OPS vs. Tapered vs. Standard

[blahster 3]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a search on some stick information....

Standard vs. Tapered

Conclusion: Tapered better in theory. But no noticeable difference, all psychological.

Tapered vs. OPS

Conclusion: Other than a true one piece stick, most OPS’s are fused and identical to a tapered short hosel blade combo. Advantage: Tapered due to blade replacement.

So if all the above is true.. OPS is equal to Tapered. And Tapered is equal to Standard. And therefore there is no advantage in todays sticks than there was since the introduction of the Z-carbon blade in 1999 or 2000. Seeing that the old Ultralite was a tank as far as durability, and very light when introduced almost 10 years ago.. where is the advantage today? In the shaft weight? Well then I read arguments stating that there will be a blade heavy non balanced issue, and that a better balanced (heavier) stick is optimum.

Pretty funny if you ask me, especially considering that almost all NHLers use composite tapered or OPS’s in todays era. Then there are players like Paul Kariya and Brett Hull who never changed. Maybe they don’t like to follow trends! lol From my own experience, I’d say at this point the single biggest thing stick manufactures should do is to lighten the blades, and catch up to the weight loss shafts have experienced over the past 10 years.

[Jarick 5]

I haven't done much research, but I'm curious as to what/how much difference a lower kickpoint would have. It's supposed to release faster, but wouldn't the blade not travel as far as if flexed higher? I guess it would have to do with torque and potential energy, which I really don't know much about.

I would also assume that if blades got too light but puck weight remained the same it would become too difficult to handle the puck...like playing with plastic/ABS sticks. Lots of people like wood blades for that reason...mass.

[ATLstealth09 0]

The tapered end of the hosel/shaft makes the shaft livelier at the end when you stickhandle, which is where I feel it most.

When shooting, I notice a bit of difference, but it wouldn't be enough to sway me in the direction of paying, say, 30-40 extra for a tapered combo as opposed to a standard one.

What I think is funny as that you think they are all the same. They are different. Noticeably? Not all the time. But different nonetheless.

[Chadd 916]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a search on some stick information....

Standard vs. Tapered

Conclusion: Tapered better in theory. But no noticeable difference, all psychological.

That's a flawed conclusion.

[blahster 3]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a search on some stick information....

Standard vs. Tapered

Conclusion: Tapered better in theory. But no noticeable difference, all psychological.

That's a flawed conclusion.

And not my conclusion. After doing a "search", majority felt that way. I personally can not give "my" opinion, as I have been using a pro-stock Brett Hull blade and shaft combo for the past 3 years and have not been able to try tapered. I will tell you that a pro-stock Hull blade in an XN10 feels less balanced than in say an AK27 shaft.

[Chadd 916]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a search on some stick information....

Standard vs. Tapered

Conclusion: Tapered better in theory. But no noticeable difference, all psychological.

That's a flawed conclusion.

And not my conclusion. After doing a "search", majority felt that way. I personally can not give "my" opinion, as I have been using a pro-stock Brett Hull blade and shaft combo for the past 3 years and have not been able to try tapered. I will tell you that a pro-stock Hull blade in an XN10 feels less balanced than in say an AK27 shaft.

Truth is not determined by a majority vote.-Doug Gwyn

[blahster 3]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a search on some stick information....

Standard vs. Tapered

Conclusion: Tapered better in theory. But no noticeable difference, all psychological.

That's a flawed conclusion.

And not my conclusion. After doing a "search", majority felt that way. I personally can not give "my" opinion, as I have been using a pro-stock Brett Hull blade and shaft combo for the past 3 years and have not been able to try tapered. I will tell you that a pro-stock Hull blade in an XN10 feels less balanced than in say an AK27 shaft.

Truth is not determined by a majority vote.-Doug Gwyn

I agree there. And hence the "funny" in the topic. A perfect example of why bringing up an old topic isn't always such a bad idea. Some people in here get their heads bitten off for not always relying on the search feature. I do however agree that the search feature is a powerful tool. And that majority is often something to consider. I myself tend to lean more towards what the expierenced members have to say. And then come to my own conclusion after getting my hands on what the topic relates to.

