P88 to P28? Help please.

[starrzkyy 1]

So today I snapped my 1X clean in half on a clapper. I used to hate the stick, but I grew to love it. I can't use anything else. The puck feel is absolutely amazing. I plan on getting another one but the LE version instead. I can't really use my 8000 because the blade is so bad in my opinion. I just wanted to know how hard it is to switch from the P88 curve to a P28. I've always used smaller curves like P88 my whole life. I tend to use sticks somewhat stiffer too. In November, I got an 8000 on clearance. It's P14 and a whippier flex. I shoot over the net with that thing and it's not always flat. I truly think it's due to me not connecting with the blade and the whippy flex though. I want to use a lower lie since I skate low. I'm really interested in the P28 curve. Is it hard to transition? Do clappers suffer that much? I just want to make the right decision before dropping $250 that's all. 

[kyleo29 58]

It will be a steep learning curve thats for sure. It will take some tweaking to your mechanics to get used to shooting off the toe and what not. I tried the curve and it just didnt work with the way i shoot (poorly). Try the ovechkin(sakic) in a lie 5.

[vinprun71 61]

It does take some getting used to. If you spend time getting accustomed to shooting off the toe, you'll grow to really love the stick. Receiving passes are great and clappers still come off hard.  I'd suggest a little bit less of a flex on a P28 to allow for easier loading to make the most of the toe curve.

[flip12 717]

Also, with the blade open or neutral, you can still shoot heel to toe, you just have to release before reaching the second lie in the toe area, so about 2/3-3/4 of the blade. It makes for nice easy saucer passes that can easily be ramped up to be solid shots.

[60PlusWinger 82]

I don't think it's worth gambling $250 on an experiment. If you're curious I suggest you find the curve in a clearance stick before going all in for it, it really is a whole different world. You're talking about going from a mild mid curve to a HOOK of a toe curve. Sound advice above but it goes one of two ways, people transition nicely or they find that their mechanics can't adapt to a Kreps curve no matter how hard they try. I think you need to ask yourself why you are really interested in changing? Is it because toe curves are the new thing or is it because your game is genuinely suffering by using a P88? 

[psulion22 402]

So what did you do Starrzkyy?

 

I just replaced my broken 1N in P88.  But with the clearance prices on True sticks, I'm thinking of testing this curve out. (What's the difference between TC3 and TC4, btw?)

 

I don't load the stick much, but I tend to take mostly quick shots off the toe (without the pull).  I don't use a full heel to toe motion much at all.  With the emphasis on toe shots and getting the hands out in front to generate flex and load, it may works well for me.  I used to use a P92-5 but I switched to the P88 because I couldn't keep my passes flat with the P92.  That's a bad thing as a defenseman.  P88 puts more blade on the ice and keeps the passes down and flat, but I don't think it's doing anything for me to draw performance out of the stick.  The middle of the road blade combined with the middle of the road stick in the 1N is producing middle of the road results.  It does about everything well, but nothing stands out or is great.  I'm looking to get more out of the stick so I'm thinking that either changing the curve or the stick may be the way to get it.  Might as well try the curve first wehn I can do it for under $100 for the 5.2.

 

 

[starrzkyy 1]

15 hours ago, psulion22 said:

So what did you do Starrzkyy?

 

I just replaced my broken 1N in P88.  But with the clearance prices on True sticks, I'm thinking of testing this curve out. (What's the difference between TC3 and TC4, btw?)

 

I don't load the stick much, but I tend to take mostly quick shots off the toe (without the pull).  I don't use a full heel to toe motion much at all.  With the emphasis on toe shots and getting the hands out in front to generate flex and load, it may works well for me.  I used to use a P92-5 but I switched to the P88 because I couldn't keep my passes flat with the P92.  That's a bad thing as a defenseman.  P88 puts more blade on the ice and keeps the passes down and flat, but I don't think it's doing anything for me to draw performance out of the stick.  The middle of the road blade combined with the middle of the road stick in the 1N is producing middle of the road results.  It does about everything well, but nothing stands out or is great.  I'm looking to get more out of the stick so I'm thinking that either changing the curve or the stick may be the way to get it.  Might as well try the curve first wehn I can do it for under $100 for the 5.2.

