Measuring flex

[Chadd 916]

What's about the average what of a stick now a days?

if balance is not affected Would the weight gain still be that big of a deal.

I've played hockey a long time mostly roller I can rember getting my first Busch one piece and evey since then I have been chasing the newest and lightest sticks so I have bought into the whole marketing concept of lighter is better. But what is there really to say that lighter is actually better besides the manufacturer?

If people are paying top dollar for a stick, weight does seem to be a very important factor.

[cooperalls 4]

If people are paying top dollar for a stick, weight does seem to be a very important factor.

As does perceived weight. I've seen/heard several people pick up an RS and remark at how light it is. It's a very light stick, but it's significantly heavier than the APX. The RS is very well balanced, which helps it seem lighter in the hands. I think both overall weight and balance are important to performance. But Chadd is exactly right - a large number of consumers base their decision on buying sticks (and equipment in general) on weight.

[silverclrk 0]

And I completely understand that weight weather perceived or actual is a huge factor to the consumer since I am one. where did that last say 100 grams become so important to first the consumer or the msnufactuer of the stick to sell the next latest and greatest stick. What if the difference in weight was like going from a high price point stick to a low price level stick as i read in the chara thread the lower price point

[cooperalls 4]

I think it's more important that a stick feel as light or lighter than similarly priced sticks. I think having a stick with variable flex that's in the same weight class as a mid-range stick could sell well, provided it's priced close to the mid-range stick. The added flex feature could give you a little leeway... meaning a consumer could place the value of the performance feature over that of a slightly higher weight/price?

Take that with a grain of salt: I work at a LHS and am a careful consumer, but I have no experience producing/marketing/selling sticks. Just my humble opinion.

[Chadd 916]

And I completely understand that weight weather perceived or actual is a huge factor to the consumer since I am one. where did that last say 100 grams become so important to first the consumer or the msnufactuer of the stick to sell the next latest and greatest stick. What if the difference in weight was like going from a high price point stick to a low price level stick as i read in the chara thread the lower price point

You can make the lightest, best balanced stick on the market, but simply by adding back in the mechanism, you will add back in a significant amount of weight. I'm also curious to see how you would be able to have something stiff enough that it would turn the stiffening mechanisms down the shaft, but supple enough that it won't break or warp when the stick flexes. You also have to recess the mechanism at the butt end to prevent it from twisting when in the hand of the player, but USA Hockey requires that the butt end be covered at all times. That means you would have to rip off tape and reapply it in order to be legal in a game.

[silverclrk 0]

There have been updates to the drawing that was one of the draw backs I believe back in the 90's of the butt end being covered. I think it ended up more like the tps shark blade system thing.