opinion, does curve enhance or decrease shot velocity?

[bubaloo 6]

Wanted to get some opinions on shot velocity based on curves.

When I first started playing I was using a coffee curve on a sher wood rm19. i felt I could rocket shots off.

few years down the road I have "upgraded" to bauer and easton sticks and my game has improved over all and I do feel my shot has aswell.

But ive also noticed that I cant really shoot in my opinion as hard as i used too. I currently use a total one, with a toews curve.

I dunno why but I remeber shooting alot harder with my rm19 with a coffee banana then i can now with a total one with milder curves.

Only way to really prove it is to go pick up a new nexon 12 coffee and take a radar gun to each stick i guess but thats alot of effort lol

anythoughts?

[HockeySavants 5]

You may hear mixed thoughts on this but the more neutral the curve the harder the shot from my experience. I love having a toe curve but doesn't quite have the same power as a P88/Iginla.

Look at Chara's curve and it's mid heel no real toe to it.

[watchgreat 4]

When I had my ovechkin pro stock my shots were bombs but not very acurate. Now they are acurate but not as hard. (P92)

[ktang 34]

From a physics point of view, the deeper the curve the more closely the shaft will intersect with the puck's centre of gravity and the more momentum will be transmitted to the puck as the shaft whips. So, if the blade doesn't flex at all (impossible, but "if"), a 1.5" curve would help produce the most transmission of momentum to the 3" diameter puck.

[Scotty 8]

All depends on how you use the blade. Guys like MacInnis used quite straight blades (really just a massive wedge), but could obviously bomb it. Others like the Russians use huge mid/toe curves and can fire them tremendously as well.

Personally, I feel as if I have a slightly quicker shot, both in terms of release and velocity, with a bigger curve; however, it isn't enough to make me switch from a much smaller (PM9) curve. I feel the smaller curve's increased backhand ability and overall comfort of control (for me) give it an advantage over the slightly quicker shot.

[AIREAYE 248]

I think many other factors would play a part in shot velocity before curve comes into play. You've used so many different sticks, and each of them have different kickpoints, construction, blade cores/stiffnesses and simply performance characteristics that looking at curve alone would be a biased viewpoint. Even yourself as a player and strength might have changed over time. To answer your question, one would have to design an experiment to eliminate all other variables except for curve and use a consistent means of taking shots (like mechanical swings that manufacturers use for tests). For example, you would take multiple stick 'x's all in the same flex and curve and another batch of that stick in another curve and take a given # of shots, all from the same location, with the key being controlling your variables like an experiment. For this reason alone, I don't think any person could accurately determine the answer to your question through playing with various sticks.

However, if you have contacts in McGill's sciences program, you could launch this idea for them, though you would obviously need some $ too lol. If this experiment were to happen, I would think along the lines of HockeySavants. I would tihnk that as the puck impacts the blade and 'rides' along its length before being propelled forward, a deeper curve/toe curve would take some of the kinetic energy away from the travelling puck and thus rendering it slower. Imagine driving a car and having it crash headlong perpindicularly (as close to a neutral curve as possible) to a wall compared to having the car crash in at an angle (simulating a deep curve). Which one has more energy/force coming back?

[str8prostock 1]

I think many other factors would play a part in shot velocity before curve comes into play. You've used so many different sticks, and each of them have different kickpoints, construction, blade cores/stiffnesses and simply performance characteristics that looking at curve alone would be a biased viewpoint. Even yourself as a player and strength might have changed over time. To answer your question, one would have to design an experiment to eliminate all other variables except for curve and use a consistent means of taking shots (like mechanical swings that manufacturers use for tests). For example, you would take multiple stick 'x's all in the same flex and curve and another batch of that stick in another curve and take a given # of shots, all from the same location, with the key being controlling your variables like an experiment. For this reason alone, I don't think any person could accurately determine the answer to your question through playing with various sticks.

However, if you have contacts in McGill's sciences program, you could launch this idea for them, though you would obviously need some $ too lol. If this experiment were to happen, I would think along the lines of HockeySavants. I would tihnk that as the puck impacts the blade and 'rides' along its length before being propelled forward, a deeper curve/toe curve would take some of the kinetic energy away from the travelling puck and thus rendering it slower. Imagine driving a car and having it crash headlong perpindicularly (as close to a neutral curve as possible) to a wall compared to having the car crash in at an angle (simulating a deep curve). Which one has more energy/force coming back?

I def agree with you on that. Only things I may add is it depends on what kind of shot your taking also. I feel when I shot my wrister with my sakic curve they are harder then when you shot my wrister with my PM9( a smaller curve) . But when I shot a slapper its harder and more accurate with my PM9. My backhand and snapper is also better with my pm9. I know you asked about velocity but i also feel like my puck control is much better with my pm9.