 

 

4

I personally did not get it. I picked up an MX3 on clearance w/ P88. Tell me what you think though!

[vinprun71 61]

23 hours ago, psulion22 said:

So what did you do Starrzkyy?

 

I just replaced my broken 1N in P88.  But with the clearance prices on True sticks, I'm thinking of testing this curve out. (What's the difference between TC3 and TC4, btw?)

 

I don't load the stick much, but I tend to take mostly quick shots off the toe (without the pull).  I don't use a full heel to toe motion much at all.  With the emphasis on toe shots and getting the hands out in front to generate flex and load, it may works well for me.  I used to use a P92-5 but I switched to the P88 because I couldn't keep my passes flat with the P92.  That's a bad thing as a defenseman.  P88 puts more blade on the ice and keeps the passes down and flat, but I don't think it's doing anything for me to draw performance out of the stick.  The middle of the road blade combined with the middle of the road stick in the 1N is producing middle of the road results.  It does about everything well, but nothing stands out or is great.  I'm looking to get more out of the stick so I'm thinking that either changing the curve or the stick may be the way to get it.  Might as well try the curve first wehn I can do it for under $100 for the 5.2.

 

 

 

The TC4 has replaced the TC3. They're nearly the same thing, but the toe (it's curve) differs slightly from what I know. The TC4 is more of a E28 clone than the TC3. Personally, I don't notice too much of a difference between the two. I have a TC3 and love it. You can't go wrong with either.

[psulion22 402]

31 minutes ago, vinprun71 said:

 

The TC4 has replaced the TC3. They're nearly the same thing, but the toe (it's curve) differs slightly from what I know. The TC4 is more of a E28 clone than the TC3. Personally, I don't notice too much of a difference between the two. I have a TC3 and love it. You can't go wrong with either.

 

Thanks.  That helps a lot because if i do like the curve and want to make the switch in-game, I'll end up with a P28 meaning T4 will be closer.

 

With the difference in the curve of the toe, do you find one may be a little more forgiving than the other?

[vinprun71 61]

1 hour ago, psulion22 said:

 

Thanks.  That helps a lot because if i do like the curve and want to make the switch in-game, I'll end up with a P28 meaning T4 will be closer.

 

With the difference in the curve of the toe, do you find one may be a little more forgiving than the other?

 

I can't speak to weather or not the TC3 and TC4 differ in shooting them, but by visual standards, they aren't too far off from one another. I can only imagine that the technique wouldn't be different. That's a guess though. I could be wrong.

[psulion22 402]

My replacement 1N P88 didn't get here in time for my game yesterday, so I had to use a back up again.  Instead of using my MC True 5.2 that I wasn't happy with last game, I pulled out my old Nexus 1000 P92-5.  It was the best game with the puck I've had in probably a year.  Shots were consistently hard, passes were mostly flat and crisp.  Stickhandling was good and so was receiving passes.  Teammates even commented on how much better I was with the puck and how hard things were.  It could have been the Nexus, since I always loved that stick.  But I think the curve had a lot to do with it.  I take a lot of shots off the toe and i felt I was able to load the stick better on those.  The only problem i had was keeping shots down.  I know P28 has that open toe hook, but it doesn't seem like it has as much of a twist.  Does anyone find it easier to keep the puck down than P92?

[Giraffe14 23]

10 hours ago, psulion22 said:

My replacement 1N P88 didn't get here in time for my game yesterday, so I had to use a back up again.  Instead of using my MC True 5.2 that I wasn't happy with last game, I pulled out my old Nexus 1000 P92-5.  It was the best game with the puck I've had in probably a year.  Shots were consistently hard, passes were mostly flat and crisp.  Stickhandling was good and so was receiving passes.  Teammates even commented on how much better I was with the puck and how hard things were.  It could have been the Nexus, since I always loved that stick.  But I think the curve had a lot to do with it.  I take a lot of shots off the toe and i felt I was able to load the stick better on those.  The only problem i had was keeping shots down.  I know P28 has that open toe hook, but it doesn't seem like it has as much of a twist.  Does anyone find it easier to keep the puck down than P92?

