Junior vs Youth stick dilema

[dc00 0]

Received the Miken stick with 35 flex. But it's definitely much stiffer than that. I would say around 50. I'm very disappointed.

[ahbroody 1]

Told yah. The 30 is every bit as stiff as the Easton and Bauer 40 possibly a touch stiffer.

The concept is great the implementation did not happen.

The other day totalhockey posted a video on their youtube channel where it hypes the accuflex technology. Miken may end up really giving themselves some damage.

Have a Graf youth stick coming in today will post pictures on that one also.

[goblue9280 33]

Well, that's disappointing. I was hoping the two shorter sticks would offer the flex/size of a youth stick, but with better durability. Sounds like they are all pretty much different sized junior sticks.

[dc00 0]

Yes. A shorter junior stick, yes. ACCU-flex, NOT.

[jimmy 194]

Youth sticks, regardles of manufacturer are nothing like juniors or senoir in regards to construction. Waste of money to buy a youth composite (fibreglass only) stick. What for the paint job?

[AIREAYE 248]

Youth sticks, regardles of manufacturer are nothing like juniors or senoir in regards to construction. Waste of money to buy a youth composite (fibreglass only) stick. What for the paint job?

Almost always! I tell people this all the time, they're buying a paint job, doesn't matter to them though; "No wood for MY kid!".

Sweet, we'll take your money, at least you know.

[tro 4]

Im in the same boat, he's just turning 9, been using yth sticks from the start, small hands, he currently has a RS, which does seem better made than the One95 or S19 he previously had. However, he still seems to be having trouble getting the wrister up over a couple feet. The lie is right, his form is just as good as anyone else on the ice, brings it through just as hard, but no pop. The only thing I can think of is that almost all of the other kids, especially the ones hitting shelf are using JR sticks.

So today I bought him a Nexon12(great JR $), but once it is cut down, the flex is going to jump high. So is the higher flex going to take away from the better made quality of the JR stick.

(He's also mad that I want to take away the black beauty and give him a Sherwood, which for some reason is bad, punk kids)

[talkintothemike 4]

Almost always! I tell people this all the time, they're buying a paint job, doesn't matter to them though; "No wood for MY kid!".

Sweet, we'll take your money, at least you know.

Well, not just the paint job. My daughter was 4 years old when she started and I bought her a straight wood stick. For her, the problem was the weight of the stick when she was shooting, stickhandling, or "poke checking". It was great for keeping her stick on the ice, but not so much for the other stuff. I borrowed a one-piece for her to try, and what a difference. I had to have my wife buy a new stick because I refused to be seen buying a 4 year old a one piece stick. I can't believe that I am saying this, but there can be a benefit other than the paint.

[dc00 0]

How long has he been playing? It doesn't sound like a stick problem. Have him shoot 30-50 pucks everyday for a week. And get some instructions if possible.

Im in the same boat, he's just turning 9, been using yth sticks from the start, small hands, he currently has a RS, which does seem better made than the One95 or S19 he previously had. However, he still seems to be having trouble getting the wrister up over a couple feet. The lie is right, his form is just as good as anyone else on the ice, brings it through just as hard, but no pop. The only thing I can think of is that almost all of the other kids, especially the ones hitting shelf are using JR sticks.

So today I bought him a Nexon12(great JR $), but once it is cut down, the flex is going to jump high. So is the higher flex going to take away from the better made quality of the JR stick.

(He's also mad that I want to take away the black beauty and give him a Sherwood, which for some reason is bad, punk kids)

[ahbroody 1]

tro its not the stick. I can go to practice tonight with my kid and film tons of kids with youth sticks ripping it top shelf. 7 8 year olds.

As to the comments above about painted fiberglass. The S19, RS, Miken(not really a youth stick) and grafs new youth G75 all have kevlar wrapped blades. As a side when you have kids you often establish goals or chores. When these things are met you reward them. When they want the stick you buy it. No one in this thread labored under the belief the youth sticks were as good. We are trying to find decent quality youth sticks which can take some abuse.

Will post a pic of the graf in the next few days to show blade and build quality.

[ahbroody 1]

Figured I would post a couple pics I took today.

The Easton RS is a nice youth stick and out of all the youth sticks I think the lightest.

You can see the joint in this pic and the kevlar wrap which extends pretty far up.

The other stick in the pic is the graf G75 which seems very similar in weight and buikd to the miken accuflex.

The boy is not a fan od the Graf said it was really stif and didnt like the curve. That said I think the Miken and Graf G75 would be a good stick for a second year mite with some size. Much more durable then a standard youth stick.

One more of Easton RS.

For me I think the best youth composite is the Easton RS. While the shaft is a little thicker then the ccm/reebok it is light weight and will last longer. For most kids I think a season. Given its near the same price it seems the best.

[tro 4]

Follow up, my little guy used the JR Nexon for a tourney this weekend, 2 goals top corner on wrist shots, he has never gone higher than mid net on a wrist shot with his RS YTH. Maybe curve or lie fits better, but he has never shot like that with a YTH.

