Advice on New Stick for Short Adult

[Centropolis 0]

I am 5'5 and 150 lbs. I play in a recreation ice hockey league that has no hitting.

The problem I am having is that because of my height, I believe I am in between a senior stick and an intermediate. When I get a senior stick and cut it down to my preferred length, the stick becomes a 100 flex which I do not like. If I get a 67 flex intermediate stick, I don't have to cut it down but it's way too flexy for me.

I've thought about getting a lower flex senior so that when I cut it down it'll be like 90 but I have a hard time finding these since they don't have a many models in the stores with that kind of spec.

What do you think I should do? Keep trying to find a lower flex senior or a stiff intermediate?

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

I'm in your same situation, about the same height, but a little lighter.

Currently I use an intermediate warrior, 70 flex. Previously, I struggled to find what I liked, but found success with warrior senior shafts, at 75 flex. You won't find much by way of easton... Bauer I've used 77 flex seniors, those did OK for me when I tried the . I never went and bought anything of theirs though.

[x-axis 44]

You have a number of options depending on the amount you are willing to spend, some not mentioned below but you get the idea:

1. Get a Sherwood T90 which is a mid kick with a free flex zone. By the time you cut it down it will be around 80ish.

2. Get a Reebok 75 flex which starts 2 inches shorter than sticks with higher flexes in their line. Again I would go with a midkick since it will feel a little softer than a low kick.

3. Get an Easton 75 flex because their sticks start off softer than marked.

4. Go custom with a Warrior or Bauer.

Personally I use an intermediate Bauer stick and I still cut it about 2 inches. I'm 5'8." I'm a little surprised that you don't cut yours down.

[hellaavangard 33]

Base hockey offers intermediates up to 75 & 85 flex, might be worth giving them a look

[Sniper9 539]

at 5'5 there is no doubt you should be using an intermediate stick. Even if you had a 75 flex senior, you would chop it down so short it would be over 100 flex, which would be WAY too stiff for you, at 150 lbs. Btw, how tall is your stick? I am 5'11, and an intermediate stick is just the right height for me uncut (for my preference). You must like your stick very long

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

at 5'5 there is no doubt you should be using an intermediate stick. Even if you had a 75 flex senior, you would chop it down so short it would be over 100 flex, which would be WAY too stiff for you, at 150 lbs. Btw, how tall is your stick? I am 5'11, and an intermediate stick is just the right height for me uncut (for my preference). You must like your stick very long

I thought he made it clear that he didn't like the way some intermediates felt. He's looking for less stiff senior options, not a lecture.

[sundinleafs137 13]

I'm in the same boat, 5'6" same weight. Cut my sticks pretty short ( about 1" under my chin on skates) and skate very low to the ice. I've always used 75-85 flex sticks. I switched to intermediate sticks for a while but didn't like how skinny and light they felt, felt like I was playing with those mylec plastic sticks we used for hockey in gym class.

I've been using warrior Dolos since forever (going back to the inno 1100 days) flex didn't make too much diff. to me, I found my shots were much easier to load and fire with a lower lie and since warrior makes my curve in a 75flex with a lie 4, thats just what I stuck with. I've got three of these left and once I'm out I'll probably make the jump to the DT1...been hearing good things about it.

[cooperalls 4]

Graf is introducing a Sr X-Whip 65 Flex in their new line of sticks. According to the catalog, it's available on all Sr models. I know they're not the most widely available brand for sticks, but it's nice to see someone offering a low flex Sr stick, esp at all pricepoints.

Another option would be a Sr 75/77 in a Flex Profile that plays a little softer than others, i.e. the Bauer Nexus or Warrior EVO.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 134]

Check out Bauer's Nexus line. Very easy to load. I'm 5'7", 135 lbs. I'm usually somewhere between an intermediate and senior stick. I've never felt too comfortable with either. I went from a long-time vapor user to trying a stealth and then hopped over to the 77-flex nexus 1000. Has plenty of pop and I can actually load it without it feeling too whippy or like a noodle.

[Sniper9 539]

I thought he made it clear that he didn't like the way some intermediates felt. He's looking for less stiff senior options, not a lecture.

And I am informing him that he may not have a choice with respect to intermediate sticks, unless what cooperalls says is true.

[supa 3]

buddy of mine is in the same boat, doesn't like intermediate because they feel skinny, but chopping down a senior makes them too stiff. I have to add plugs to my sticks so after I beat the hell out of them for the 2-3 months they only seem to last, I just give them to him after the blade breaks and by the time he cuts them to length its up past the fuse point lol.

[hb4167 6]

I thought he made it clear that he didn't like the way some intermediates felt. He's looking for less stiff senior options, not a lecture.

In that regard I would immediatley suggest going to a 75 flex Easton in the Stealth line since they are much softer than the rating actually indicates. My 85 flex rs2 plays as soft if not softer than my 77 flex Bauers.

[flyguy1 1]

Warrior sticks supposedly have a free flex zone too, so you can get a 75 flex and chop away. I would recommend a low kick point stick because if you get a mid kick stick and cut too much, the flex zone might be too high.

[Cavs019 710]

I'll second the 77 Nexus and 75 RS/S17/S19 suggestions. They both play softer than labelled in my opinion. Id also try to track down some TPS whip flex sticks/shafts if you can. Great quality and play much softer than my APX/X60/Totalones I have in a 77.

[hb4167 6]

Warrior sticks supposedly have a free flex zone too, so you can get a 75 flex and chop away. I would recommend a low kick point stick because if you get a mid kick stick and cut too much, the flex zone might be too high.

They do have a flex free cut zone but it only spans the first 3 inches of the stick. After that you'll start to notice stiffening.

[x-axis 44]

They do have a flex free cut zone but it only spans the first 3 inches of the stick. After that you'll start to notice stiffening.

The flex free zone for warriors starts at 63 inches instead of 60 like normal senior sticks as well.

[AIREAYE 248]

buddy of mine is in the same boat, doesn't like intermediate because they feel skinny, but chopping down a senior makes them too stiff. I have to add plugs to my sticks so after I beat the hell out of them for the 2-3 months they only seem to last, I just give them to him after the blade breaks and by the time he cuts them to length its up past the fuse point lol.

If anything, Reebok INT shafts are a little thicker, especially the AI line.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

They do have a flex free cut zone but it only spans the first 3 inches of the stick. After that you'll start to notice stiffening.

Nope, it's longer than that; 6".

[salibandy 21]

Nope, it's longer than that; 6".

Does this apply to the Jr sticks as well?

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

I believe so.

They measure their sticks differently than others.

[beedee 227]

I play beer league hockey once a week, I'm 5'7, about 185 fully geared up, I have a Warrior Dolomite (Draper) from 2010, it is the 100 flex, and it is chopped about 3.5", the thing is pretty darn stiff. After reading some of these posts, I picked up a Warrior Dynasty (Burrows) last night, 75 flex, also had about 3.5" chopped off. I haven't used it yet, but I can report back here on Sunday after my game and let you know how the new stick felt for me. I play forward, so I take mostly snapshots, or am shoveling rebounds in/over the goalie. I'm looking forward to using this new stick, since it has more flex, and a blade with less curve than my Dolomite.