kid for a 12 year old at 5'7" and 140lbs and plays defense. He has a hard time keeping his shots low with either a slapper or a wrister, which I know is more technique than stick but last night at practice he commented that he can really feel the stick flex even when passing. Before anyone asks he does have a very hard though not very accurate shot.

I know the easy answer is to start experimenting with either a 75 flex intermediate or a 75/77 flex senior but those things cost money and would like some suggestions from anyone out there who has gone through this before I beat up my visa even more and asking a 12 year old if he would like to try a new stick the answer would be yes every day of the week whether he needed it or not.

Thanks.

[forbs02 20]

How old is the stick? They do get more whip as they age. Looking at his size I would say he should stay in a 65 flex, but maybe he needs a new stick. If you do decide to move him to a 77, see if he can't use a buddy's stick in that flex to shoot around with. That we he will know if he should move up or stay in a 65.

[oldman 1]

How old is the stick? They do get more whip as they age. Looking at his size I would say he should stay in a 65 flex, but maybe he needs a new stick. If you do decide to move him to a 77, see if he can't use a buddy's stick in that flex to shoot around with. That we he will know if he should move up or stay in a 65.

His current stick is only a month old.

[Chadd 916]

Watch the pros, most of their sticks flex on passes as well as shots. If you go to a 75, assuming it's a senior, you're also going to have to cut another 6" off the stick, making it 100+ flex. It will tend to keep the shots down and not flex, but it's also going to reinforce poor shooting form as he will have to put absolutely everything into his shot to get it to flex at all. Improving his form would make the biggest difference overall.

[oldman 1]

Watch the pros, most of their sticks flex on passes as well as shots. If you go to a 75, assuming it's a senior, you're also going to have to cut another 6" off the stick, making it 100+ flex. It will tend to keep the shots down and not flex, but it's also going to reinforce poor shooting form as he will have to put absolutely everything into his shot to get it to flex at all. Improving his form would make the biggest difference overall.

No i was mainly thinking of moving to a 75 flex intermediate which we wouldn't have to cut much or at all. I don't think Easton offers a 75 flex intermediate but i know Bauer does.

[innotastic 12]

easton's two piece se16/eq50 option offers a 70 flex "senior" which a lot of people consider an intermediate. me personally its the whippiest senior stick i've ever used.

best to borrow a buddy's stick in the flex range you're looking at, doesn't have to be the right curve or length, but he'll get a feel of what moving up a step would do and some idea if he'll like it or not.

[BenderHockey 127]

No i was mainly thinking of moving to a 75 flex intermediate which we wouldn't have to cut much or at all. I don't think Easton offers a 75 flex intermediate but i know Bauer does.

Sounds like you've already made your mind up. Again, as with anything, it's not the hammer, it's the carpenter.

[Jordan 13]

Correct..well, unless it's a crappy hammer or the wrong hammer for the job.

I agree completely with trying out a teammates stick. Failing that, if you did buy him one to try there are only two outcomes...

1) It works for him, and all is well

or

2) it doesn't work for, and he uses it in the future

My son's team minor peewee team has two kids with big shots (they are also big kids...near your son's size) who currently use intermediate sticks with great success. Judging by your son's size, I don't think it would be very long before he would need an intermediate stick just for durability.

[BenderHockey 127]

Correct..well, unless it's a crappy hammer or the wrong hammer for the job.

Judging by your son's size, I don't think it would be very long before he would need an intermediate stick just for durability.

That's a myth. Junior sticks have no more or less durability. There are adults on this board that use junior flex sticks.

[Jordan 13]

Myth or not...lighter flex sticks break easier than stiffer flex sticks..Less material = weaker stick.

The shafts on intermediate sticks are bigger. A bigger box is stronger than a smaller box.

The intermediate sticks have bigger and thicker blades...definitely stronger than junior sticks.

For a good comparison, look at the Warrior Widow. It comes in both junior and intermediate in a 55 flex. There is no comparison as to which stick is stronger.

Cheers.

[Chadd 916]

Actually a bigger box isn't stronger. If they are identical in construction, the smaller box will actually be stronger. Lighter flexes will actually deflect considerably more than a stiffer flex without breaking as well. The problem comes when people have no feel for a stick and just bury it into the ice no matter what. No stick can perform well and compensate for that kind of shooter.

[Scotty 8]

Myth or not...lighter flex sticks break easier than stiffer flex sticks..Less material = weaker stick.

The shafts on intermediate sticks are bigger. A bigger box is stronger than smaller box.

The intermediate sticks have bigger and thicker blades...definitely stronger than junior sticks.

For a good comparison, look at the Warrior Widow. It comes in both junior and intermediate in a 55 flex. There is no comparison as to which stick is stronger.

Cheers.

Please learn what you're talking about before you attempt to teach others.

Sticks with a lower flex do not necessarily use less materials. It is often the orientation of the materials that determines the flex.

A "larger box" is not stronger than a "smaller box".

A stick with a lower flex is able to absorb impacts and force better at times due to its ability to deflect more than a stiffer stick.

As for the original poster: I would recommend he stay with his current stick and learn to change his technique. Changing equipment to correct a problem with the way he shoots is not the answer. He should be feeling the stick flexing during shots and passes. Yes, he's only 12, but he's also only 5'7" and 140 lbs. The approximate 65-70 flex he's using at the moment should be quite appropriate. Doing things such as making sure his follow through is correct, learning to roll his wrists over after he contacts the puck, and growing accustomed to using the flex of the stick to his advantage will do wonders for his accuracy as opposed to changing to a stiffer stick.

[Chadd 916]

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