More Important, Curve or Flex?

[SlaterC42 51]

Hey everyone, over the past few months my wife has been playing pickup hockey with a bunch of other women she knows. She's been using a 60 flex/P88 Bauer, and seems to like it. We want to go skate around at some of the local tennis courts together and she needs an outdoor stick. I'm thinking of getting her a Sher-Wood 5030 but can't decide if I should go with a senior flex and get the curve she's used to, or try and match the flex she's used to with a different curve. I'm probably totally overthinking it, as we're just going be messing around, but I was curious what everyone thought was more important. Thanks guys!

[Mimizk 114]

She plays hockey on the tennis court, not ice? And also with ground shoes, not roller skate?

I give priority to stick length firstly. Using the same stick as I've been using on the ice when I practice on shooting floor but cut it shorter. So the flex would be stiffer but it's smaller problem for me. The friction coefficient is different so I don't mind it.

[Tyler Roy 86]

For an outdoor stick I don't think its a huge deal. Grab something thats close enough and she'll be set. Bauer makes street hockey sticks so finding the curve shouldn't be too hard.

[SlaterC42 51]

She plays hockey on the tennis court, not ice? And also with ground shoes, not roller skate?

I give priority to stick length firstly. Using the same stick as I've been using on the ice when I practice on shooting floor but cut it shorter. So the flex would be stiffer but it's smaller problem for me. The friction coefficient is different so I don't mind it.

It's for playing outdoor roller hockey while the weather's still nice.

For an outdoor stick I don't think its a huge deal. Grab something thats close enough and she'll be set. Bauer makes street hockey sticks so finding the curve shouldn't be too hard.

All the street hockey sticks in lower flexes seem to use more open curves, the Bauer ones have a P92 curve. It seems like Sher-Wood are the only one's to offer a PP88 curve on an outdoor stick, but when I move down to a lower flex it's only available in a PP77.

[z1ggy 81]

Honestly I just use my regular ice hockey (old stick obviously) and put a ton of white tape on the bottom of the blade.

If this isn't appealing, my 2nd choice is a shaft in the flex that I normally use for ice with an ABS blade that is closest to the lie and curve I use for ice.

[boo10 323]

Stick with the same curve. She will want a consistent curve to work on passing, puck handling and shooting. Too many variables affect flex for it to remain consistent between roller and ice.

At the risk of starting a flame war, I'll just say that flex is far less important than folks on this board will have you believe. It is a factor, but far less important than curve, lie and length. After one has developed good technique, only then can they fully benefit from a 10-15 point difference in flex.

Flame away! :)

[start_today 773]

If you use a wood stick outside, you'll have to buy a new one after about 5 hours of use. Get something meant for outdoor use. It's probably cheaper anyway.

[isk8byu 4]

I am a firm believer that the "lie" is the most underrated aspects of a stick when someone is switching and should be considered just as important (if not more) than curve and flex.

[Vet88 674]

If you are not doing a lot of shooting then stick with the same curve and don't worry to much about the flex. Alternatively don't by a new stick but buy one of these:

http://www.hockeywraparound.com/

and solve all of your problems.

And add in a green biscuit and it's the best off ice training you can do.

[mjpisat 36]

http://www.hockeygiant.com/myl60crosabh.html

[ibeck 38]

I am a firm believer that the "lie" is the most underrated aspects of a stick when someone is switching and should be considered just as important (if not more) than curve and flex.

+ 1 different curves have different shapes and in my experience (before I settled on a curve) I would use different heights for different patterns and lies.