Figuring out the flex of a stick

[dsjunior1388 81]

My little brother bought an old blue Synergy ST, used, at play it again sports last year. It is listed as a 100 flex, but seemed to have heavy wear and, like my old ST, was "Broken in" and less stiff than it had probably been when new. however, when he got it I cut about 3 inches off it for him (pretty sure it had all ready been cut by then by the previous owner.) My brother is looking for a new stick, and I am wondering if there is a way to measure or judge the flex so he knows what he should look for in his next stick, because he seems to really like the flex he has in this ST.

[Hradsky 1]

Judging by your little story there I'm guessing you want a 94ish flex.

[Chadd 916]

Lay stick across two saw horses, or chairs. Secure a force gauge to the middle of the stick. Pull the middle of the shaft down one inch and read the number on the force gauge. You now know the flex rating of the stick.

[Alexxx 0]

well the easiest way too do this would be too go to the store with your stick and just flex the other sticks and find one that is a bit stiffer than the one you have so that when you break into the stick it will feel the same as your brother synergy

[dsjunior1388 81]

well the easiest way too do this would be too go to the store with your stick and just flex the other sticks and find one that is a bit stiffer than the one you have so that when you break into the stick it will feel the same as your brother synergy

Most LHS discourage people flexing sticks off the rack like that, for obvious reasons.

[Alexxx 0]

Most LHS discourage people flexing sticks off the rack like that, for obvious reasons.

understandable

[1stLiner91 0]

dont flex sticks period. if you want to try out the flex, dont use the strength of your arms, just gently push with your wrists.

or ask them if you can handle a puck with it before buying it.

[jcp2 2]

Lay stick across two saw horses, or chairs. Secure a force gauge to the middle of the stick. Pull the middle of the shaft down one inch and read the number on the force gauge. You now know the flex rating of the stick.

That's the most accurate and consistent way to measure this. Seeing as we are all gear whores, I sense a niche for a MSH branded force gauge with an easy to use conversion calculator to match sticks and shafts between manufacturers.

[Chadd 916]

That's the most accurate and consistent way to measure this. Seeing as we are all gear whores, I sense a niche for a MSH branded force gauge with an easy to use conversion calculator to match sticks and shafts between manufacturers.

It's consistent, but you will still have sticks with different flex profiles that perform differently even with the same rating. I think the more useful measurement is how much force it takes to flex it an inch at the top of the blade.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Lay stick across two saw horses, or chairs. Secure a force gauge to the middle of the stick. Pull the middle of the shaft down one inch and read the number on the force gauge. You now know the flex rating of the stick.

While I was unaware this was the formal definition of stick flex, if so, this technique would give the flex rating for the stick as cut. You'd need to figure out what the stick rating is for an uncut stick in order to figure out what flex stick to buy.

Edit: and you'd probably need to make sure that your placement of the stick on the horses conformed to whatever practices the stick makers use.

[dsjunior1388 81]

While I was unaware this was the formal definition of stick flex, if so, this technique would give the flex rating for the stick as cut. You'd need to figure out what the stick rating is for an uncut stick in order to figure out what flex stick to buy.

Edit: and you'd probably need to make sure that your placement of the stick on the horses conformed to whatever practices the stick makers use.

Regardless, I need to find the rating and get the closest rounding up or down. I don't have the kind clout to tell easton I need specifically a 97 flex. I just need to know if he should be buying a 90, 95, 100, etc.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

dont flex sticks period. if you want to try out the flex, dont use the strength of your arms, just gently push with your wrists.

or ask them if you can handle a puck with it before buying it.

People just don't understand this for some reason...