So I finally caved

[Echolalia 2,961]

I've been riding wood (that's what she said) my entire playing career and they have always worked well enough. At the very least I've never broken a stick in play before. Anyway, yesterday I was out with my buddy who was shopping for a new stick and the place we went to had a bunch of deals on 09 models that they were trying to get rid of. The combination of the deal and my friend's thorough convincing resulted in me taking a chance on the Warrior Dolomite 09 Olympic model. I wanted to fly with the Finland edition but they didn't have a 100 flex with anything but Canada so I went with that.

I haven't tried it out but I'm looking forward to our next game. My buddy keeps going on about how my shot and stick-handling will be much quicker, so I'm anxious to see what kind of changes, if any, occur.

So what do you guys roll with? Wood, composite? What sort of flex and lie do you prefer? etc etc blah

[Broken 16 381]

I notice slight improvements in those areas when I horse around with my composite. But I still prefer the weight and feel of lumber.

Edited September 30, 2010 by Broken 16

[cjm502 165]

The Dolomite is a nice stick. Composites feel a lot different, get used to it and you will like that stick.

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

Just be ready for the day your new purchase literally falls apart in your hands. I was a bit shocked the first time it happened to me. Realizing I just paid all of that money just for that to happen a couple weeks later.

[hooon 1,089]

I was never able to get used to the aluminum ones, and have never even tried a composite. I've always been curious to try one and see if I can get used to it, but I just can't afford a stick at that price, especially if its more likely to break.

Let us know how it goes.

[Hiei 192]

Let us know how nice it was in 3 weeks when it shatters.

I picked one up at the hockey store this past year and just held it. Looked at the salesman and told him "You REALLY expect this spaghetti noodle to hold up?"

[cjm502 165]

I dont get the composite hate, some of those sticks will last a pretty long time. I have seen synergys hold up for a long time, my sisters and cousins. They both retired their synergys after years of use just because they wanted to upgrade to newer 'better' sticks not because they were broken. And trust me, those two sticks were beat to s*** but they held up.

[Broken 16 381]

I dont get the composite hate, some of those sticks will last a pretty long time. I have seen synergys hold up for a long time, my sisters and cousins. They both retired their synergys after years of use just because they wanted to upgrade to newer 'better' sticks not because they were broken. And trust me, those two sticks were beat to s*** but they held up.

A lot of it depends on what kind of league you play in. If your league is filled with hacks and lumberjacks, you'll be lucky to get three games out of it. That's why I don't use mine.

[cjm502 165]

A lot of it depends on what kind of league you play in. If your league is filled with hacks and lumberjacks, you'll be lucky to get three games out of it. That's why I don't use mine.

I guess that is true, the 'guests' that have came to many of my scrimmages have broken a few sticks.

[robat 13]

Let us know how nice it was in 3 weeks when it shatters.

I picked one up at the hockey store this past year and just held it. Looked at the salesman and told him "You REALLY expect this spaghetti noodle to hold up?"

I've only ever broke one composite and it was on a 1 on 1 and the guy stepped on it when i tried to poke check him.

Edited October 1, 2010 by robat

[Broken 16 381]

I guess that is true, the 'guests' that have came to many of my scrimmages have broken a few sticks.

I played a couple games with it and I was more concerned with preserving it than using it. Heh. I feel much better using cheapies.

Edited October 1, 2010 by Broken 16

[Guest mjtm77]

S19 85 flex. I have used almost every stick in the market today nothing comes close. only problem is they break too easy

[newfy 695]

I find that if you buy a composite you have to get as good one or it wont last. The compsites for less then 100 bucks and youre better off buying a nice wood stick. Not a sherwood PMP but a nice 40 dollar wooden bauer can compete with low end composites.

The puck will feel like its jumping off your stick the first time you shoot but it is sometimes harder to recieve a pass and you have abetter feel with woodys.

I would say you should pay 150+ for a composite or youre not going to get your moneys worth

[kook_10 1,705]

I haven't played for about 5 years or so, and I am absolutely clueless about what kind of stick I would use if I started again (which I would like to do someday, after surgery). I was loyal to Montreal 88's for so long and was very fickle about it.

[titanium2 867]

I want to get this one.

http://images.totalhockey.com/img.aspx?pic_id=13388&pic_type=5

[jollymania 162]

the only cons of composites are durability and bounciness, but other than that i prefer it over wood. I like a nice 70 ish flex, or the whip flex for tps sticks

I find that if you buy a composite you have to get as good one or it wont last. The compsites for less then 100 bucks and youre better off buying a nice wood stick. Not a sherwood PMP but a nice 40 dollar wooden bauer can compete with low end composites.

