Reebok Pro Stock Sticks Issue

[Duante2005 2]

I just got some 11k's pro stock because thats the only way I can get the h-11 curve I like. I had been using Ai9's prior to the switch but wasn't able to get anymore of them so went to the 11k. I figured the flex point would be different (which I haven't figured out yet either), but the stick overall just doesn't seem like a top end stick. The blades are very heavy compared to my other sticks and I can't figure out why. The codes on the sticks are:

H-11

4

TR

085

2169a

A1

I know what most of it means except for the "4" mainly. Its on all of the new sticks and I wonder if thats why they are heavier. Any help or stories of past experiences would help.

Duante'

[Buzz_LightBeer 974]

http://s1060.beta.photobucket.com/user/Battalion4/media/IMG_0616.jpg.html

Do any of the sticks have markings like this? Perhaps you changed flew profile to something that does not work for you.

Also, I've seen Reebok sticks marked A1, A2, A3. Off the top of my head i don't recall what they all mean.

[icewalker_bg 126]

i have seen pro stock 11k that feel like a retail, but i have also seen 11ks that are very blade heavy, 11ks with wooden blades, and wood sticks painted as 11ks. Its all about about what the player preference is, and that is why most pro stock sticks do not feel the same as theyre retail counterpart, and youre taking a chance if it is bought online.

[davidfinlay276 4]

An 11K prostock doesn't necessarily share anything in common with a retail 11K except the paint job, it could be any number of sticks built to a pro's specifications. They can get thin, light blades, or thick, heavy blades. Same goes for the shafts, and they can also customize the flex profile, the shaft shape, etc. Some prostocks will feel like high end retail sticks, others will feel heavier/beefier, more like an Easton ST.

I do find it curious that you go out of your way to get prostocks just for the H-11 curve, though. I have an 11K prostock with an H-11 curve sitting in front of me, and comparing it side by side to a retail Easton Sakic it's virtually identical. Maybe the tiniest bit more of a toe curve, and the tiniest bit less rocker, but really we're talking miniscule differences that would be virtually indistinguishable on ice. If you had to do a "Pepsi challenge" type test taking shots with two sticks that were identical aside from one having an H-11 curve, and the other having an Easton Sakic/Hall (or Bauer P92, Warrior Kopitar, etc.), I'd be surprised if you could tell them apart.

[Duante2005 2]

At first I thought the blades could've been wood but the sound they give off on the ice is distinctly composite. Just a thicker material. My question is why the thicker/heavier blade. I also thought that maybe the sticks were 9k's painted but wouldnt the codes reveal that somewhere? As for being able to tell the difference between the two curves, they are very similar, but the slight differences make a huge difference. Can I play with both? Yes. But coming from a lifetime of modano curves, I prefer the h-11 because the blade isnt as open and the curve doesnt start until later on the blade.

[squat 5]

I love my 11k and will email pics if anyone wants to make a "lookbook" of 11ks. Its an h-11 and there is a tight weave on the blade. Looks to be fused but its way up the shaft much higher than a normal blade would be. about an inch is another line which is where the grip ends. My 11k is as close to a widow as I have used.

[Duante2005 2]

And buzz. There is nothing in the space where those symbols would be. The sticks arent bad I just want to know what they are for future reference. I called reebok and they had no answer.

[davidfinlay276 4]

At first I thought the blades could've been wood but the sound they give off on the ice is distinctly composite. Just a thicker material. My question is why the thicker/heavier blade. I also thought that maybe the sticks were 9k's painted but wouldnt the codes reveal that somewhere? As for being able to tell the difference between the two curves, they are very similar, but the slight differences make a huge difference. Can I play with both? Yes. But coming from a lifetime of modano curves, I prefer the h-11 because the blade isnt as open and the curve doesnt start until later on the blade.

I think you're still not understanding what Rbk pro stock sticks really are. Regardless of the graphics, they don't necessarily have anything in common with retail 9Ks or 11Ks or Ai9s, AFAIK they aren't even made in the same factories as the retail sticks. Your sticks are simply sticks made to custom specifications, with an 11K paintjob on top. They have a thicker/heavier blade simply because whoever ordered them wanted that option. Could be for durability, could be for a specific puck feel, could be for better durability, could be that they prefer a blade heavy balance, who knows.

