anyone still use wood sticks?

[kyleo29 58]

So am I the only guy left that likes old school wood sticks? I get the composite advantage and use them as well,but do beer league guys like me really need that? wood gets the job done just fine

[Chadd 916]

I moved from wood a long time ago. At a minimum, composite lasts a lot longer and is much more consistent.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

I just honestly don't see a reason to use wood.

[flip12 723]

Of course beer league guys don't need it. Even guys like Pavol Demitra showed what damage one can do with wood long after the full-blown dominance of composites in the stick arena, so pros don't need it either. It's just so damned hard to find anything decent in wood these days anyway. And, as Chadd pointed out, if you were leaning toward using wood, the durability of composites should be convincing. It may not be that beer leaguers need top of the line $200+ sticks, but there are a lot of affordable composite sticks out there that blow wood out of the water when all is taken into consideration.

[bunnyman666 445]

When I was playing competitively 25 plus years ago, wood was the material that the majority played with; however, I was knee deep in Easton shafts (painted with Canadien graphics). $5.00 blades were cheaper than $25 sticks. I probably broke (or otherwise made unusable) one stick per game, and some guys broke 2-3. $50 seemed a bit stiff for a shaft, until I was popping on a new blade for $5. When aluminium sticks became widely available, almost every player on my team switched. The only player on that team that went back to wood was a guy we nicknamed "Little Al" (as in Al MacInnis, as he was 5'2" tall, but had a slapper like his namesake). I quit playing by the time composite was starting to make it's way into the picture.

Granted these days, I could probably make a wood stick last a year. The level where I made wood sticks unplayable in one game is looooooooooong behind me. I tried wood earlier this year after going two piece (composite shaft, and wood or composite blades). The only thing I liked about wood is the way (for me) they take a pass. I will use wood blades as long as I can get them, though I am getting used to composite blades. Eventually, I will have to cave in and use OPS (I do have a couple of mid line ones). The learning curve for me getting a good shot off with composite has been challenging for me, but I'm finally starting to see glimpses of my old wrist shot coming back. I never had much of a slapper, and it's even worse now.

And maybe it was the wood sticks I tried this year. I tried Ukraine made Sher Wood, and they were meh. I remember wood, whilst heavy, being livelier than they are now. And with the decline of good wood being available for every other application, I only see the wood stick selection being worse and worse.

[twaron 0]

I just honestly don't see a reason to use wood.

if you learned to play hockey with wood sticks/blades to switch is never easy. i stopped playing hockey on a competitive level when thr first BUSCH sticks came out. i used easton ultra lite with wood blade back then. 10 years later when i went back on the ice with a composite stick/blade, i was shocked..

no feeling, no control, no genuine sound.. so i decided to ignore "material development" and tried to find all my stuff i used back than(even good old bauer supreme custom skates).. when the last wood blade will vanish from this planet, i'll stop skating..

[Capt.Hook 23]

I still think feel is better with wood. I still use a wood blade paired with a top end shaft. I also enjoy the ability to doctor up a wood blade without destroying the integrity of the blade. I cut off about an inch of the toe and then sand the sharp corners. Been doing it for years and it's great for me. When I do it with a composite, the blade usually goes as it loses it's structural integrity.

I've played with many good OPS but the feel is the big difference. Full wood sticks will probably always be around but like has been said they will be low end entry level sticks rather than some of the nicer offerings of the past like those wicked Montreal sticks that were always like $15 more than anything else but were super light and durable.

[kyleo29 58]

Yeah I agree the durability of composites is much better and the flex/curve is consistent from stick to stick. I love the shot I can get with my apx but i always go back to wood because of the simplicity, I don't feel like I'm being sold on tech gimmicks and promises it will make me exponentially better. Just give me a stick and skates and lets play some hockey

[flip12 723]

I still think feel is better with wood. I still use a wood blade paired with a top end shaft. I also enjoy the ability to doctor up a wood blade without destroying the integrity of the blade. I cut off about an inch of the toe and then sand the sharp corners. Been doing it for years and it's great for me. When I do it with a composite, the blade usually goes as it loses it's structural integrity.

