Tapered Shafts: Popularity

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

many people would rather buy a one piece and cut it after it breaks than buying tapered shaft for 180cdn when the synergys are 200 cdn.

Thats a real good point. What would make anyone choose that over a OPS when there is virtually no price difference?

Umm...I don't know where in Canada you live buy here regular Synergys still cost $10 more than Response +'s at $249.99CDN. Synth's cost $189.99CDN and Grips are at $199.99CDN. Inno 1100 with ploarfiber are $149.99CDN, and R2's are $159.99CDN.

[Chadd 916]

I had 85 and 100 synths and didn't notice much difference, though I'm sure one could have been labelled incorrectly. Right now, my favorite combo is a Response shaft and pro wood Easton t-flex blade. I use an R flex response shaft with a plug, so I'm guessing the flex is pretty similar.

I haven't analyzed where the extra flex is coming from, just going by feel.

[kosydar 0]

many people would rather buy a one piece and cut it after it breaks than buying tapered shaft for 180cdn when the synergys are 200 cdn.

Thats a real good point. What would make anyone choose that over a OPS when there is virtually no price difference?

Umm...I don't know where in Canada you live buy here regular Synergys still cost $10 more than Response +'s at $249.99CDN. Synth's cost $189.99CDN and Grips are at $199.99CDN. Inno 1100 with ploarfiber are $149.99CDN, and R2's are $159.99CDN.

I don't live in Canada, but he does and if those prices are correct, there is no incentive to buy a tapered shaft. However, in online stores, tapered shafts are usually around $110, and OPS $150, so there is enough of a difference for it to matter.

[Lester8 11]

Couple of weeks ago after shinny, I was talking to guys about sticks. One guy noticed my Si-core, but I pointed out to him that I cut the blade off and put in a wood one. He was surprised that could be done. Then I pointed out the same thing was done on his silver synergy shaft and he looked at it like it was the first time. Another guy had a standard Novuis shaft, I asked him why he didn't go for the tapered version and he replied, "Tapered is only for one piece sticks." Another guy in the room, it was his first time playing shinny. I refered them all to Core Beam. I'm the only guy I know has a clue.

I only play with standard combos for beaters. Other than that, it's always taper combos. I noticed that taper shafts are not much cheaper than OPS, but it's not like a see all OPS out there. I say we all move to one city, rename it to Taper City and only have tapered shafts in our LHS.

[Miserable 6]

many people would rather buy a one piece and cut it after it breaks than buying tapered shaft for 180cdn when the synergys are 200 cdn.

Thats a real good point. What would make anyone choose that over a OPS when there is virtually no price difference?

Umm...I don't know where in Canada you live buy here regular Synergys still cost $10 more than Response +'s at $249.99CDN. Synth's cost $189.99CDN and Grips are at $199.99CDN. Inno 1100 with ploarfiber are $149.99CDN, and R2's are $159.99CDN.

The difference is a little closer once you factor in a composite blade. If I had to guess I would say in most cases a shaft/blade combo would be about 10-20 dollars less then a OPS.

My question would be why buy an OPS to turn it into a shaft if you want a shaft? What if it breaks high up on the shaft and you can't reuse it? You just doubled your expense.

[kosydar 0]

With an OPS, you get the same tapered effect as you do with a tapered blade/shaft combo, so its basically like buying a tapered shaft and blade at the same time. When I buy an OPS, I always look at it like buying a new tapered shaft and blade at once. I don't really see your point, you can also break tapered shafts in the shaft too, so if its close enough in price, why not just buy the same shaft in an OPS (unless of course you plan on putting wood blades in it, or don't like any curves that the OPS comes in).

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

The composite blades here are $80 for tapered Synth blades. So a Synthesis works out to more than a Synergy but I got mine on sale for $200CDN for a blade and the shaft. The R2's and 1100's with composite blades are worth it because you can change the blade and stuff. That is actually the question I'm asking myself right now. Do I want a Response + or a Tapered 1100 with a comp. blade, or a 1100 OPS.

