So what's the new hotness in tapered shafts these days?

[Nealoc187 10]

edit/update: my 7 month update is further down the thread if anyone is interested.

I haven't broken a shaft since my RL XN10 whip flex that I got from someone on here back in like 08. Been using a cut off Vapor XX and Synergy II 85 flex since then. Can't really complain about their longevity, had them both since late 2008. Snapped both shafts on one-timers in the past 3 weeks. I use an RBK 11K Datsyuk blade, which is the only blade I have ever been truly happy with, so glad I found it and stocked up on them when Hockeygiant was closing them out after the 20Ks came in. The million other blades I've tried since 08 with these shafts have been very meh.

Anyways, I need a new tapered shaft.

Coming from old-ass technology and sticks which weren't exactly top of the market with the Vapor XX and Synergy II. I'm 5'10" 150 - not a whole helluvalot of upper body strength but good technique. Playing B level beer league with mostly guys who have high school, D3, USHL and a few D1 and even paid players thrown in the mix.. Mostly curl and drag snap shots with a maybe 1-2 slappers per game, and I like backhands. 80% of the time I'm playing center and 20% defense if we are short on D.

Performance, light weight, and price are the primary concerns, in that order. Shape wise I like a little more rounded corners as opposed to very square. I'll spend $130 on a Mako2, APX, AX1, 20K or similar if you guys think I'll get distinctly better performance or weight than a year old $70 clearance Dolomite, EQ50 or Mako or something along those lines. I am open to lesser known brands like Harrow and Base as well - i don't care what it says on the shaft as long as the performance and weight are where i want it. Luckily I'm a pretty average height so I don't usually have to add a plug to a stick which I hate doing, messes up the balance from how i like it and adds weight. My Synergy II and 11K combo at stock length came in at 445G (302G shaft/143G for the blade - no tape on either). Like to stay at that weight range or lighter if possible.

So, recommendations?

[fatwabbit 93]

Why not check the for sale threads. There are a few members selling tapered shafts in the models that you've mention, even the SE16 tapered shaft that seems to be pretty popular. I think JLP had a few makos he was selling as well. If I were playing more often I would have jumped at those shafts

[Souldriver 64]

Plus youre helping out a forum member.

[Nealoc187 10]

I didn't know I had access to the for sale forum. i thought it was reserved for members+ at the time when i was just a member, and then i thought it turned in to a forum you had to pay to have access to around the time that i turned from member to member+ unless I'm mistaken. (the XN10 and other shafts I bought on here was through a PM or maybe it was through HFBoards or something, same with my gloves I bought).

I will check the for sale threads out for sure, but still would like some opinions from people. also i'm on a bit of a time crunch here, no twigs worth mentioning and games starting up on the 4th, so that could factor in.

merry christmas boys.

[DEATHTRON 19]

Using mako 2 tapered shafts. They are alright. Came from Totalone nxg tapered shafts. Which also felt alright. Pretty much, I have found nothing like the XN10 series of shafts in terms of performance. Go to your LHS and pick a few up and see what feels best in your hands.

Zach

[SirJW 207]

Good suggestion using the sale threads. It only costs $10, it supports the site and you will get it back in savings in one sale. Better than Amazon Prime.

[the_game 452]

Using mako 2 tapered shafts. They are alright. Came from Totalone nxg tapered shafts. Which also felt alright. Pretty much, I have found nothing like the XN10 series of shafts in terms of performance. Go to your LHS and pick a few up and see what feels best in your hands.

Zach

I'm in the same boat, nothing has performed any where near as well as the XN10. I've been using Mako I & II's with Bauer blades and I've been really happy with the performance.

Check your PMs too.

[sickwilly 37]

XN10 fan here, too... If the budget is that big of a concern, I don't think you'd go wrong with the Dolo/Dynasty on clearance.

[Nealoc187 10]

XN10 fan here, too... If the budget is that big of a concern, I don't think you'd go wrong with the Dolo/Dynasty on clearance.

Budget's not really a concern. Cheaper is nice of course but I will spring for the $120 shaft if the consensus is that it just plays way, way better than the $70 clearance shaft does. Do they?

[Chadd 916]

I haven't played a tapered shaft with as much kick as the XN10. A dolo in the right flex is never a bad option.

[Cosmic 178]

I thought that anyone can access the Sell forum. When you become a ++ member or + or whatever it is, then you can access the Buy forum as well as post in Sell.

I was advised by sickwilly to go with Bauer TotalOne Tapered, which I have been enjoying using. With 87 flex, my wristshot kicks pretty nicely but it is not always a really quick release. (I can't shoot a slapshot with it though, slapshot rips with 102, but wrist shot suffers at 102.)

I have heard great things about the Mako II tapered, but $130 is a lot to spend for a shaft. I will wait a couple of years and get them on clearance maybe.

Warrior Dynasty AXT1 paddles have been good with me too, FWIW. Not a fan of the Mako II paddle, feels real tinny compared to the Dynasty AXT1.

[Cavs019 708]

I love the AX1 tapered. I never drank the Warrior kool-aid (I've liked their stuff before but was never blown away by it), but the newer items, namely Widow, AX1, and DT1 LT are absolutely fantastic.

[Nealoc187 10]

Anyone else have experience with both Mako and Mako II shafts? Disregarding the price, is there one you prefer over the other for feel and performance or can you not really tell a difference?

[Nealoc187 10]

I ended up picking up a what I gather is a pro stock Mako II for $50 (didn't know it was going to be a pro stock when I bought it)

Can anyone tell me what these numbers mean. I know the C means 85 flex, not sure what the rest means.

If anyone is interested it weighs 343g and is 55" in length, quite a bit heavier than the 317g they list for the Mako II 85 flex. Old synergy II was 302g @ 52.25" in length. Once I cut the Mako II down to length it should end up about 323g according to my calculations.

[Nealoc187 10]

Well the Mako II pro stock lasted from the first of the year til tonight which is probably 35ish games . Not very impressed with the durability given the longevity of my previous synergy II and Vapor XX, but what are you gonna do? it was cheap. It did get a gouge on it right in the middle of the shaft basically where my bottom hand usually was., looked like it could have been been a skate cut but not sure. i noticed the gouge like 3 games ago but it played fine afterwards, slappers and everything. tonight it just snapped while i was making an outlet pass right at the spot where the gouge was.

If anyone cares, it played and felt virtually indistinguishable from my Synergy II that i had previously used. wristers, passes and snap shots felt exactly the same. slappers felt like the stick might be allowing a little more torque twist than the synergy II did, but it could be my imagination.

I am ordering another two of them because the were so cheap (supplier has Mako and Mako II for the same cheap price so hopefully they send me one of each for comparison like i requested). Hoping that the breakage tonight was because of a fluke skate gouge and these next ones last longer. i kind of want to go to 100 flex but the supplier i am getting them from only has 85 flex left.

all of this was played with the same Reebok 11K Datsyuk blade the entire time.

[DEATHTRON 19]

I think you might find the pro Mako shafts similar (read: The same) to the old Synergy II shafts. I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that they probably have not changed much.

Zach