High End Stick Selection

[MeltingPlastic 8]

So i'm looking for some suggestions here. I got a nice gift card due to reupping FIOS when i moved so i plan on using that to buy a top of the line stick. I'm an old school 2-piece guy (i miss my old grip lites) and only recently have switch to 1 piece sticks. I was actually using wood blades (sherwoods) up until last 2 year since they felt the best to me.

My current lineup is:

Easton Mako M5 100flex Camillari
100flex warrior bandito federov
Bauer Nexus 600 100flex P88

Now i picked up the nexus on a recommendation from a friend and i hate it, don't like the way it shoots off the blade etc and i grabbed a non-grip stick and it just doesnt feel comfortable , I may have thought differently if I went with the curve i'm used to and grip finish maybe...(fyi $70 shipped to whoever wants it.. played less than 2 games with it)

I'm currently in between the Easton V9 and the Rbk Ribcore. I know the V9 will be more than fine since i've played with Eastons almost exclusively since 1999 and with it being patterned off the Mako 2, It should be a seamless transition. I just keep hearing such good things about the ribcore and really would love to try it but no one I know has one.

Should i pick up the ribcore or just stick the eastons i know and love. I'm 6' 275lbs and play defense so i add like 3/4" to my Mako M5 and Nexus 600 to get them to the height i prefer. I just don't know how i'm going to like the ultra low kick points everyone keeps advertizing.

I was also looking into the Covert DT1 S1 from some reviews I read seemed like it would be good for me.

I'm not really a fan of hot blades when it comes to receiving passes, like i said I still prefer wood blades honestly. So i'm looking for something with a "soft" blade for receiving passes that I can still get some good heat behind my shots.

let me know what you guys think.

[romdj 26]

Have you ever tried the totalone line? it seems to match you.

[Cosmic 178]

A little background on me, before I celebrate the Warrior Dynasty AXT1 blade:

-I played some street hockey growing up, but I was a casual player at best, more of a baseball/basketball/football guy. First time I had a hockey stick in my hand was 5 years old, but it was just because a friend's (crazy) Dad was trying to get the neighborhood kids into hockey. We never got into it; riding bikes was the big thing back then, and Iwould regularly go 3-4 yrs at a time in my youth without even thinking about hockey.

-I played 1 year of organized ice hockey in 7th grade (1988-1989). I played Pee Wee B, 3rd line, and scored a goal or 2, maybe 3 assists, during a 2-32-3 season.

-I then played 3 months of drop in hockey in sophomore year of college (1995-1996).

-I played a bit of inline just messing around on the street in front of my house growing up, but never more than 2v2 with friends

Now, I am 37 years old, and have not touched a hockey stick since 1996 (nor have I skated). I bought the TotalOne Tapered shaft/ Warrior Dynasty AXT1 blade, and cannot believe how decent I am. I do not recall ever being competent at much of anything, but all of a sudden I can skate, receive passes, read plays. It is an odd thing. Sure, guys who have been on skates since age 5 who are Canadian are not exactly opposite me (they are Tier 1 players, I am like Tier 3, of 4 tiers) when teams are being divided up for the game's scrimmages, but I can hold my own enough, that people seem to appreciate me. Anyway, sure, one can say "It is not the stick that makes the player," and sure I am 6'2, 215, former D1 collegiate athlete and all, but I was never much of a hockey player, and I have been coming back from an injury over the past few months. So, I definitely notice a huge difference in how the equipment is facilitating my competency.

Anyway, give the Warrior Dynasty AXT1 a try. I imagine this blade is not too different from the Covert. And from what I am hearing, the Covert shaft/stick seems to shoot quicker and load easier than the NXG stick/ shaft. My slapshots are booming BTW with my rig. It does seem to take a bit to load my wristers (which have not been flying off my stick at top speed, but have been accurate and giving goalies huge problems with their flailing around to make saves/ give up rebounds), but then again I am not sure I am even shooting properly, so go figure.

