serious easton blade problem. most durable sticks?

[gate_hack 0]

I've been having some problems lately with my easton sticks. got a brand new st grip, used it for one practice, and when I went to re-tape it next time I noticed a big horizontal crack in the center of the blade. it was concentrated right where the puck makes contact with the blade.

next, i used a brand new s13 (i know it's crappier quality)...and bam. same thing happened. horizontal crack after 1 hour of skating.

Got another new stick, an se16 grip, and used it for about 15 minutes before the blade snapped in half.

granted, i was taking a lot of slappers/one timers at practice, but come on....3 sticks broken in the span of about 2 hours??

I'm 6'2 190 so I can put some decent speed behind the puck, but i don't feel like this should be happening. is there a brand you guys think might be best suited to help me out? I'm using a 100 flex.

[sickwilly 37]

So far, I've had the most luck with high end Bauer blades.

[Chadd 916]

That many sticks in that short a time implies a problem with your shooting form. One timers are the best way to destroy sticks, even with a very pure motion.

[Vet88 674]

I have to agree with Chadd. Have you ever seen how they test the sticks, a robot hits a zillion slap shots with them and if they break within a certain time frame they scrap the whole batch. If you are chewing thru them that fast then I'd ask your coach to have a look at your form and see if they can make any suggestions.

[gate_hack 0]

hmm...it's tough, i'm in college now playing club so i don't play as much as i did in high school. i have by far the hardest shot on my team, but never thought the problem might be because i have improper form. it makes sense though, although i didn't break nearly as many sticks until the beginning of this season.

[interpathway 9]

Easton's blade quality turned me off their sticks seven years ago. While the composite constructions were always nice, they never lived longer than a month, and I was playing at 130 lbs. back then.

Look to try out a BAUER blade, they've been rock solid and reliable for me since the X60s. Their Supreme series has been well received for durability as well; take your money where it deserves to be.

[the_sock 1]

I've seen many different people use different manufactures sticks. Various sizes, power, height, skills, etc. One thing I've notice is that no stick is better than another. No one can recommend you a stick that will last longer than another. Drop this subject, it's getting annoying. Sorry to sound like a jerk, but it's something that cannot be solved on an online forum.

[HockeySavants 5]

Just wondering, are you making too much contact with the ice when you shoot? Sounds like you're burying the stick into the ice with your shots.

[jimmy 194]

I've seen many different people use different manufactures sticks. Various sizes, power, height, skills, etc. One thing I've notice is that no stick is better than another. No one can recommend you a stick that will last longer than another. Drop this subject, it's getting annoying. Sorry to sound like a jerk, but it's something that cannot be solved on an online forum.

I have to agree with you, there are so many variables and it certainly can't be solved on a forum. All sticks break. However as someone who repairs broken sticks, I get about 20 a week, so through out a year I get to see a real good sampling of which model sticks break where and how. Some brands are crappier than others. Some break ALL the time in the hosel area, others in the blade area. Seeing defective design or a manufacturing issue on a stick is pretty obvious. Also, you guys demand lighter sticks, what do you expect? Combine a light stick with no so perfect technique and you get a break. Combine a light stick with prefect technique (NHL level), you often still get a broken stick.

[gate_hack 0]

Just wondering, are you making too much contact with the ice when you shoot? Sounds like you're burying the stick into the ice with your shots.

i don't think so. the cracks aren't forming on the bottom of the blade or anything like that. they are horizontal right in the center of the blade (right where the puck makes contact)

[Chadd 916]

i don't think so. the cracks aren't forming on the bottom of the blade or anything like that. they are horizontal right in the center of the blade (right where the puck makes contact)

Generally the face is somewhat closed at impact and facing the ice. The impact is to the leading edge of the bottom of the blade, not directly to the bottom. The top edge of the puck impacts roughly the middle of the blade but the downward force causes the blade to begin to stretch between the top of the puck and the ice. That causes a horizontal crack in the middle of the blade. I've been there and done that more times than I can count. I take less ice on my slappers now and my blades last significantly longer.

[tracR 0]

All the same curve and lie? Try something different

[gate_hack 0]

Generally the face is somewhat closed at impact and facing the ice. The impact is to the leading edge of the bottom of the blade, not directly to the bottom. The top edge of the puck impacts roughly the middle of the blade but the downward force causes the blade to begin to stretch between the top of the puck and the ice. That causes a horizontal crack in the middle of the blade. I've been there and done that more times than I can count. I take less ice on my slappers now and my blades last significantly longer.

that makes sense. i'll give that a try and see if i can get some more life out of my sticks. thanks for the help.

[Chadd 916]

No problem. I went to a lighter flex and take less ice but get nearly the same velocity. I'll gladly take the faster release and more velocity on my half-windup shots in exchange for losing a little bit when I really bear down and put everything into a slapper from the point.