Buying The Right Hockey Sticks

One of the biggest assets a hockey player can have is a great shot. These days, there are literally hundreds of sticks, from wood, composite, to aluminum. They also range in price, from hundreds of dollars to around $30. Choose wisely, because no one wants a $250 hockey stick that just gathers dust in the basement.

The sticks that is making the biggest splash are the "one piece" all composite sticks. These sticks are fragile, break easy, and some players complain that they can't "feel" the puck with them. However, there is no doubt about it that you can shoot a lot harder with these sticks. Here are a few of the best one piece composite hockey sticks on the market today.

The Easton Synergy Line

The most popular one piece hockey sticks. Easton made the first one piece ever, called the Synergy. It took the hockey world by storm, boosting players shots by 10 -15%. This spawned a new era for sticks and stick prices. The current top of the line sticks are the Synergy Elite, the Synergy ST, and the Synergy 2 , a shaft model. All three of these sticks are very good quality. The best stick of this lot would be the Synergy ST, followed by the Elite, and then the Synergy 2. The differences between the sticks are subtle, but the price range is not. Make sure that you test them out, to find out which one suits your playing style the best.

The Easton Stealth

A shooters stick. I found that this stick is best for pure snipers. The feel is not very good, and it is very hard to get used to handling the puck with it. However, your shot will be very hard, and extremely accurate. I also felt that this stick was more responsive than most, so that a player could easily get quick shots of on the net.

CCM

The only stick in this arsenal of CCM that is worth talking about in my opinion are the new OTS V10 Catapult. They are very durable ( for a one piece), handle the puck reasonably well, and have a very large sweet spot. Meaning you can get a good, hard shot off from almost any awkward position on the ice.

RBK

A newcomer to the hockey stick scene, RBK has made quite the name for themselves as a quality hockey stick maker. There new top of the line sticks are the "Sickick" line. The 7K Sickick is their number 1. It has a relatively good feel, insane response, and a very durable, stiffer blade. There other stick is their Sickick 7K Snake Grip. This is a lighter version of the Sickick 7K, and it has a little bit more grip. I highly recommend players to try out RBK sticks.

Bauer

The past few years, Bauer has fallen behind on the stick market. Their products have been known to break very easily, and being far to over priced. However, they have come out with a few very good sticks. The Vapor Line, which the two best are the Vapor XXX lite and the lesser XX. The XXX lite is probably the lightest stick on the market. The flex and response is very good. The durability is questionable, but it is no doubt a very good stick.

The Vapor One90 is probably their best stick to date. However, it is very stiff, and to maximize the performance from this stick, it is recommended that you pick a lower flex than usual. They are very durable, and reasonably well priced. I recommend players this stick.

Wood, Two Piece or One Piece?

This decision is really up to the player. Some people swear by the wood sticks, citing that they cost less and are more reliable. Of course, there are the one piece crowd, who claim that harder, accurate shots are better than superior puckhandling or durability. My stick of choice is the shaft and wooden blade, or otherwise known as the two piece. I am more of a puckhandler and playmaker, so I do need that extra feel for the puck. However, I also get more power and response out of my stick with the shaft.

What it all boils down to is this, what is the best stick for you as a player? Are you a defensive defenceman? Chances are you are going to need a stiff, one piece stick for slapshots. Sniper? An Easton one piece Stealth. Playmaker? A shaft with a wooden or just a wooden stick would be the best fit for you.

In closing, hockey sticks are a very important part of a players game. Choosing the right one for you can maximize your performance on the ice.


Hockey Maven


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