[pby 0]

Seems like there are many variables why you may not be shooting as hard. Could be anything from psychological to equipment. Is the stick stiff/flexible enough for you? Could it be bad technique or body aging? What kind of shots are you taking? A milder curve may be better for slapshots but harder to for wrist shots.

Perhaps the curve of the blade was helping you spin the puck?

It doesn't seem like a fair comparison to compare blades with different sticks. the sticks will most likely have different kick points which could be another factor.

[BlueJacketBadger 0]

IMO, it makes no difference. Curve is really more about being able to elevate the puck than it is about velocity.

[Chadd 916]

In theory it could make a difference. In reality, it's just about the last thing to consider when buying a stick. Flex, lie, rocker and overall shape are all more important.

[Law Goalie 147]

If you're Bobby or Dennis Hull, or Stan Makita, yes: a bigger curve will produce higher shot velocity. If not, it probably won't.

[Hooah4 12]

I'd say it all depends on the player. I can shoot with just about any curve (except a lie 7 blade)it just takes time and practice. I've tried just about them all. I do like the Modano and Drury types better as they seem to fit me best.

[Les213 1]

With a snap shot, I think the bigger curve you have, the further back you can cup the puck. This results in a longer load = harder shot. I wouldn't imagine it would make that much of a difference for a slap shot, since you should be using more of the heel anyway. But as mentioned about, blade stiffness probably becomes more of a factor.

[bubaloo 6]

You may hear mixed thoughts on this but the more neutral the curve the harder the shot from my experience. I love having a toe curve but doesn't quite have the same power as a P88/Iginla.

Look at Chara's curve and it's mid heel no real toe to it.

I was looking at charas to get something closer to a coffee. Wish easton made mid kick sticks though. I had trouble shooting with an RS that I recently had.

I think many other factors would play a part in shot velocity before curve comes into play. You've used so many different sticks, and each of them have different kickpoints, construction, blade cores/stiffnesses and simply performance characteristics that looking at curve alone would be a biased viewpoint. Even yourself as a player and strength might have changed over time. To answer your question, one would have to design an experiment to eliminate all other variables except for curve and use a consistent means of taking shots (like mechanical swings that manufacturers use for tests). For example, you would take multiple stick 'x's all in the same flex and curve and another batch of that stick in another curve and take a given # of shots, all from the same location, with the key being controlling your variables like an experiment. For this reason alone, I don't think any person could accurately determine the answer to your question through playing with various sticks.

However, if you have contacts in McGill's sciences program, you could launch this idea for them, though you would obviously need some $ too lol. If this experiment were to happen, I would think along the lines of HockeySavants. I would tihnk that as the puck impacts the blade and 'rides' along its length before being propelled forward, a deeper curve/toe curve would take some of the kinetic energy away from the travelling puck and thus rendering it slower. Imagine driving a car and having it crash headlong perpindicularly (as close to a neutral curve as possible) to a wall compared to having the car crash in at an angle (simulating a deep curve). Which one has more energy/force coming back?

when I win some money ill definetly put it together to prove which way it goes haha. would be an interesting experiement indeed

I def agree with you on that. Only things I may add is it depends on what kind of shot your taking also. I feel when I shot my wrister with my sakic curve they are harder then when you shot my wrister with my PM9( a smaller curve) . But when I shot a slapper its harder and more accurate with my PM9. My backhand and snapper is also better with my pm9. I know you asked about velocity but i also feel like my puck control is much better with my pm9.

I have been noticing my snap and wrsiter is better since i started playing with the bauers and eastons and the slapper is still there, it just seems like it was alot harder back in the day lol. I have only been playing for 5 years,

Seems like there are many variables why you may not be shooting as hard. Could be anything from psychological to equipment. Is the stick stiff/flexible enough for you? Could it be bad technique or body aging? What kind of shots are you taking? A milder curve may be better for slapshots but harder to for wrist shots.

Perhaps the curve of the blade was helping you spin the puck?

It doesn't seem like a fair comparison to compare blades with different sticks. the sticks will most likely have different kick points which could be another factor.

Yah its hard to say. Back then I was actually lighter( 185 ) as right now i am 205. Im probably alot stronger as I have have been weight training since then aswell. I have used a tonne of sticks as Im kind of a stick whore now, but every time i always think back to that rm19 with the cofee. and actually it earned me my nick name of " boomer" as I used to use the slapper to much as it was just to good ;)

Thanks for your insights guys. Who knows maybe its all in my head? just for fun im gonna look around and see if I can find a old rm19 in a coffee and try it out again.