I think the YTH was great for 5,6,7, but 8 and older seems like the right time for JR.

Ahbroody- no question the RS was the best YTH he ever used (vs ONE95, S19, Dolomite)

[jdksaves 56]

Just wanted to chime in on the Accuflex sticks for stiffness. I was concerned that some of you were saying that they felt stiffer, so I took a few out of inventory and I assure you on our 3 point bend test they are under 0.5 pounds of what is stated on the stick. With that being said we do our flexes as true numbers, where we have seen a lot of different companies that either go up or down on there advertised flexes. Once again they are very true to the #'s that are labeled on the stick. Thanks for the feedback and I will take this into consideration for future possible products

[ahbroody 1]

jdksaves.

Tonight I went into the garage and figured I would shoot with the three sticks (s19,miken,g75). I tried to shoot the same with all three. I have to admit the puck shot noticeably harder off the miken. I don't know why, the flex feels as stiff as he S19 but shots came off clearly harder. I am thinking the size off the sticks is affecting my and dc00 ability to guage the flex? I don't know. All I know is the miken had a lot more pop then the others. Tomorrow I will have the boy shoot with S19 and miken.

Is there any way to shrink the shaft a little?

dc00 has your son shot with the stick?

[dc00 0]

I didn't notice any difference in my son's shots. Miken is definitely stiffer than his old S19 which was cut down from the original flex of 42(?). Before I bought it, I was expecting a more flexible stick so that he can learn to use the flex. Other than that, I have no complaints.

[jdksaves 56]

Thanks for the response and as I said with the flex ours are true and not toatlly sure yet on the eastons.As for the overall performance most of the feedback that I have recieved is a boost in shot velocity and that comes from the flex of the shaft and blade construction. As for the shaft dimensions I will take that into consideration for the next genereation for the Accuflex technology

[goblue9280 33]

Are the Accuflex sticks all made/manufactured in the US?

[jdksaves 56]

Are the Accuflex sticks all made/manufactured in the US?

No the sticks are made over seas to keep the price down. If we were to make them at our US faciltity it would be above a $200 dollar retail stick in the US. Down the road possibly

[ahbroody 1]

Just to bump this. My son has been using the stick for a few weeks now and loves the Miken stick. Hes getting nice lift and more pop. I would recommend the Miken stick to anyone looking for a high quality youth stick

[ahbroody 1]

Just wanted to bump this as I ordered a new miken accuflex for the boy as he outgrew his current.

The stick is still serviceable after over a year and has taken a pounding. This past year he played travel and inhouse mite as well as travel roller. The stick was used atleast 5 times a week not including him shooting pucks in the garage. He digs hard in the corners and is know to get a slashing penalty occasionally. I could not be happier with the way the stick has held up. He would destroy youth sticks in a few months with less usage then the miken got week to week.

There are some good deals on these at a few vendors so something to consider if in the market.

[goblue9280 33]

I got the 45" accuflex for my average sized 1st year squirt at Christmas time. He played Travel A and was on the ice 4-5 times a week. Stick has held up great, he's still using it. Very little to no damage on the toe or heel. The blade and flex of the stick is more in line with junior sticks than youth, but the shaft cross section is smaller than the junior warrior stick he has, making it better for his small hands. I feel we got our money's worth out of it for $90... at the $60-70 you can get them for now, they are a no-brainer.

[tro 4]

There was another topic started and then deleted due to the network issues a couple mths back.

So I thought I would start it again and to shamelessly plug my friends new stick company out of Calgary,

Raven Hockey - www.ravenhockey.com

The stick is designed for the 8-11 yr old under 5ft, to address the issue, yth stick lacks performance and quality, while the JR stick cut down to the size of a 8-11yr old almost doubles the flex.

So they have come up with a lower flex stick, 20, 30 & 40, but also made to the height of 7-10yr olds.

My son hasn't used the stick as of yet, waiting for the 40 flex to be ready. So I don't have a review or comparison, but they have been selling really good in Calgary, so it certainly seems other parents are taking notice that the other companies have neglected the Nov-Atom kids looking for performance and proper flex

[mickz 107]

There was another topic started and then deleted due to the network issues a couple mths back.

So I thought I would start it again and to shamelessly plug my friends new stick company out of Calgary,

Raven Hockey - www.ravenhockey.com

The stick is designed for the 8-11 yr old under 5ft, to address the issue, yth stick lacks performance and quality, while the JR stick cut down to the size of a 8-11yr old almost doubles the flex.

So they have come up with a lower flex stick, 20, 30 & 40, but also made to the height of 7-10yr olds.

My son hasn't used the stick as of yet, waiting for the 40 flex to be ready. So I don't have a review or comparison, but they have been selling really good in Calgary, so it certainly seems other parents are taking notice that the other companies have neglected the Nov-Atom kids looking for performance and proper flex

Just saw my LHS start carrying this brand as well. Taking a page out of Warrior's book with what they did with intermediate sticks a couple years back.