A lot of the difference is that pro players are looking to fine tune their game through equipment, so they aren't super focused on it. Most of them are not "gear geeks." Beer leaguers are looking to enhance their level of skill through equipment. The old saying that it's the Indian, not the arrow comes to mind. I could switch sticks with Bedard, and it would likely make no difference on his game because he has REAL skill ... whereas it would likely hinder mine because I am not used to playing with his type of stick.
Hey there, thanks for the comment. I do agree in part with what you're saying. The pro guys probably don't have strong opinions, as I noted in the video. That said, I do have a fair amount of evidence of testing low end and top tier sticks with dozens of low-level and intermidaiate-level beer league players (I have access to a lot of sticks for demo purposes) and I can only think of one guy who said that he could tell a significant difference in their game. I think most of them just simply thought they didn't "deserve" high-end sticks since they themselves are novice. That said, all but that one guy had significant improvements to their games directly as a result of handing them top tier sticks. That goes for blade profiles, too.
i hate it when people say the p29 and p92 are the same curve. i dont use them but if i had to i definitely prefer the p29. im currently using a pro stock sticks Mackinnon curve and just picked up a Alpha LX pro Sundqvist pro stock. it has a very interesting curve, its like a mix of the Malkin pro curve and Mackinnon. Havent used it yet but i am tomorrow so im excited to see how i like it.
Bedard uses a Bauer stick. Used to be a vapor but I think he was using a sync or Ag5nt recently. P92 curve. One of the team Canada players said that he uses a longer 70 flex stick
Hey man, thanks for the comment! You may be correct about all of that. It was just funny to me that hardly any elite or pro guys give more of an answer about their gear other than, “I’ve been using it for awhile.” Lol. He’s definitely using a pro stock stick of some kind, but most of the players in the CHL get CCM or one kind or another.
Thanks for the awesome video. A few years back I finally figured out that I love the P28 and have been using that almost since it first came out. I never really figured out lie and flex point though. I think that I still don’t really get it but I have a lie 5 and I don’t know what flex point on my favourite stick. I’m a winger that likes to drive hard from one end through the neutral zone to the net and either pass, wrist or deke in close (and battle in the corners). I’m an average level player and 5’9". Any thoughts on what would likely work well? I seem to like pingy sticks if that makes sense. Also I have been using 85 flex but I think I should try lower. I’m strong but I often don’t have time to wind up and so I just get off quick snap shots a lot.
Thanks for the comments and questions! So your p28 is actually a dual lie. The part you’re passing and stick handling with is a lie 5. The part you’re shooting and toe dragging with is a lie 5.5. Regarding kick point and flex, I’d bet you’d like the Jetspeed ft5 pro with a p28 curve. It’s a good balance of power and quick release. The best feeling ccm blade is the one on the trigger 7pro. All ccm blades are pingier than anything anyone else is making in my opinion. The trigger and supertacks sticks kinda require a bit more of a specialized set of skills to optimize whereas the Jetspeed is a jack of all trades. Regarding flex, I’d need to know what stick you’re currently in. The Jetspeed is pretty stiff for flex compared to the trigger or supertacks. I’m 230 lbs and I use a 75 flex across all ccm models and I’m 5’10.” I do think the 85 might be a bit too stiff for you based on what you’re saying.
@@mongillohockey This is great info. Right now I’m using a Vapour, Sherwood and Easton. I know it’s a weird mix. I don’t super love any of them because they feel mushy to me but I can make them work. The Easton I’ve had so long I’m able to make it work just because I know it well but I don’t like the feel and loading it seems to take more windup than I prefer. The Bauer just feels like it has no feedback compared to what I want. I’ve tried a few different sticks and found that I liked certain things about them but didn’t like other things. So I’ve been trying to put together what all those things are that I need. I’m 210 so I’m a similar size to you and I’m thinking one of those things is going to a 75 flex. A few years back I had a 75 that I hated because it had no feel or ping so I thought it might be the flex but now I’m thinking it was just the stick. I don’t even remember what stick that was.
Also, what you said about the grip on the sticks I totally get. I find that for me I have larger hands and especially when my gloves are sweaty and I’m taking face-offs and big clappers I need a big rectangular grippy stick. Some of the sticks I’ve had with less grip or smaller more rounded profiles felt good until I was playing in a game and then I hated them. My thinking with the pingy feel is this. When I’ve had pingy sticks I was more confident in knowing where the puck was without looking down because I could feel it. I could feel where it was on my blade both stick handling and shooting and focus more on what was happening around me. I find with a dead feeling stick I sometimes actually lose the puck when I’m not looking and also sometimes don’t release the puck well because it’s not where I want it on my blade.
@@rodavision Okay, so reading all of your posts, I think you’ll be happy with either the Jetspeed or Trigger. If you like the low kick of the vapor, go trigger. If you want to take some slappers and one timers go Jetspeed. I think you’d be happy with the 75 flex too. Regarded curve, if you’re liking the p28, stick with it. P28 users usually don’t like the P90TM curve. However, P29/P92 users transition easily to the P90TM. Just a thought.
@@mongillohockey thanks for your replies! I’ve been thinking more about this lately and paying more attention during my games. I’m going to stick with the P28, I really love it for every part of how I play especially toe drags and pulling it to shoot. Also it’s always fun doing a big one timer when I get a pass in Ovi’s office. So I’m planning to give a Jetspeed 75 in a P28 a try. Thanks again!
