What are good alternatives to the P92 Curve?

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What are good alternatives to a P92 Curve? They have lie 5 and lie 6, I have used them both and though I like a lie 5 stick better with the P92 it seems to open the toe up even more. My shots are super high in warm ups and during the game unless I'm in very close.

[jonesy9020 77]

P14 and P88. P88 is neutral face mid curve. P14 is a slightly open mid-toe. Both will keep your shot a bit lower than the P92.

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I've seen the P14 in person, that thing is a hook. Wouldn't that make my shots go higher?

[boo10 323]

P38 is a good alternative.

[jonesy9020 77]

I personally don't think it would make your shots go higher. The face is significantly more closed than the P92.

[flip12 723]

Also, with those higher-lie toes such as on the X14's and X28's, when you shoot off the toe, you can actually easily shoot as low as you want, as long as you keep your wrists sort of closed, rolled downward, that way the loft on the face doesn't take over. With those patterns, it's really easy to loft the puck with a sweeping motion, which is useful when you want it. It just takes some tinkering around to get the handle on different releases for different situations.

A great alternative, if you can hunt it down, is the often killed-at-retail Darby curve. Bauer has it on their custom program as the P89, Warrior had it is the Vanek W04 and Easton has it as the E13, but they've never had it available at retail. There are some good topics about it on here. From what I've gathered, it's a lot like a toned down P92, with a toe that's slightly more square. It's a slight mid-curve, pretty low lie at the heel with more rocker than the E4/PM9.

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I was afraid with a big hook that it'd be all over I mean should the curve work for you or do you have to adjust your shooting for the curve?

[flip12 723]

It really depends. Some people are more adaptable. Some attributes of a pattern may be great for you for one thing or another. I find the effect of a toe curve on the balance of the stick can be just as useful for puck handling as having that hook to grab the puck with or provide a deeper pocket. You may have to adjust your shooting, but just in the same way that you're a little different with different friends: you have your own inside jokes and special rapport that's different from one person to the next, the same is true for patterns. There are some things that they like to do that you just can't do with others. Likewise, there are also just some patterns that you may find you just can't get along with. The way I shoot with a curve like the X28 is just different than how I shoot with an E4. I'll still shoot off the toe with an E4, but it's not with the same zip. Even look at Malkin: he said he was happily surprised by being able to shoot hard backhanders with a slightly straighter curve back when he used D. Pouliot's sticks and went on a tear.

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I'm fond of backhander shots, if I'm ever on a breakaway with a guy hacking at me it's always my go to. What do you think of the P46? I think Bergeron landeskog? I'd be stuck with CCM but maybe that's a good option? I don't really know. Maybe perhaps the new CCM Tavares? P45 I think?

[totalchaos 10]

I actually have both the p46 and p92 and other than the lie there really is no difference. Even the lie is really close that you may not notice any difference. I am able to shoot with both exactly the same so I don't think you'll be better off or worse off switching to the p46.

[jonesy9020 77]

The P46 and P14 are supposed to be very similar but whenever I look at a P46 in a store it looks A) like it has a longer paddle and B) like it's a bigger hook. I can't really imagine myself shooting with it. I confess I've never played an actual game with one, but it always just looks unwieldy to me.

[Cosmic 178]

BASE Malkin BC71 pro curve. I just switched over to it, only 1 game in so far but I think I like it. Looks like a Gionta. Toe curve, slightly open (about as much as P88). You need to call BASE to order. Nice thing is you can get it as part of a OPS, or as a replacement blade.

http://modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/67964-base-hockey-bc71-malkin-curve/?hl=%2Bbase+%2Bmalkin

I used to use the Warrior equivalent of P92, and due to my shooting technique (I do not roll my wrists), my shots were way waaaaaaaay high too.

Another option, if you can find, is the retail Kovalchuk in Warrior- I forget- something like W03 I think but do not quote me on that. My shots used to be golden with this curve- always right where I wanted them, but this is not my "perfect" curve for reasons below.

Easton Iginla (E7 I think) is closed too.

Problem with Iginla and Kovy curves is that they are too small in height and length, to use on bad ice surfaces, only really good on nice, smooth glass ice (which I never play on). Also, both are high lie with no rocker, so stick handling is tough.

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I take a lot of snap shots and writers but I'm not really a low kick stick kind of guy so I want something that will work well with the type of shots I take but also a full length stick I guess. I don't know if a high or lower lie will work best for me so I don't know what that rules out. I do know that I like some sort of toe because I have problems with pucks rolling off a straight curve and I do send no look passes where a big curve can help.