[Miserable 6]

With an OPS, you get the same tapered effect as you do with a tapered blade/shaft combo, so its basically like buying a tapered shaft and blade at the same time. When I buy an OPS, I always look at it like buying a new tapered shaft and blade at once. I don't really see your point, you can also break tapered shafts in the shaft too, so if its close enough in price, why not just buy the same shaft in an OPS (unless of course you plan on putting wood blades in it, or don't like any curves that the OPS comes in).

I like wood blades so I wouldn't use a OPS and then cut it once it breaks.

The point I'm trying to make is why take a chance on where the shaft will break if you don't have to? What if you screw the shaft up cutting out the broken blade? Why waste the time cutting out the blade if you intended to use the OPS as a shaft in the first place? Just seems like work that could be avoided but to each his own I guess. I personally would pay the differnce between the two set ups to not have to worry about cutting the blade out or breaking the shft in half before I got a chance to change it out.

[bulletproof_funk 0]

With an OPS, you get the same tapered effect as you do with a tapered blade/shaft combo, so its basically like buying a tapered shaft and blade at the same time.  When I buy an OPS, I always look at it like buying a new tapered shaft and blade at once.  I don't really see your point, you can also break tapered shafts in the shaft too, so if its close enough in price, why not just buy the same shaft in an OPS (unless of course you plan on putting wood blades in it, or don't like any curves that the OPS comes in).

I like wood blades so I wouldn't use a OPS and then cut it once it breaks.

The point I'm trying to make is why take a chance on where the shaft will break if you don't have to? What if you screw the shaft up cutting out the broken blade? Why waste the time cutting out the blade if you intended to use the OPS as a shaft in the first place? Just seems like work that could be avoided but to each his own I guess. I personally would pay the differnce between the two set ups to not have to worry about cutting the blade out or breaking the shft in half before I got a chance to change it out.

I agree with you, Mis. That's the same reason I chose the Synthesis over another Synergy. The time I would spend mucking with a broken OPS isn't worth saving $30 CDN over a reg. Synergy. I get the freedom to choose whatever blade material, make or pattern I want (subject to availability and selection), and for me this makes it worth it to spend a little extra.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

And if you break the shaft its only $189CDN to replace, not $250 like a Synergy, and with the new Si-Core blades coeming out it will be even better. A Si-Core will be alot cheaper, well atleast somthing that preforms exactly like it.

[Guest 2048]

Shops around here aren't carrying them at all.  I find that most of the pro shop employees around here don't think there's a benefit to the tapered shafts.

bingo. The guy at the pro-shop i was at told my friend that there's almost no diff between flipping a synergy over and cutting it for a tapered blade.

Edit- I see some travel players using synth shafts from time to time and I've seen two other flyweights. Otherwise, nothing.

[Dave 1]

To answer the initial question in this thread: I have not yet seen a single tapered shaft in Germany, neither in my league nor in pro.

I guess my local shop would be able to get me a Synthesis if I droppped a fortune, but they don't stock it. Broken OPS here are either flipped or cut enough to accept a reg blade. Haven't even seen a tapered blade yet.

On a general note, the stick market in non-pro hockey here is still dominated by wood. OPS are just too expensive here. You see a lot of comp shafts with laughably cheap blades in them. Most comp shafts here (90+ %) are Eastons, still largely dominated by the UltraLight. It's so funny to see guys with a z-bubble putting an ABS blade in it...

[Eazy_b97 1]

with the new Si-Core blades coeming out it will be even better. A Si-Core will be alot cheaper, well atleast somthing that preforms exactly like it.

Why would you buy a Si-core blade, when you can actually have a wood blade? Wood is cheaper, and I find at least as durable as Easton blades.

[kosydar 0]

With an OPS, you get the same tapered effect as you do with a tapered blade/shaft combo, so its basically like buying a tapered shaft and blade at the same time.  When I buy an OPS, I always look at it like buying a new tapered shaft and blade at once.  I don't really see your point, you can also break tapered shafts in the shaft too, so if its close enough in price, why not just buy the same shaft in an OPS (unless of course you plan on putting wood blades in it, or don't like any curves that the OPS comes in).

I like wood blades so I wouldn't use a OPS and then cut it once it breaks.