A lot of the difference is that pro players are looking to fine tune their game through equipment, so they aren't super focused on it. Most of them are not "gear geeks." Beer leaguers are looking to enhance their level of skill through equipment.
The old saying that it's the Indian, not the arrow comes to mind. I could switch sticks with Bedard, and it would likely make no difference on his game because he has REAL skill ... whereas it would likely hinder mine because I am not used to playing with his type of stick.
Hey there, thanks for the comment. I do agree in part with what you're saying. The pro guys probably don't have strong opinions, as I noted in the video. That said, I do have a fair amount of evidence of testing low end and top tier sticks with dozens of low-level and intermidaiate-level beer league players (I have access to a lot of sticks for demo purposes) and I can only think of one guy who said that he could tell a significant difference in their game. I think most of them just simply thought they didn't "deserve" high-end sticks since they themselves are novice. That said, all but that one guy had significant improvements to their games directly as a result of handing them top tier sticks. That goes for blade profiles, too.
i hate it when people say the p29 and p92 are the same curve. i dont use them but if i had to i definitely prefer the p29. im currently using a pro stock sticks Mackinnon curve and just picked up a Alpha LX pro Sundqvist pro stock. it has a very interesting curve, its like a mix of the Malkin pro curve and Mackinnon. Havent used it yet but i am tomorrow so im excited to see how i like it.
Oh nice! I actually almost picked up a Mackinnon curve once. It kinda sounds like a modified P88 or P14 curve. I be you dig it.
Bedard uses a Bauer stick. Used to be a vapor but I think he was using a sync or Ag5nt recently. P92 curve. One of the team Canada players said that he uses a longer 70 flex stick
Hey man, thanks for the comment! You may be correct about all of that. It was just funny to me that hardly any elite or pro guys give more of an answer about their gear other than, “I’ve been using it for awhile.” Lol. He’s definitely using a pro stock stick of some kind, but most of the players in the CHL get CCM or one kind or another.
Thanks for the awesome video. A few years back I finally figured out that I love the P28 and have been using that almost since it first came out. I never really figured out lie and flex point though. I think that I still don’t really get it but I have a lie 5 and I don’t know what flex point on my favourite stick. I’m a winger that likes to drive hard from one end through the neutral zone to the net and either pass, wrist or deke in close (and battle in the corners). I’m an average level player and 5’9". Any thoughts on what would likely work well? I seem to like pingy sticks if that makes sense. Also I have been using 85 flex but I think I should try lower. I’m strong but I often don’t have time to wind up and so I just get off quick snap shots a lot.
Thanks for the comments and questions! So your p28 is actually a dual lie. The part you’re passing and stick handling with is a lie 5. The part you’re shooting and toe dragging with is a lie 5.5. Regarding kick point and flex, I’d bet you’d like the Jetspeed ft5 pro with a p28 curve. It’s a good balance of power and quick release. The best feeling ccm blade is the one on the trigger 7pro. All ccm blades are pingier than anything anyone else is making in my opinion. The trigger and supertacks sticks kinda require a bit more of a specialized set of skills to optimize whereas the Jetspeed is a jack of all trades. Regarding flex, I’d need to know what stick you’re currently in. The Jetspeed is pretty stiff for flex compared to the trigger or supertacks. I’m 230 lbs and I use a 75 flex across all ccm models and I’m 5’10.” I do think the 85 might be a bit too stiff for you based on what you’re saying.
@@mongillohockey This is great info. Right now I’m using a Vapour, Sherwood and Easton. I know it’s a weird mix. I don’t super love any of them because they feel mushy to me but I can make them work. The Easton I’ve had so long I’m able to make it work just because I know it well but I don’t like the feel and loading it seems to take more windup than I prefer. The Bauer just feels like it has no feedback compared to what I want. I’ve tried a few different sticks and found that I liked certain things about them but didn’t like other things. So I’ve been trying to put together what all those things are that I need. I’m 210 so I’m a similar size to you and I’m thinking one of those things is going to a 75 flex. A few years back I had a 75 that I hated because it had no feel or ping so I thought it might be the flex but now I’m thinking it was just the stick. I don’t even remember what stick that was.
Also, what you said about the grip on the sticks I totally get. I find that for me I have larger hands and especially when my gloves are sweaty and I’m taking face-offs and big clappers I need a big rectangular grippy stick. Some of the sticks I’ve had with less grip or smaller more rounded profiles felt good until I was playing in a game and then I hated them.
My thinking with the pingy feel is this. When I’ve had pingy sticks I was more confident in knowing where the puck was without looking down because I could feel it. I could feel where it was on my blade both stick handling and shooting and focus more on what was happening around me. I find with a dead feeling stick I sometimes actually lose the puck when I’m not looking and also sometimes don’t release the puck well because it’s not where I want it on my blade.
@@rodavision Okay, so reading all of your posts, I think you’ll be happy with either the Jetspeed or Trigger. If you like the low kick of the vapor, go trigger. If you want to take some slappers and one timers go Jetspeed. I think you’d be happy with the 75 flex too. Regarded curve, if you’re liking the p28, stick with it. P28 users usually don’t like the P90TM curve. However, P29/P92 users transition easily to the P90TM. Just a thought.
@@mongillohockey thanks for your replies! I’ve been thinking more about this lately and paying more attention during my games. I’m going to stick with the P28, I really love it for every part of how I play especially toe drags and pulling it to shoot. Also it’s always fun doing a big one timer when I get a pass in Ovi’s office. So I’m planning to give a Jetspeed 75 in a P28 a try. Thanks again!