Who avoids taking slap shots ?

[kmfdm86 112]

As someone with a terrible wrist shot, I would just like to say I sometimes enjoy slap shots and their wild inaccuracy. Haha.

 

I can't imagine not taking them out of fear for the well being of my stick. It's what they're designed for. 

[MrData 93]

On 2016-03-22 at 3:30 AM, syinx said:

I felt the same way for a while.  It was a bit of a mixture - my slapshot was never something I used much because a) it wasn't my best shot and I wasn't comfortable with it, and b) I was worried I'd break my sticks.  I'm also a centerman and I used it as an excuse to not take slapshots.

 

I then echoed the same sentiment to my shooting instructor at BASE hockey when I was doing shooting instruction and stick fitting.  He told me that it was a bad excuse - "It isn't that you never needed it, but you never played in a way that gave yourself the space to pull it off".  He told me that it's better to have it in the arsenal and not be afraid to use it when needed, than need it and refuse to/are unable to use it.

 

I got fit with a correct-flexing (both flex and flex region) and correctly-curved stick and stopped breaking sticks.  I still don't have a cannon of a shot, but I'm less afraid to hammer down and take the big clapper if the situation warrants it.  

 

I understand how you feel about finding a discontinued stick you love (I was that way about the Nexus 1000 sticks until the 1N came out), but I don't think it's a good thing if your gear reduces the weapons in your repertoire, whether physically due to badly-fitted equipment, or psychologically.

 

This is so true.  First, so much stick breakage is due to people using a stick with the wrong specs, whether it be improper length for the lie of their curve (or improper lie for the length), improper flex, wrong flex point for their shooting mechanic, etc. I know I had this problem before - I used super long sticks that were actually taller than I am. I kept destroying my sticks in the blade, so I bought the cheapest composite sticks I could find because I didn't want to spend money on a stick that would break soon anyway. That made it less fun to play, and I got less practice, so the vicious circle went on. A few years ago I decided to cut down my sticks drastically until I felt more comfortable stickhandling and shooting, and it made all the difference in the world.

 

As for your second point, this is true as well. I must admit that I have fallen into this trap somewhat (not wanting to break a rare/special stick), but it manifests itself differently for me. Instead of avoiding slapshots with that stick in a game, I'll refrain from using the stick in games at all, relegating it to a stick-and-puck only role. That's pretty absurd, of course, but sometimes you just don't want to face the music, haha! Nowadays I'm liquidating sticks in my collection that I don't use in games (wrong curve, wrong flex, no grip, rare stick, etc.) and only buying sticks that I know I will use. What's the point otherwise?

 

Full disclaimer though: I've still got a few beauties that I hang onto for mostly sentimental or collector reasons...

[syinx 139]

Recently snapped a 1N two weeks after receiving it from MyBauer.  Due to a recent change in linemates I've found myself with a lot more space of late, and can afford to take slapshots and one-timers.  I spent 3 one-hour shooting sessions doing nothing but slapshots as it was the one shot I never worked on much, and that stick probably saw about ~300 slapshots.  While I see where you're coming from, I see it as it being used for the purpose it was intended for.  I'm also the kind of guy who thinks shoes shouldn't be collected, but rather worn until they fall apart, then replaced.

 

Warranty's due to send me a replacement custom in 4 weeks.  I went back to my regular 1Ns and just kept hammering away.  It did its job and fell in battle.

[GreatestAmericanBeardo 258]

8 hours ago, syinx said:

It did its job and fell in battle.

 

just be careful when you sent it off to Valhalla. those composite sticks have a tendency to off gas when burned in the Pyre.  :D  

[NiCnoK 61]

10 hours ago, syinx said:

Recently snapped a 1N two weeks after receiving it from MyBauer.  Due to a recent change in linemates I've found myself with a lot more space of late, and can afford to take slapshots and one-timers.  I spent 3 one-hour shooting sessions doing nothing but slapshots as it was the one shot I never worked on much, and that stick probably saw about ~300 slapshots.  While I see where you're coming from, I see it as it being used for the purpose it was intended for.  I'm also the kind of guy who thinks shoes shouldn't be collected, but rather worn until they fall apart, then replaced.

 

Warranty's due to send me a replacement custom in 4 weeks.  I went back to my regular 1Ns and just kept hammering away.  It did its job and fell in battle.

 

 

Perfect time to break a stick. Two or three more weeks and that would've really sucked. Good job.

[chippa13 1844]

14 hours ago, syinx said:

Recently snapped a 1N two weeks after receiving it from MyBauer.  Due to a recent change in linemates I've found myself with a lot more space of late, and can afford to take slapshots and one-timers.  I spent 3 one-hour shooting sessions doing nothing but slapshots as it was the one shot I never worked on much, and that stick probably saw about ~300 slapshots.  While I see where you're coming from, I see it as it being used for the purpose it was intended for.  I'm also the kind of guy who thinks shoes shouldn't be collected, but rather worn until they fall apart, then replaced.

 

Warranty's due to send me a replacement custom in 4 weeks.  I went back to my regular 1Ns and just kept hammering away.  It did its job and fell in battle.

 

The stick did its job and fell in battle after 300 slapshots? Yeah, that's warranty worthy.

[syinx 139]

4 hours ago, chippa13 said:

 

The stick did its job and fell in battle after 300 slapshots? Yeah, that's warranty worthy.

 

It was the first time I've ever had to warranty a stick.  Explained the situation (as above) to the Warranty Rep as I too wasn't sure if it fit the bill, and was offered either a retail stick in my curve or a custom stick in five weeks.  

 

I'm really impressed with the durability on Bauer's twigs.  My retail 1N has seen about as many shots since I broke the custom, and still hasn't lost its pop.