[MeltingPlastic 8]

Have you ever tried the totalone line? it seems to match you.

No i have not, i'll have to look into it

[Souldriver 64]

I'm 6' 275lbs and play defense so i add like 3/4" to my Mako M5 and Nexus 600 to get them to the height i prefer. I just don't know how i'm going to like the ultra low kick points everyone keeps advertizing.

They are a bit different are really meant for getting your shot off quick. if youre not used to it or dont have the time to adjust out of games they will feel odd and you may be prone to shots that kind of dribble instead of ones that are what youre used it. not to say theyre bad but they will need some time to feel natural. it says youre using a mako and that is a mid/low flex stick (i think) so it may be easy for you. also the low kick flexes seem to feel a bit stiffer than usual.

With the length needed it may or may not be worth looking into the warrior line (and i think sherwood is starting it too) as they have longer sticks out of the box so no need for a plug. I love the warrior coverts but i havnt tried the new LT or ST sticks. and theyre dynasty mid kick sticks are popping up more and more, Im also thinking for december/holiday they may be introducing the new generation of dynasty sticks so if you can wait, youll have those to choose from new ones or get some closeouts.

you said you may be interested in the DT1ST. you can also try the past years DT2, they both have the same hi-fused technology that a heavier shooter like yourself may like.

[Stewie 721]

the ribcore is marketed as a low-mid kick. I havent shot around enough but it seems fairly accurate, someone else can comment better on how it actually plays.

on to the longer stick thing, yes, Sherwoods site claims that the T90 and T100 will be available in 64 inch models by november.

[Souldriver 64]

Hmm I thought the ribcore was a real low kick stick? Maybe I'm thinking some of their past sticks that claim to have the lowest kickpoint ever.

[AIREAYE 248]

the ribcore is marketed as a low-mid kick. I havent shot around enough but it seems fairly accurate, someone else can comment better on how it actually plays.

on to the longer stick thing, yes, Sherwoods site claims that the T90 and T100 will be available in 64 inch models by november.

That's a lot of SKUs... do they still have Slimfit?

[Stewie 721]

I don't think it's still in production, haven't seen it in stores

[MeltingPlastic 8]

So i ended up with the V9 in an E4 curve. I shot the V9, V9SE, DT1S1, APX2, RBZ and Ribcor. I really liked the ribcor and may pick one up around christmas but they didn't have any curves I liked. The V9 just felt most comfortable to me especially with playing with Eastons most of my life.

[Stewie 721]

my main concern with the Ribcor is that, if so much is put into the marketing that the sticks "pre loaded" does this wear down over time as the carbon fibers loosen, and how will that effect your shot later on. I am still likely to pick up something from the line, more likely a 25k

[MeltingPlastic 8]

my main concern with the Ribcor is that, if so much is put into the marketing that the sticks "pre loaded" does this wear down over time as the carbon fibers loosen, and how will that effect your shot later on. I am still likely to pick up something from the line, more likely a 25k

I agree with this concern a bit, but everyone keeps talking about how great it was and just shooting around on a board in the store I could tell the difference that "preload" makes. would have loved to really crank on it see what it could do but the quickness of the release was phenominal. By christmas it'll be nice to see who's breaking them easily etc.

[Stewie 721]

I agree with this concern a bit, but everyone keeps talking about how great it was and just shooting around on a board in the store I could tell the difference that "preload" makes. would have loved to really crank on it see what it could do but the quickness of the release was phenominal. By christmas it'll be nice to see who's breaking them easily etc.

I think thats a safe bet. My guess is they have done long term testing to know, but I dont think guys using them in the NHL can tell how it will do long term as something tells me they dont hold onto them that long. For us beer leaguers and casual players, im either going to wait it out, or most likely try out the lower end model. My guess is they are fairly confident in their technology, evidenced by the 60 day warranty vs 30.

[markush 12]

DT1 LT is amazing too