This link might help you understand:

http://www.prostockhockeygear.com/sticks/custom-made-to-order-2/reebok-custom-sticks-min-of-6.html

This is an order form for custom Rbk sticks. It's probably not identical to what the pros have, I'd guess the pros get even more options, but it gives you a good idea of what pro stocks really are. As you can see, 9K vs. 11K vs. Ai9 are just graphics options, nothing more. You chose the shaft construction, shaft geometry, flex profile, blade construction, blade stiffness, blade thickness, etc., then you apply a graphics package. There's nothing inherently similar about two different pro stock Rbk sticks with 11K graphics, they can be dramatically different sticks under the graphics. Your sticks are not specifically 11Ks or 9Ks or Ai9s, they're pro stocks with 11K graphics. In the future you might want to avoid ordering pro stocks online, because you really don't know what you're going to get.

This is more or less the same for all pro stocks, not just Rbks. There are some exceptions, for example with Easton sticks some pro stocks are more similar than others to retail RSs because they have the elliptical taper, same goes for Warriors and the dagger taper, but even a pro stock RS with an elliptical taper can be dramatically different from a retail RS in terms of flex profile, shaft construction/geometry, blade construction/thickness, etc.

As for the H-11 curve, are you sure you prefer it to a retail Sakic clone because of the curve itself, or because you happened to get an H-11 curve on a stick that worked for you for other reasons (i.e. flex profile, weight, balance, shaft geometry, etc.)? Here's a picture of an H-11 curve I have beside a Warrior Kopitar, which is Warrior's version of the Sakic.

There are slight differences, but they're very minor, and the lie/rocker is virtually identical as well. Instead of hunting around for a pro stock with an H-11 curve AND the exact specifications you want (flex, flex profile, shaft construction, blade construction, etc.), I really think you should consider adapting to a retail Sakic clone, which is such a similar curve, because it should be far easier for you to find a retail Sakic clone in your prefered flex, flex profile, etc.

p.s. not trying to be a douche here, sorry if I come off that way, honestly just trying to be helpful

[Duante2005 2]

I would never call anyone a douche for giving information I am looking for, so don't worry about that. Let me give a bit more background. And before I begin thanks for being thorough and including details. I am what some would call a high to elite player. I just returned from playing in New Zealand and was supposed to be having a PTO with the Elmira Jackals in the ECHL until the lockout happened. I am currently skating with the Caps (the few that remain), so I understand hockey and the different aspects of equipment. My main problem is that since now I got used to the sticks I was given in NZ (the Ai9's), I want to stay along that pro stock route until I get signed. In the mean time I am trying to figure out as much info about the sticks that I can. I know that every stick made has all of the specs or most in the codes on the stick, in the stick, or on the barcode. I just want some deciphering. It would help to know where Hockeymonkey got their sticks from because I do know that a lot of junior and college teams and even some minor pro teams order sticks with retail specs (some lower models than others because of price) and the companies just put the new top of the line sticks graphics on them for marketing purposes. Thanks again for the help.

I forgot to answer about the h-11 vs sakic. It is a slight difference but I can feel a difference in release of all shots and passes. Control stick handling on the backhand is also a difference.

[davidfinlay276 4]

I would never call anyone a douche for giving information I am looking for, so don't worry about that. Let me give a bit more background. And before I begin thanks for being thorough and including details. I am what some would call a high to elite player. I just returned from playing in New Zealand and was supposed to be having a PTO with the Elmira Jackals in the ECHL until the lockout happened. I am currently skating with the Caps (the few that remain), so I understand hockey and the different aspects of equipment. My main problem is that since now I got used to the sticks I was given in NZ (the Ai9's), I want to stay along that pro stock route until I get signed. In the mean time I am trying to figure out as much info about the sticks that I can. I know that every stick made has all of the specs or most in the codes on the stick, in the stick, or on the barcode. I just want some deciphering. It would help to know where Hockeymonkey got their sticks from because I do know that a lot of junior and college teams and even some minor pro teams order sticks with retail specs (some lower models than others because of price) and the companies just put the new top of the line sticks graphics on them for marketing purposes. Thanks again for the help.

I forgot to answer about the h-11 vs sakic. It is a slight difference but I can feel a difference in release of all shots and passes. Control stick handling on the backhand is also a difference.