When I first started using the p92 I was having a hard time keeping shots & passes flat (mostly passes.)  For me switching to toe curves helped straighten that out.  something about my shooting mechanics I guess.  I shoot similar to how you described your shot up-thread. 

 

I may have to try a lie 5 p92 though.  I find lower lie sticks easier to load the toe, but I like having a decent amount of rocker on my blades as well.  How much lower is the lie of a P92 lie 5 vs. p28?  (I know p28 is listed as a 5...) 

 

I'm starting to realize playing hockey isn't my actual hobby, its collecting and analyzing different curves...

[Chadd 916]

10 hours ago, psulion22 said:

My replacement 1N P88 didn't get here in time for my game yesterday, so I had to use a back up again.  Instead of using my MC True 5.2 that I wasn't happy with last game, I pulled out my old Nexus 1000 P92-5.  It was the best game with the puck I've had in probably a year.  Shots were consistently hard, passes were mostly flat and crisp.  Stickhandling was good and so was receiving passes.  Teammates even commented on how much better I was with the puck and how hard things were.  It could have been the Nexus, since I always loved that stick.  But I think the curve had a lot to do with it.  I take a lot of shots off the toe and i felt I was able to load the stick better on those.  The only problem i had was keeping shots down.  I know P28 has that open toe hook, but it doesn't seem like it has as much of a twist.  Does anyone find it easier to keep the puck down than P92?

Since you have to adjust your technique anyway for the P28, why not just work on shooting lower with the P92? Learning how to control the height/location of the shot will pay off a lot more in the long run too. 

[psulion22 402]

12 hours ago, Giraffe14 said:

When I first started using the p92 I was having a hard time keeping shots & passes flat (mostly passes.)  For me switching to toe curves helped straighten that out.  something about my shooting mechanics I guess.  I shoot similar to how you described your shot up-thread. 

 

I may have to try a lie 5 p92 though.  I find lower lie sticks easier to load the toe, but I like having a decent amount of rocker on my blades as well.  How much lower is the lie of a P92 lie 5 vs. p28?  (I know p28 is listed as a 5...) 

 

I'm starting to realize playing hockey isn't my actual hobby, its collecting and analyzing different curves...

 

They seemed pretty close to me.  P92-5 is a little higher than P88, and the P28 seemed about the same as P88.  I was only a small sample size, but I was able to keep most of my passes flat last game, even sauces.  I'm wondering if the P88 has trained me to use the middle and heel of the blade for passing and I'm releasing them before they get to the toe.

 

12 hours ago, Chadd said:

Since you have to adjust your technique anyway for the P28, why not just work on shooting lower with the P92? Learning how to control the height/location of the shot will pay off a lot more in the long run too. 

 

This is what I'm going to do.  I think I'm going to play with the P92 some more and make sure that I can keep the positives of it long term and can learn to get the shots down.  I've played one game with no warm up to just shoot.  Making a decision based off a very limited experience isn't a good idea.  The P92 will be closer to P28 than P88 is for sure, so if I adjust to the P92 as well as I'd like, I'll transition to P28.  Even spending $100 on a True 5.2 just to play with the curve seems silly right now.

[psulion22 402]

Well, pulled the trigger and ordered my P28 1N.  I went to the Bauer demo at my rink this past weekend to try out the curve, and I had no problems shooting with it.  I've used the P92 for maybe 10 games now, and have had no problems with it.  Stickhandles are better, puck control is better, and passes are still mostly flat.  So there has been very little downside to it over P88.  I've also noticed that the tape on bottom edge of the toe is worn, from lifting the heel and shooting more off the toe because of the rocker.  So that motion seems to be what I'm using which will be what I need for P28.  I had no problems at all shooting or controlling the P28 on Saturday.  Shots were hard, and came off quicker than the P92 even, and keeping the shots low was easier.  It wasn't full skating obviously, but I was happy enough that I went ahead and ordered the stick.  I spoke with the rep for a while and he said that if I tend to shoot with my hands in front and off the wrong foot a lot, P28 will be a very good curve for me once i get it dialed in.  He said he went from P92 to P28 like me, and found his shots better and more controlled and passing cleaner because the middle of the blade is flatter and more closed in P28.  So I'm optimistic.  I'll post more once I get some time with it.