Junior stick?

[dc00 0]

My 9 year old keeps asking for a junior stick. At 4'5" and 70 lbs, I don't think he can even flex a youth one. Say I can get a great deal on a stick, is there any benefit for him to use a junior stick at this point?

[chk hrd 164]

I think all parents go through this with thier kids at one time. This is what I did.

I told him a junior stick won't do anything for him that a youth stick will. I said the junior shaft is to big for his hands and weighs more which will make him grip it harder and make his stick handleing worse....relaxed hands means better hands. I'd also said that shot power comes from being able to flex a stick when you shoot and he hasn't quite got the strength to bend a junior twig yet.

It's not really a lie but may convince him to stay with the youth sizes longer. The only thing left is the mental aspect. He may think the junior stick is better and convince himself that he will play better with it. Kids are funny that way.

[AIREAYE 248]

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/59610-junior-vs-youth-stick-dilema/

[raganblink 82]

Have you tried offering a youth composite stick?

[goblue9280 33]

is there any benefit for him to use a junior stick at this point?

Like I said in the thread that aireaye linked, durability can be a major issue with the youth sized sticks. From December 2010 til December 2011, my son (about your sons size) went through 5 youth sized sticks... one Bauer X:60, two Easton eq50's, one mission titanium and another stick i can't remember. The eq50 was in warranty, so I got a replacement. With the exception of one, they all failed at the heel of the blade (either collapsed from underneath, or just cracked and folded over). Of the youth composites he's used, they've all been very cheaply made (in order to hit that $60 pricepoint) and then they slap the top of the line graphics on them. I've heard the warrior youth sticks are more stout. In the end, I stepped him up to a junior shaft/blade combo. Through 3 months, it seems to be holding up well. Nice thing about going with junior, you can go the shaft/blade route (something not available with youth sticks). If he breaks a blade at the heel now, it's a quick/cheap fix.