Fair enough, if you're a very high level player I can see how you could grow attached to a very specific curve.

Re: deciphering the barcode, I can't help too much there, except to say that it's strange that your stick doesn't list the flex profile/construction. For example, my pro stock 11K says:

H-11 (the curve)

004 (not sure what this means)

FVL ("fuse variable lite" - the "fuse" part means it's fused, not spear construction; the "variable" part refers to the flex profile, specifically that it's stiffest in the middle, softer at the top and bottom, similar to G3; the "lite" part means that it's an intermediate weight, 460-475 g, as opposed to HD, which would be 480-500 g, or ultra lite, which would be 420-430 g)

C (contoured shaft geometry)

085 (85 flex)

19010 (not sure what this means)

A1 (not sure what this means)

It's a grip stick with a fairly thick/heavy/sturdy blade, and a "raw" blade finish, not sure if that helps you decipher the "unknown" codes or not. Like you 11K, it does not feel like a high end retail stick, feel more similar to an Easton ST, as whoever ordered it went for a somewhat heavier construction with a fairly thick blade.

As for the Ai9s you liked, were they retail Ai9s with an H-11 curve, or were they pro stocks that just had Ai9 graphics? If they were pro stocks, you could get in touch with whoever ordered them, find out the specifications they went with, and then order your own custom Rbk pro stocks with the same specifications from the site I listed above? (prostockhockeygear.com)

[Duante2005 2]

The Ai9's were pro stocks that one of the guys was able to get from a team in California. I never asked which team. But they too only had curve, flex, and that was it. A1 I am pretty sure is a warehouse and 19010 is some sort of batch number I believe. Eventhough my numbers there have an a and b following them which leads me to believe they might mean a little more. As for the Shaft and flex profile, I too was wondering why there is nothing there. Every other stick I have seen has always had something there. My Ai9's had other numbers on the inside that I was told meant stuff but I would have to find them again. I would love to just talk to a Reebok rep about this also. I have nothing but great things to say about Reebok and would definitely use them for the foreseeable future. Just want a little more information.

[davidfinlay276 4]

The Ai9's were pro stocks that one of the guys was able to get from a team in California. I never asked which team. But they too only had curve, flex, and that was it. A1 I am pretty sure is a warehouse and 19010 is some sort of batch number I believe. Eventhough my numbers there have an a and b following them which leads me to believe they might mean a little more. As for the Shaft and flex profile, I too was wondering why there is nothing there. Every other stick I have seen has always had something there. My Ai9's had other numbers on the inside that I was told meant stuff but I would have to find them again. I would love to just talk to a Reebok rep about this also. I have nothing but great things to say about Reebok and would definitely use them for the foreseeable future. Just want a little more information.

I wonder if the 5ish digit number (2169a, 19010, whatever) actually contains a whole bunch of information. For example, the first digit could be blade thickness, the second blade construction, the third grip type, etc. No idea if this is the case, just speculating. I do think there's an Rbk rep on here, maybe he has some insight?

If you really want the exact sticks you had before, I'd personally put the effort into tracking down whoever ordered them. Get in touch with your team mate who got them from California, see who he got them from, get in touch with that person, and keep going until you find the person who actually ordered them.

[Vet88 674]

Hey Duante, those Ai9's came from the Kings but that's as much as I can tell you. What with the lock out and no one around, I can't get you anymore info. Hopefully someone from Rbk will read this thread and help out as I too, like everyone else, would be really interested to know more about their pro stock codes.

[Duante2005 2]

Hey Allan. I forgot you were on here also. Yea those were great sticks once I got used to them. It just sucks because once I did I was down to my last one but I still have them for specs references. I wish I were still in Auckland because I bet the weather is perfect right now.

[Duante2005 2]

JR or Chadd do you have any info on this topic? Or do you have someone that I can speak with regarding Reebok stick specs?

[Chadd 916]

I thought we had some information on them posted somewhere but I can't find it. I can send out an email or two and see what I can find.

[Duante2005 2]

Thanks Chadd

[twiztidwrista10 3]

Which flex profile would be closest to the retail Bauer TotalOne? The "C" or constant flex profiles, as apposed to the "V" or variable flex profiles? Thanks.