I'm hopping on the bandwagon

[notorious#29 0]

Bored so I'd add some custom shots:

^ "I think I love you, but what am I so afraid of" I want one! what curve is that?

[mack 44]

Mine, mine and mine. Technically it's 3 curves, tinkered a smidge with the first two and the last is altogether different.

[notorious#29 0]

I love them

[LetsGoWings13 0]

that is a sweet curve i want to get customs made of that curve. what are the specs

[mack 44]

Lie is about 7

[Accord 0]

I've decided to take the plunge and go composite after breaking my last Sher-wood SOP the other night. I've been checking out shafts and OPS at my LHS but am torn between sticks. I've been reading threads on OPS' in this forum for quite sometime but lose interest quickly because I never thought I would go that route...don't I feel like as ass, now...

I am seeking advice for a budget conscious consumer (tuition costs an arm and a leg in BC) who wants a balance between performance and durability. I am looking hard at the Mission M1, Louisville Response and the CCM Vector 110. old school OPS by todays standards but they're cheap! If it helps Cyclone Taylor's and The Hockey Shop are my LHS'

Thanks in advance folks

I was just like you up until a few months ago, I used woodies my whole life until one day I just randomly began finding an interest in OPS' and shafts. I went on an OPS and shaft binge and bought all sorts of sticks and combos and after about a month of a lot of wasted money and trial and error, I found myself right back to where I started with wooden sticks.

If you have used woodies your entire life, changes are you probably won't like the feel of an OPS, I know I didn't.

I absolutely HATE the feel of composite sticks, but I love their light weight. Going from woodies my whole life to an OPS, I felt like I was holding a tooth pick or something. But I just hated the feel of every OPS I tried and every shaft/composite blade combo that I tried.

I have since been using a Mission M-2 shaft with wooden blades. Very lightweight, great performance, and I get the awesome feel of a wooden stick with the benefits of a composite shaft. It's also by far the cheapest option available, if you break a blade, no problem, they're cheap to replace.

[Jason16 0]

Alot of OPS taper to offer a larger "kickpoint" but that is usually taken into accoutn when the flex is determinted. Everybrand is somewhat different though, and not all brands are consistent.

Alot of teammates that have used the M1 have broken the blade within the first 2 months though, but then again by alot i mean the 2 M1s ive seen. If your price range is around $120 CDN im sure you can find a high end stick. It's a shame Inno's arent as widely available in BC, i managed to get innos cheap in ONT. If your ordering online from a US shop, try the xn10, it is very highly praised on this board, and should be about $120-$130 USD i think.

Unfortunately, $120 CDN will not buy you a high-end stick. Perhaps a high-end shaft, but defintely not a OPS. The Xn10 retails for ~$200 CDN. I just cannot justify spending that much for one stick.

I was just like you up until a few months ago, I used woodies my whole life until one day I just randomly began finding an interest in OPS' and shafts. I went on an OPS and shaft binge and bought all sorts of sticks and combos and after about a month of a lot of wasted money and trial and error, I found myself right back to where I started with wooden sticks.

It's ironic you should bring this point up because I bought the M1 today and broke it in the same day. It's a ProStock so it wasn't under warrenty but the guys at The Hockey Shop were kind enough to give me a refund. I don't have enough of the multi-coloured paper to go through a trial and error period with composites so I sent my order in for 12 tried and tested SOPs

I have since been using a Mission M-2 shaft with wooden blades. Very lightweight, great performance, and I get the awesome feel of a wooden stick with the benefits of a composite shaft. It's also by far the cheapest option available, if you break a blade, no problem, they're cheap to replace.

I was looking at shafts today as well, but I have already grown to prefer the weight of lumber; a lighter stick feels too vulnerable in my mind despite knowing the strength of composite materials. So much of this is mental and I'm too unwilling to fix something that isn't broken. But who knows, I just may become a little careless and vicarious when the money comes in

[EBondo 242]

Didnt want to start a new thread......but speaking of bandwagons, I'm hopping on the Drury bandwagon. This curve is perfect. I fell in love with heel curves wen i switched to modanos, and with the drury the loft gives me the height i need in tight situations(I'm a lazy shooter at times) and the curve is perfect for stickhandling. I love the drury curve.

I am in the same wagon as you. I was (and still am) a big Modo fan. But I payed more attention to my Nike Lemieux when I heard all the great things said about that type of curve on this board. I do like my wristers alot better than other curves, but still have problems with my slapper. Did you have problems adjusting?

wait so the Lemuix pattern is a clone of the Drury? cuz i have a lemeuix blade and i absolutely love the curve

[the iceman 132]

I'm off the bandwagon...my lhs got some wood Synthesis blades in.

[Andoy 5]

Sucks to hear about your M1. I also had a problem with the soft blade of the M1 but ever since then I've been using a Vector 100. For the price tag the Vector is pretty balanced and pretty durable (I've had mine for 7 months now)! The only plus side is that you're only limited to a choice of two curves (Recchi and Thornton).

You know if you go back to hockeyshop they are selling Vapor XV shafts for 129 Cdn. That might be worth a look!

[cds 0]

wait so the Lemuix pattern is a clone of the Drury? cuz i have a lemeuix blade and i absolutely love the curve

Yep.

[hip check 0]

A teammate switched back to wood after trying 6-7 different OPS. Couldn't get used to the feel, had (still has!!) terrible hands and needs all the help he can get with a soft touch. Went to an Easton woodie and raves about how great it is!

Personal preference, yet again.

(Same with Mack's curves - they are hideous! ;) )

[stickler012 0]

What about the Easton Havoc? It is only $80 USD

[A_Steeves12 0]

im a fan of the 2piece at the moment. my r2 broke and i didnt have the money for a ops so i bought a redlite. i got the whip flex my teammates convinced me to try a whippy shaft and i love it now.