Easton vs Bauer stick flex question

[Stevieo68 0]

So I've been using Eastons for the past 8 years. I really like the whippiness of the 85 flex. But after breaking 5 makos and a v9 in the past year, I've decided to switch to Bauer. I'm going with a 1x and I'm curious how the lower kick point will change the flex of the stick, not to mention the brand difference. I know the 1x will be stiffer through the middle of the shaft than the makos.

I've also heard that Easton measures their flex a couple inches down from the butt of the uncut stick, whereas Bauer measures theirs right from the butt. Does anyone know if this is still true? That would explain why people feel like Eastons have more whip. I'm 5'8" 170lb, so I'm definitely going to be chopping the stick down a little bit.

Given all that, would going with the 77 flex 1x be more like the 85 flex Easton? Or should I go with the 87 flex? Any other thoughts? I've decided on blade and all that, flex is the last decision.

[mc88 160]

I've broken 3 V9Es and 1 pro stock V9 in the past couple of months (all toe related). I've temporarily switched to Bauer. I found that an intermediate 75 flex (NXG) felt similar to my 84-86 flex V9Es (75 flex cut to about 63 inches). I can pretty much say for certain that the low-kick vs mid-kick is a gimmick. Since Bauer uses TeXtreme carbon, they tend to feel stiffer than the 3K woven Eastons. However, I must admit, after taking a ton of one-timers and slap-shots, this NXG still feels bullet proof (shaft got a tiny bit whippy over time, but toe is still stiff)! Almost makes me sad to say that I plan on going back to V9Es (HOWEVER, these ones will be new and custom pro stock, so hopefully they'll last longer).

Anyway, try a 77 flex. If you plan on cutting it down, it'll feel more like the 85 flexed Easton. However, since you're 5'8", like myself, and if you plan on cutting a senior stick down more than 3-4 inches, you may want look into an intermediate Bauer stick. I tend to cut my senior sticks down to 63 or 62½, while the intermediate will be about 62 inches even.

[syinx 139]

I've broken 3 V9Es and 1 pro stock V9 in the past couple of months (all toe related). I've temporarily switched to Bauer. I found that an intermediate 75 flex (NXG) felt similar to my 84-86 flex V9Es (75 flex cut to about 63 inches). I can pretty much say for certain that the low-kick vs mid-kick is a gimmick. Since Bauer uses TeXtreme carbon, they tend to feel stiffer than the 3K woven Eastons. However, I must admit, after taking a ton of one-timers and slap-shots, this NXG still feels bullet proof (shaft got a tiny bit whippy over time, but toe is still stiff)! Almost makes me sad to say that I plan on going back to V9Es (HOWEVER, these ones will be new and custom pro stock, so hopefully they'll last longer).

Anyway, try a 77 flex. If you plan on cutting it down, it'll feel more like the 85 flexed Easton. However, since you're 5'8", like myself, and if you plan on cutting a senior stick down more than 3-4 inches, you may want look into an intermediate Bauer stick. I tend to cut my senior sticks down to 63 or 62½, while the intermediate will be about 62 inches even.

I don't know what you're playing with, but I can feel significant differences between mid and low-kick sticks. My NXG flexed higher up than my Nexus, which flexed higher than my V9E/Vapor sticks.

So I've been using Eastons for the past 8 years. I really like the whippiness of the 85 flex. But after breaking 5 makos and a v9 in the past year, I've decided to switch to Bauer. I'm going with a 1x and I'm curious how the lower kick point will change the flex of the stick, not to mention the brand difference. I know the 1x will be stiffer through the middle of the shaft than the makos.

I've also heard that Easton measures their flex a couple inches down from the butt of the uncut stick, whereas Bauer measures theirs right from the butt. Does anyone know if this is still true? That would explain why people feel like Eastons have more whip. I'm 5'8" 170lb, so I'm definitely going to be chopping the stick down a little bit.

Given all that, would going with the 77 flex 1x be more like the 85 flex Easton? Or should I go with the 87 flex? Any other thoughts? I've decided on blade and all that, flex is the last decision.

^ That's what I've been feeling. My Eastons felt whippier than my Bauers, so it wouldn't hurt to go down a flex to achieve the same feel. Wouldn't hurt to see if you can get to a store with a shooting range to know for sure. But from past experience, my 65 Flex Easton V9E felt whippier than my 60 Flex Bauer APX2, and that's a "5 flex" difference. I'd imagine that the difference may even out between a 77 and 85 flex.

Keep in mind the 1X will flex differently to the V9 and Mako, both of which flex in a slightly different area - all three are advertised as "low kick" but the kick point differs from V9 to 1X, and can feel stiffer/whippier depending on how close the kickpoint is to your bottom hand.