[mack 44]

Why would anyone go with anyone else's opinions on a stick? That never ceases to amaze me. Do you buy things for dinner based on the opinions of many? I realise many here probably dress based off popular opinion so I can't use that, but the point remains valid. Use what you like. Experiment.

[Gongshow11 1]

i was with OPS for like 7 years, then went to standard shaft (ultra lite) with z carb cnt, to syn II and now back to the ultra lite. Although my shot is lacking in the ultra lite compared to the syn II, i went back to my ultra lite because i preferred the feel. Its different for every player.

p.s. does anyone with syn II shafts and blades notice that the blades are unreal maybe first two ice times and then become wicked soft and unuseable? plus they break/crack quicker than wood?

[blahster 3]

Why would anyone go with anyone else's opinions on a stick? That never ceases to amaze me.

I think everyone missed my point. I was pointing out the humor in it for one. Of course todays sticks are better! But are you insinuating that listening to what other people have to say is not usefull? I'm not going to jump off a bridge because everyone else is doing it. But I will listen to what everyone has to say regaring a topic, specifically when it comes to a top dollar or latest technology item.

[mack 44]

My question is rhetorical. I don't ask about a stick so much as I research that (which most are too lazy to do) and then go from there. Have I been burned? Absolutely, that'd explain all the tapered shafts I have.

[Jarick 5]

Well I played with wood until last December. Had a 5030 and a Montreal, kind of heavy, great for poke checking and defense work because it would smack opposing players sticks with more mass. Shot was pretty weak, slapshots not that great at all, wristers came off slow. Stickhandling was good but kind of slow.

Then I got a Vapor XX OPS. Very light, had a fantastic slapshot, better wrist but not drastic, faster stickhandling but a lot more bounce, harder to catch shots.

Just got a Redlite XN10 shaft with Bauer 6000 blade. Going to try it in a game tonight, but so far it's just a bit heavier than the XX (250 gram shaft + about 200 gram blade). Stickhandling is just about as fast as the XX with much better feel as the puck doesn't bounce as much and wrist shots are a lot faster and with less spin (I think more a function of the curve). Haven't tried any slappers or catching/receiving passes but I'm assuming the slappers won't be quite as nice and the passing will be much better than the XX.

I think you'll always have tradeoffs. Those may be minimized over time, but right now, wood tends to feel better and composite seems to be lighter/faster. I like the standard shaft because of the availability of wood blades. And the two-piece with a lighter wood blade and wood plug in the end seems to have pretty decent balance, better weight than wood, the flex and action of a OPS, but the feel of wood.

[TBLfan 25]

I think you misinterrupted the tapered and standard shaft comparison. Some people(mostly the people that would ask about a tapered shaft vs a standard shaft) wouldn't notice the difference, it doesn't mean there isn't a difference.

[hockeymom 2]

Why would anyone go with anyone else's opinions on a stick? That never ceases to amaze me.

I think everyone missed my point. I was pointing out the humor in it for one. Of course todays sticks are better! But are you insinuating that listening to what other people have to say is not usefull? I'm not going to jump off a bridge because everyone else is doing it. But I will listen to what everyone has to say regaring a topic, specifically when it comes to a top dollar or latest technology item.

I found it funny too ... if you WERE to blindly follow the majority of people's opinions you would often reach absurdly wrong conclusions.

Blindly listening and CRITICALLY listening to other people's opinion are different - and weighing the worthiness of the opinion expressed based on the person's knowledge and experience.

But still, in the final analysis... only your own experience with it matters.

[TBLfan 25]

I have some standard shafts and some tapered shafts, I also have some tapered blades with somewhat long hosels. What I find is that the feel seems to be better with shorter hosels and that the release is quicker with tapered shafts. I don't think it's all mental because I'm a cheap bastard and I wouldn't spend the extra money if I didn't think the sticks were better. Also, tapered shafts tend to be higher-end sticks so that might be part of it.

Maybe I should compare a AK27 combo and a dolomite combo, if someone wants to donate one of each I'd be willing to do the test. :D