prostockhockeysticks

[flip12 726]

2 hours ago, start_today said:

Yeah, his description of both Malkin blades as being “very similar” to a p88 is bizarre. It simply isn’t, and that’s super obvious side by side, and I imagine leads to a lot of disappoint. It’s like the curve on the 712 starts more towards the toe enough that it changes your shooting mechanics. And yeah, for a lot of people who aren’t nerding out on this stuff “similar to a p88” is probably true, but he gets so in the weeds talking about he similarities and differences in other curves, it’s weird he’s lazy about that description. He also seems to kinda hate p88s as old fashioned, so maybe that’s it haha. 

I keep searching for the p88 variant that will make me happy and shoot harder and more accurate and be a more complete and the answer I keep coming back to is…….just the regular p88. There is absolutely 100% not a life lesson there and I refuse to learn anything, and will continue to spend money chasing the dragon. 

As deep as Geppetty's hatred for P88 goes, his loathing for E4/PM9 is even deeper. He refuses to acknowledge its existence, even when it's necessary for explaining both Kovalchuk's and Malkin's curves. Both players have had tons of variations of their curves, but their main set plays on variations of E4/PM9 with a toe curve.

[Yardelm 5]

16 hours ago, Duke16 said:

I used it on the OG Red for awhile - nothing special imo.

It really is just a P92 that is flatter towards the middle and then very straight at the heel. That modification didn't do much for me. It wasn't a difficult adjustment or anything, but I prefer the way a regular P92 feels - more loft earlier helps random quick shots come off nicer and I think saucer passes feel better with it as well, including on the backhand

The main Oatesy benefit is probably a larger backhand sweetspot for backhand shooting specifically, but I think the P92 is just fine. It probably offers better control if you do a lot of your work at the heel of the blade too since it's very straight for the first few inches at the heel.

I've also tried the Zegras, Caufield, and Laine in an attempt to use more toe, but I always come back to a regular P92. It's just so versatile. I find toe curve feels great stickhandling, but really reward good puck placement/mechanics when shooting, and it can go poorly otherwise. Maybe Ive just used the P92 so long and can't properly adjust to anything with the same well-rounded results, but I like that I can always pick spots and get solid shots off without thinking about the puck placement on the blade or the mechanics of my shot. I always shoot off the toe when I have time to think about it, but I'm definitely more prone to whiffing with toe curves in the random/quick shooting scenarios.

I think the perfect curve would have the depth of a Zegras/P92 exact midpoint and the blade shape of the Laine in lie 5.5 or 6. Until that exists, P92 it is. PRO has the P92 with Laine blade shape on the customizer (which I was one of the main pushers of), but Lie 6.5 is too high for me to seriously switch to it.

Thanks! I appreciate the thorough input! I ordered a w77 warrior curve, which is the pro stock code for the Oates curve for Warrior. Found a good deal on some LX2 Pro’s on sideline. Sounds like it’s will be like good ol faithful p92. Which is what I want anyway. I think I will like the flat spot but we’ll see!

[helmet91 18]

After reading this thread and a few others out there on the Google Machine, I ordered two customs PSHS.  My spoiled twins have had a handful of custom Bauer sticks over the last few seasons; one of the boys loves the P106 curve, which is impossible to find anywhere other than with customs.  The other kid likes a P92.

Here's the builds:

Red Line - Senior Right handed

70 flex

Rounded square, mid-kick - gloss with ribbed corners

PRO1616 (supposedly similar to P106), retail textured

Red Line Premium Graphic in LA (silver) colorway

 

2nd build is similar, differences are:

Right

PRO92

Grip, no texture

Ottawa colorway

 

Now to wait the 100+ days!  Should get them in time for captain's skates with tryouts at the end of October (high school hockey).  Definitely excited to see if they like them - if so we'll probably just throw together an order for 5+.

 

Sidenote" one of the boys went through a retail Tracer in less than a month - less than three hours on the ice and the damn thing gave up the ghost.  Currently waiting to hear back from the retailer in Germany to see what they say after providing all the requested details/photos for the warranty claim.

 

Edited June 9 by helmet91

[A2rhino 76]

helmet91; Not trying to stir the pot here and truthfully your son may not notice but wanted to make you aware that the only part of the 1616 that resembles the P106 is the blade shape. The actual curve is more similar to a P89 (DARBY) with a toe curve. See below.

Description: Very slight loft from the heel like the "Darby" for all the old timers and then has a nice toe curve but still a very modest curve overall.

 

Edited June 13 by A2rhino

[flip12 726]

P86 == Darby? In which brand's catalog?

[A2rhino 76]

My bad. P89. Bauer

[flip12 726]

3 hours ago, A2rhino said:

My bad. P89. Bauer

Easy Jimi the 6 into a 9 now that P86 is the hot new sliced bread. I wish P89 were the hype. My favorite retail curve of all time, just ahead of E4 and P28.

[A2rhino 76]

Agreed. I used it for years and actually still have 5 sticks. 4 OLD SCHOOL Easton S19"s and an old Warrior W04

Edited 7 hours ago by A2rhino

[sturdy22 29]

On 6/13/2025 at 6:19 AM, A2rhino said:

helmet91; Not trying to stir the pot here and truthfully your son may not notice but wanted to make you aware that the only part of the 1616 that resembles the P106 is the blade shape. The actual curve is more similar to a P89 (DARBY) with a toe curve. See below.

Description: Very slight loft from the heel like the "Darby" for all the old timers and then has a nice toe curve but still a very modest curve overall.

 

Being an avid user of the P106 and P89 I agree With your description of the 1616.

I still have P106 and P89 blades that I’m saving and went with the 1616 because of the comparison to the 106 in the description. I have A bunch of PROs and I really Like the 1616 and have been using it for about a year over the others.

my son just got a 1910 in a righty so I can’t use it but it’s a nice curve and I think it will be my next purchase.

[flip12 726]

12 hours ago, A2rhino said:

Agreed. I used it for years and actually still have 5 sticks. 4 OLD SCHOOL Easton S19"s and an old Warrior W12

S19 Darbys! I'm jealous. I have one ST dressed as the Stealth tease. That thing has held up like a tank. I keep coming back to it, even though I'm mostly rotating P28s these days. I keep wondering about the origins of the Darby. I know there's a story about it being named after an Easton exec, but from what I remember about that story, he wasn't even a hockey guy. My guess is it's Ray Bourque's curve.

 

4 hours ago, sturdy22 said:

Being an avid user of the P106 and P89 I agree With your description of the 1616.

I still have P106 and P89 blades that I’m saving and went with the 1616 because of the comparison to the 106 in the description. I have A bunch of PROs and I really Like the 1616 and have been using it for about a year over the others.

my son just got a 1910 in a righty so I can’t use it but it’s a nice curve and I think it will be my next purchase.

That's good to hear about the 1616. I think I'll get one next time I order from Pro. It looks almost exactly like what I want in a curve.

[A2rhino 76]

I had bought a PRO1910 before as well. Its basically the CCM P19 which is more a Mid Heel P92. Really nice curve for sure. 

[helmet91 18]

Thanks for the info on the PRO1616...  I guess we'll see if he notices.