I've played with many good OPS but the feel is the big difference. Full wood sticks will probably always be around but like has been said they will be low end entry level sticks rather than some of the nicer offerings of the past like those wicked Montreal sticks that were always like $15 more than anything else but were super light and durable.

Montreal were my favorite, especially once I discovered their version of the Coffey, the P.C. pattern. It was the best stock pattern I could find for my handling. I'm not sure I'd consider their blades "wood" though, due to that thick middle layer of fiberglas filling. They had a nice hybrid feeling.

[moreoutdoor 6]

there's a bunch of guys I play with who still use fibre reinforced wood - mostly sher-woods. Me, I still have a couple wood sticks I use for sticktime, but mostly have gone to composite. Given all my other disadvantages, playing with much younger players, the lighter composite makes a small but discernible difference.

... Although, sending and receiving passes with wood seems to happen much better for me... not sure why - prolly just my degraded skill level...

[Davetronz 109]

Wood was snapping way too frequently for me. Always in the heel of the blade. I abandoned them right after minor hockey and haven't turned back since.

I also remember using aluminium for a while in minor hockey, but always ended up going back to wood. Even then aluminum with a wood blade felt unbalanced.

[Stewie 721]

I was a holdout for a while when I was younger, but when I came back, I gave wood a try and then bought my first composite. Once I got used to the composite, I think it would be hard going back. I love how light my stick feels, and I've only had one catastrophic break of a composite stick vs wood stick deterioration. For me composites are just better all the way around except on feel, and that even seems to be catching up

[bg9 12]

Of course beer league guys don't need it. Even guys like Pavol Demitra showed what damage one can do with wood long after the full-blown dominance of composites in the stick arena, so pros don't need it either.

This is true... but half of the guys in my league are playing like there are scouts in the stands and the other half think they'd be in the NHL if it weren't for that knee injury or that one coach who didn't like them.

99.999% of the people on MSH are destined for the beer leagues, and look how we quibble about anything and everything to do with hockey gear. We're just living out our dreams in our $800+ skates with our $200+ sticks.

[kyleo29 58]

at the end of the day its a fun game that gives us a good workout and some beers with the guys after. no point in obsessing over my sticks when I could spend that time/ money on things like my kids or more beer.

[badger_14 601]

I use a wood stick when it's very cold - dead of winter in certain New England rinks, or outdoors. Playing with the composite stick in that weather just feels like playing with a length of pipe. My goal stick is also wood, but I've never played with a composite goal stick before, so I have no meaningful experience to measure the two.

[Stewie 721]

at the end of the day its a fun game that gives us a good workout and some beers with the guys after. no point in obsessing over my sticks when I could spend that time/ money on things like my kids or more beer.

thing is, by going composites I'm actually spending less on sticks than I would with wood. If you look you can find great deals. I bought an ek15 on here for 140 and got one as a LTR stick. Got a dt3lt brand new at 90. I go through wood sticks quick so that smaller cost adds up especially as woodies become more niche, I'm too hard on the bottoms and my blades go soft quick with wood. Everyone will be different

[bunnyman666 445]

This is true... but half of the guys in my league are playing like there are scouts in the stands and the other half think they'd be in the NHL if it weren't for that knee injury or that one coach who didn't like them.

99.999% of the people on MSH are destined for the beer leagues, and look how we quibble about anything and everything to do with hockey gear. We're just living out our dreams in our $800+ skates with our $200+ sticks.

You mean there aren't scouts at the Thursday morning shinny? Tell me it simply ISN'T so!!!!! :P

It has been said the pickiest players with their gear are the masses, not the pros.

[Neo5370 132]

I went back to wood blades/sticks this past sept/oct and loved it but the lack of selection and consistency is a huge problem and has me contemplating composites again. Ideally, I'd prefer to use custom wood sticks but I don't have the money for that at the moment.

Here's an interesting discussion on the topic:

http://modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/65042-switching-back-to-wood/?hl=wood