The puck will feel like its jumping off your stick the first time you shoot but it is sometimes harder to recieve a pass and you have abetter feel with woodys.

I would say you should pay 150+ for a composite or youre not going to get your moneys worth

i think it has to do with flex too, the only sticks that i have really snapped were 100 flex sticks

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I've only used Easton Synergy's. Since switching to play goal, I'm not too concerned with that anymore. But if I still played D, I'd go with my old reliable.

[Echolalia 2,961]

The breaking is definitely a concern for me, although like I said: I've never had a (albeit granted) wood stick break on me. I rarely rip slap shots; I'm more a quick release wrister/snap shot kind of guy, and I try to play a more finesse style so hopefully I can get some good mileage out of it. In any event, it comes with a 30 day warranty so if it does break maybe I'll get lucky and it will happen on day 29. I'm doing drop-in tomorrow so I'll hit you guys with a report.

PS here's my baby: http://www.hockeyworld.com/index/page/product/product_id/7010/category_id/7520/product_name/Warrior+Dolomite+Canada+Grip+Composite+Hockey+Stick-Sr

The only reason its more expensive than the normal dolomites is because its the Olympic model. Nothing really particularly special about it outside of it being on sale (cheaper than 169 at the store, too).

Went with the Kovalchuk.

[DyingAlive 27]

Well, one thing you'll definitely enjoy is that it feels like you are carrying nothing at all. Unless you really abuse it, it should hold up for awhile. Don't be scared, they are made out glass.

[redwingcapt 52]

bauer totalone stick. comes out in a month.

[MotorCityMadness 388]

I used 1 pieces in college and juniors because we were given 8 each year to use, but now since I don't get them anymore for free I just use the old 2 piece...easton ST 110 grip with an easton Lidstrom/Getzlaf composite blade

[T.Low 1,011]

I stay with wood.

1) I have too many other sports and hobbies fighting for my discretionary $.

2) I feel I'm not good enough with the stick to get enough of a return on my investment.

3) When I've tried them, I feel they are actually too responsive for my lack of skill: the puck responds to stick movements I didn't realize I was giving it.

3) As a Dman, I do like the idea of a lighter stick to poke check with, though.

4) I lay the lumber a bit too much, and in all areas of my life, I'm just hard on my gear in general.

5) Living in the Pacific North West, some of the guys on the team are loggers and I gotta support them.

Good luck with your stick. Looking forward to your review.

Edited October 1, 2010 by T.Low

[VM1138 1,921]

Just be ready for the day your new purchase literally falls apart in your hands. I was a bit shocked the first time it happened to me. Realizing I just paid all of that money just for that to happen a couple weeks later.

This is why I've liked wood sticks when I've played. Composites just cost too much for how weak they are. I'll take a little slower handling and a heavier stick over wasting money any day of the week.

EDIT: Unless of course I was a pro player who could obviously afford to replace them all the time.

Edited October 2, 2010 by VM1138

[brett 1,029]

i remember when the one piece composite sticks came out. instantly fell inlove with them. then when the grip coating came out fell even more inlove. i remember my first time using the synergy grip it was during warm ups before a game, hurt my goalies glove hand with the first shot oops

[Echolalia 2,961]

Welp I gave it a good 90 minutes of breaking-in this morning.

First and foremost this is going to take some getting used to. I'm not used to how light the stick is in my hand compared to a good piece of wood. Consequently, some of the passes I tried to receive slipped under my blade as I didn't have to brace/give in to a pass as much with the wood stick. I also need to adjust to the Kovalchuk blade because I've been riding with the Coffey for a bit too long, so my shot was going all over the place today (0 goals). As for the speed of the shot: my shots were certainly quicker and my release was much faster but I'm having more trouble leaning into my wrist shots compared to a wood stick. Sometimes when I lean in to get that bend in my stick its like my blade can't grip the ice and I end up just pushing my stick forward without any bend and I give off a weak-ass "shot" that's probably 15-20mph. I never had this issue with the wood stick, and I'm slightly confused because as far as friction with the ice/puck, I'm using the same tape on the blade. I'm assuming that I need to lean in on the shaft with the stick more adjacent to my body to get more of my force downward instead of diagonally and I'm going to focus on making that adjustment in the coming games. It sucks, though, because I could get a good flex in my wood stick while the puck hung out a couple feet in front of me without my blade slipping away from me.

Ultimately I need to get a couple more hours with this thing before I can make an official review on it, but right now I'm saying for me personally there is definitely an adjustment phase when switching from wood to composite.

Edited October 2, 2010 by Echolalia