Mid-kick sticks might feel a bit more flexible in comparison as there's more "bend" that can be felt, closer to where your bottom hand is. Nexus sticks are truer-mid-kick, and they stiffened up the sticks a touch to make it more standardized across the 3 lines after people were complaining the original Nexus was whippier than the advertised flex rating. Bauer's actually flex a touch higher than the Nexus' mid-kick and are "amplified mid kick" and may feel a touch stiffer than a Nexus of comparable flex.

With regards to size, it's a little easier as Bauer's stick length is 60", while Eastons are 59.5", so it does make the job simpler with regards to comparing flex ratings. Judging by personal experience, a Bauer 77 Flex should feel like an Easton 85.

My two cents.

[Stevieo68 0]

I found that an intermediate 75 flex (NXG) felt similar to my 84-86 flex V9Es (75 flex cut to about 63 inches).

Anyway, try a 77 flex. If you plan on cutting it down, it'll feel more like the 85 flexed Easton. However, since you're 5'8", like myself, and if you plan on cutting a senior stick down more than 3-4 inches, you may want look into an intermediate Bauer stick. I tend to cut my senior sticks down to 63 or 62½, while the intermediate will be about 62 inches even.

So you use a 75 flex chopped down? I was using an 85 flex Easton that I cut a couple inches off of. So it might have been more like a 95 flex after cutting? I'm not sure, as I don't know if Easton measures from the butt or not. It's confusing to me because they don't have the cut ratings along the back of the stick like Bauer does. If I get the 77 flex Bauer, I would end up cutting it down to right around the 85 flex mark. Whereas with the 87 I'll cut it to the 95 flex mark.

[mc88 160]

Try the 77 flex and place your top hand where you think you'd cut the stick, then try flexing. It should feel close to your Easton stick. If you feel it's too whippy, try the 87 flex and try flexing it again.

For some reason, I've always found intermediate sticks to be stiffer than some lower flexed senior sticks. So, for me, the int. Bauer 75 flex (uncut) feels closer to my senior Easton 75 flex (cut down to about an 84 flex).

[Stevieo68 0]

^ That's what I've been feeling. My Eastons felt whippier than my Bauers, so it wouldn't hurt to go down a flex to achieve the same feel. Wouldn't hurt to see if you can get to a store with a shooting range to know for sure. But from past experience, my 65 Flex Easton V9E felt whippier than my 60 Flex Bauer APX2, and that's a "5 flex" difference. I'd imagine that the difference may even out between a 77 and 85 flex.

Keep in mind the 1X will flex differently to the V9 and Mako, both of which flex in a slightly different area - all three are advertised as "low kick" but the kick point differs from V9 to 1X, and can feel stiffer/whippier depending on how close the kickpoint is to your bottom hand.

Mid-kick sticks might feel a bit more flexible in comparison as there's more "bend" that can be felt, closer to where your bottom hand is. Nexus sticks are truer-mid-kick, and they stiffened up the sticks a touch to make it more standardized across the 3 lines after people were complaining the original Nexus was whippier than the advertised flex rating. Bauer's actually flex a touch higher than the Nexus' mid-kick and are "amplified mid kick" and may feel a touch stiffer than a Nexus of comparable flex.

With regards to size, it's a little easier as Bauer's stick length is 60", while Eastons are 59.5", so it does make the job simpler with regards to comparing flex ratings. Judging by personal experience, a Bauer 77 Flex should feel like an Easton 85.

My two cents.

Thanks for the input. My only worry is that my slapshot will suffer a bit if I go with the 77 flex, but given that Eastons are so whippy I guess it wouldn't be much different.

[Amiroo39 121]

Would love some advice on this:

Currently in an 85 flex Easton HTX and wanted to try out an NXG for the first time ( Haven't used a Bauer stick in about 15 years!). I cut my HTX about 1.5", and by Bauer's flex rating I should go with a 77 flex and cut about 1.5" to get the same feel as the Easton but I'm curious if I can get away with a Bauer 87 flex cut down 1.5" because of the high kickpoint.

any advice?

cheers

[A2rhino 63]

I have found Bauer sticks to my much more stiff than Easton stick based off of the scale. Example a 100 flex cut to a 110 on an Easton feels more like a 77 cut to 95 on a Bauer.

[Cavs019 710]

The 1X feels softer due to the QRT in my experience. I've used 77 Vapors forever, had to go 87 in the 1X.

[Amiroo39 121]

The 1X feels softer due to the QRT in my experience. I've used 77 Vapors forever, had to go 87 in the 1X.

Interesting. I would have thought that the Vapor would be the one that felt the stiffest. I'm thinking an 87 in the NXG may be the way to go..

[All Flash 49]

Its my understanding and experience with Easton that every 3" is 5 flex points.

I.E; Easton in the past had shorter sticks with a wood butt end of 3". Then they decided to ditch the wood butt end and just make the stick 3" longer but they didn't seem to change where they measure the flex from. For me I would take a 100 flex Easton, which was really a 95 flex and extend it 2", which brought the flex around 90-92 flex.

But I could be wrong and Easton just makes sticks whippier then what they rate them.