So sick of breaking sticks..... Advice?

[Buzz_LightBeer 975]

After 1000 shots, I'd say yes. Since you're not exposing the stick to slashes and other game abuse, the shaft is unlikely to fail, but the blade certainly will.

[Tommyj214 3]

The M5 replaced the ST, but it certainly isn't a repaint of the ST. Also, the M5 II is lighter than the M5 and has the same weight as the Mako (first gen).

i second this guy, if your having durability issues, try out the M5 or M5 II, the original is on sale at most online places for $100. i got a buddy who was going through sticks like crazy, tried out the M5 and he said its pretty close to the same feel as the ST, in his opinion.

[squat 5]

Lets see, I got "asked" to play D3 hockey, I have played most of my life and I have NEVER broken a stick on a shot... I recently had a V9 Break but Easton is trying to find why.

Point is if all your sticks are breaking in the same area, its your technique or something you are doing. Period dot. Are you waking the blade on the boards for a good play like a lot of guys do?

What kind of shot are you breaking it on? Where is it breaking? You might not be flexing the shaft enough or you have too stiff of a shaft and cant flex it so you are basically chopping the ice with the blade. Lastly WHEN is it breaking and are you leaning on the blade a lot, ala street hockey stick curve making.

[grnmtnvt 18]

I really love the Sherwood T100 and think it's underrated. It's been a beast for me and takes a lot punishment. Plus, it's a top end stick at a much more reasonable price. Plus, it's got a nice simple look to it and a decent selection of blades. Most of the LHS and online stores are having sales right now, it's worth a try at its price point.

[sjs0433 15]

Blades are what wear out fastest for me. Haven't had any issues with the shafts since getting back into hockey 6 months ago. For this reason I prefer two piece sticks. I go with a mid-range shaft and the. Cheap blades that are around $15 a piece. They are a little heavier but it doesn't bother me when I need to replace them often.

[gemini8026 1]

Lets see, I got "asked" to play D3 hockey, I have played most of my life and I have NEVER broken a stick on a shot... I recently had a V9 Break but Easton is trying to find why.

Point is if all your sticks are breaking in the same area, its your technique or something you are doing. Period dot. Are you waking the blade on the boards for a good play like a lot of guys do?

What kind of shot are you breaking it on? Where is it breaking? You might not be flexing the shaft enough or you have too stiff of a shaft and cant flex it so you are basically chopping the ice with the blade. Lastly WHEN is it breaking and are you leaning on the blade a lot, ala street hockey stick curve making.

Congrats, you have never broken a stick on a shot..

I play center. Faceoffs = stick killers. I tip shots = stick killers. I play 3-4 nights a week. Stick Killer. Sticks breaks. The higher end ones break easier. Wear and tear and constant chips/hacks/etc.

Either way, My T90 is lasting me so far (except its a tad heavier then the units im used to) Im going to likely try out a Colt here soon when they are available.

[splitbtw 2]

Blades usually go soft on me with Easton. I've had a ton of luck with Bauer durability, most notably with the G3 makeup. I say try Bauer and/or adjust your technique

[CommodoreColt 19]

There are a lot of comments in this thread that basically boil down to "deal with it". That's not productive and doesn't encourage the industry marketing people reading this forum to make any attempt at providing some value to the customer for the rising costs of their equipment.

There's a more systemic problem than the user here. gemini8062 has answered the recurring questions about breakage consistency (random, inconsistent failures) and technique (he is playing hockey with hockey sticks). I don't think it's fair to accept that $200 retail sticks are just supposed to be replaced with another one month after month until we all forget that there was a time you didn't have to be a silver-spoon trustafarian to play rec league.

Let's address this and figure out what can be done instead of blaming the consumer for using a product the way it's supposed to be used. The OP isn't the only one in the world with this problem and the whole "if you don't like it then don't play" attitude doesn't endear anyone to your point of view.

[CommodoreColt 19]

Anyway, to get back on topic. I have always bought old stock high-end twigs on clearance to save money, but it's rare to get the flex/curve you need and impossible to find the same stick twice this way. Using different sticks all the time is getting old and I'm probably going to move to using a two-piece to keep the same curve/feel/kickpoint between sticks. I'm priced out of the one-piece market now, it's just not an option for me anymore.

[Cavs019 710]

Agree with your logic Colt.

I just bought four 85 Kovalev Warrior Widows during the 25% off HM Black Friday sale, came out to $89 a stick, $360 total vs. $250 for ONE current high end OPS. The Widow does everything I want performance wise and with my shooting motion I don't necessarily move through sticks quickly. I've always been one to find something I like, stock up and stick to it (RIP batch of CNT Stealths from '06), but I don't think consumers like us help with YOY profit margins or industry advancement...