|
Composite sticks tend to have superior flex over their wood and aluminum counterparts. |
For years, wood held a monopoly on the stick market. Today, it barely makes a blip on the radar. Now, it's all about the latest space-age super flex ultra light-weight composite sticks.
Center Ice Magazine certainly isn't going to solve why one stick is better than another, but we've talked to the experts to get their take on why composite sticks have swept over the market like a tidal wave. Many players rave about the increased speed and accuracy they get with composite sticks compared with their old wood models.
Neil Wensley, the director of marketing for Warrior Sports, said it was the desire for better performance and results that led to the invention and continuing development of composite sticks. |
 |
 |
"It really kind of came on the scene as a material, meaning a mixture of carbon and glass, which really allowed you to create a stick that had the same, if not better, performance levels with huge weight advantages. What we saw was a transition from wood — which was a traditional process we used — into aluminum, which not only gave you versatility of using different patterns with a consistent shaft, but also a weight advantage as well." |
|
Wensley said most of this happened around the early 90s, when companies like Innovative Hockey began manufacturing aluminum sticks for the first time. Warrior purchased Innovative two years ago, and now everything is branded with the Warrior name.
"And then along came composite technology, and really what you get with that is a much better response than you would with aluminum," he said. "In other words, the material wants to get back to zero, or its original state, which means that you can lean into it, give all kinds of energy into the stick, and it's gonna give that back for you, because it wants to get back to that original state."
Since then, different companies have been experimenting with different material, different designs, all intended to give players that extra edge.
Easton hockey stick specialist Mike Mountain says Easton has developed sticks based on the player's particular style of play.
"With the Synergy SuperTough, it is all about strength and durability," Mountain said. "It was about the heavy hitting player. It was about the rough user, the stick that's gonna see a lot more abuse. The shot blocker, the defenseman with the heavy shot from the point, things of that nature. That shaft is essentially the same shaft as the original Synergy with some enhancements over the years. The blade also has a multi-ribbed structure that reinforces and createst a much stiffer, more durable blade. It's heavier weight, but you still get that same great performance out of it."
Easton's other stick is geared more for the playmaker.
|
 |
|
"The Synergy Elite, which is the SL, is geared more towards the crafty player, the lightweight stickhandler," Mountain said. "This particular shaft has been reengineered for better balance, meaning the weight is higher up. So it's tapered. And the blade is also tapered. When you have it in your possession, it's going to feel much lighter. So it's big focus is on balance and performance in the Elite, and durability, strength and performance in the SuperTough."
Composite sticks can also feature different technical innovations that change the physics of the stick.
Wensley said Warrior just released a new stick featuring upgraded technology of its own.
"We just launched a stick called the Kronik, which has a revolutionary new technology called spine technology," Wensley said. "On the outer portion of the blade, there are visible ridges. And what that does is stiffen the blade and reduce the amount of torque. So if you can imagine a wood blade or a composite blade, it flexes and opens up, and you lose a lot of the power and the accuracy. The goal was to try and stiffen the blade so you end up with less loss of energy, and improved accuracy. By changing the geometry of the blade, it has a greater effect than anything you can do internally."
However, with all of the technical benefit of composite sticks, when they break, they often shatter. With the cost of a high-end composite stick reaching several hundred dollars apiece, certainly the durability of composite sticks is a huge concern.
Mountain says he and Easton understand the durability issue, and says they have a new innovation that will make their sticks last longer.
"We've created this technology called corner reinforcement technology," Mountain said. "This is pretty cool. It is redistributing some Kevlar material from the sides and the top, and it's there for protection against impact with other shafts, a post, anything that can happen during a game. And so by redistributing some of that material, you're putting all the focus of that durability in the area where it's needed most, because all of those impacts happen on the corners.
"The other cool thing about that, is by redistributing, you're using the same amount of material, you're taking one and putting it into another place, so it's not heavier. So that's one of the ways we've been able to take our lighest stick, and our highest performance stick, and give it a level of durability that we haven't been able to before."
Mountain also points out that while people see composite sticks fail more spectacularly, wood sticks actually don't last as long.
"Wood sticks are definitely going to fail on you. How they fail on you is a little bit different. They break down a lot faster. And even though they last, and don't have catastrophic failure in your hands, you're getting nowhere near the same performance out of the stick as when you bought it. When you're talking about a composite stick, you'll get that same performance that you had when the stick is brand new for a much longer period of time."
Because of all the potential benefits of composite sticks, the number of NHL players using wood sticks has plummeted in recent years. In Dec. 2005, Easton put the number at 42, and that number is likely lower now.
Still, not all players have decided to go with the new technology. In fact, one of the league's brightest young stars swears by wood sticks. Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators says he's been using wood for about six or seven years, and says he loves their feel.
"I just find that when I go to use a composite stick, I haven't been able to find one that feels similar to my wood stick, therefore I haven't seen fit to change. For me, it's more about the balance than anything."
Spezza, who's used to being asked about his uncommon choice of stick, said the question comes down to personal preference and feel.
"I think the puck definitely jumps off a composite stick a little bit better, so it's probably a little bit easier to shoot little quick one-timers in tight, but the wood stick is probably better for passes, for feel."
Spezza admits he spends a lot of time before a game working on his sticks. "It usually takes me about 15 minutes per stick, I guess, so half an hour, 45 minutes, depending on how many sticks I make up."
He added a good one might last him a full game, and a really good one might go a game and a half.
"But I'm usually two sticks a game, minimum. When they get too whippy, I can't use them. I like them fresh, I guess."
Spezza said he's tried to switch to composite, and even tried one for a season while playing juniors, but always stays with the wood model.
"Every summer I try different companies' sticks, and the companies make me something a little more close to my wood." Spezza said. "I'm always fiddling around with it, because the best thing about the composite sticks is the consistency of them. The wood sticks are very inconsistent, and the composite sticks are a lot more consistent. If I could ever find something that I like, I'd switch, because you could get the same stick every time, whereas with a wood stick, one's heavier, one's lighter. They're always different weights and different balance. It's wood. It's hard to control."
Spezza says he remembers about four or five years ago, when several teammates began converting to composite.
"I think at first it was hard to get your own pattern made in them, so not many guys used them," Spezza said. "And then when the companies found a way to make everybody's specific curves, it seems like a lot more guys jumped at the chance."
Although fewer companies produce wood sticks (Easton and Sher-Wood are two of the few manufacturers left), Spezza said wood sticks have improved somewhat over the years.
"They're definitely using better wood technology now," Spezza said. "The wood sticks are improving, but the problem is nobody's using them anymore, so they're not putting much money into the development of wood sticks. I'm sure if they wanted to, they could make them even better."
When it comes right down to it, the consumer will decide the future of wood and composite sticks.
"I think there will always be a place in the market for wood sticks," Wensley said. "But it's no secret that the wood market is shrinking significantly every year, and it's really down to a price point."
"I don't know that it'll completely go away," Spezza said. "As long as the companies want to make high-end wood, I'm sure there is always gonna be guys willing to try them."
|