The point I'm trying to make is why take a chance on where the shaft will break if you don't have to? What if you screw the shaft up cutting out the broken blade? Why waste the time cutting out the blade if you intended to use the OPS as a shaft in the first place? Just seems like work that could be avoided but to each his own I guess. I personally would pay the differnce between the two set ups to not have to worry about cutting the blade out or breaking the shft in half before I got a chance to change it out.

I totally see what you're saying. I see OPS as not only an OPS, but also a future tapered shaft. The reason that I buy OPS as opposed to tapered shafts/blades is because of the curve selection. If I could get better curves in tapered blades, I doubt I'd buy OPS anymore. If I found some tapered blades that I really liked then I would straight out buy a tapered shaft. But because that hasn't happened yet, I'm still buying OPS and then saving the tapered shafts for when I do find tapered blades I like.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

What OPS curves/sticks do you use?

[Ryan_04 0]

MOst people dont know what a tapered shaft is where I live.

Same thing around here. I would have purchased one at the beginning of the year if it wasn't for the lack of blade selection.

[kosydar 0]

I really like open heel curves. However, I won't ever use a Synthesis blade again, wasn't a huge fan of the R2 blade, and none of the Inno reatil curves appeal to me too much. Plus, its much easier to find a curve that you like in a GI OPS than it is in a GI tapered blade, just because of the sheer number of GI OPS there are. But when the L-2 comes out, I'll definately be picking one of those up. And if none of the Mission curves work for me, then I guess I'll get some Legends.

[Chris_H 0]

Many people don`t research when buying a stick, it`s more of an impulse buy, and I think that may be the reason for the lack of tapered shafts. Also thew fact that many people will just by OPS instead of an equally expensive shaft and blade because of the commodity of shafts.

Around here, there are not many tapered shafts, alot of OPS and standard shafts.

[mack 44]

Good points about pattern selection. If you don't like the retail patterns (which all seem to be inbred variations of each company's patterns) then you're SOL unless you can get a good stash of GI tapereds. If I could find fugly patterns that I use in tapered I'd be more apt to go with one.

[43%burnt 0]

I'm strange, I prefer a long hosel on my tapered blade. I'm not a huge fan of the short hosel versions.

the short ones just make me have to make a longer but end too. that gets annoying. i'm thinking about selling me t-flex after my last whitney blade dies. i just can't find any decent curve i like in tapered blades. the one's that are close are pro ones that are already rare enough.

[Kirsch 1]

Well first of all, as I've said a coupel of times, I live in Iowa. Here we have 2 shops that sell hockey equipment. Dunhams which is a sporting good store but they only stock low end wood sticks. The other is the pro shop in the arena I play at. They have a very limited selection. I was really surpirsed to see that they do have the Easton Synthesis but it was priced at a whopping $150. Other than that they sell woodies and a couple OPSs.

BTW Shorthanded do you live in STL or in the STL area? I lived in St. Peters for 5 years so it'd be and I played at the Rec-Plex when I lived there.

[Shorthanded67 0]

I live in St. Louis (Florissant) but I play almost 90% of my hockey in St. Peters which is only 30 minutes away at the MSG Tri-Plex(roller only). I am familiar with the Rec-Plex though.

[Miserable 6]

I totally see what you're saying. I see OPS as not only an OPS, but also a future tapered shaft. The reason that I buy OPS as opposed to tapered shafts/blades is because of the curve selection. If I could get better curves in tapered blades, I doubt I'd buy OPS anymore. If I found some tapered blades that I really liked then I would straight out buy a tapered shaft. But because that hasn't happened yet, I'm still buying OPS and then saving the tapered shafts for when I do find tapered blades I like.

I hear you there. I can't really find a blade I like in a tapered model yet. I'm going to a couple shops this weekend to look around. If I don't find one I like, I might just get some custom ones made up. If not, I'll just stick with my 1100 until some new patterns come out.

[bulletproof_funk 0]

I find tapered blades have to be really light to match the balance of some OPS. Any extra weight seems more noticable in the whippier tapered shafts. Those using stiff shafts might not even notice though.

[Kirsch 1]

Shorthanded - yeah when I played there I was in 4th -5th grade, so it's been a long while :) I don't even think the MSG tri-plex existed. I do know some people that play down there though.