Low-budget

[laskey 16]

Hi guys,

Anyone out there able to give me any pointers? The blade on my cheap SBK stick has finally cracked fully, so I need a new stick but am struggling to find reviews and haven’t bought one in years. It’s just for beer league/rec hockey.

I’m probably going to go with something discounted on MonkeySports.UK, and my budget is anything around or below £80 (shipping to the UK is an additional £15, so looking for sticks around the £60 - £70 mark).

The CCM Tacks 4092/SuperTacks sticks jump out on their site as being heavily discounted/good value, but I’ve seen mentions of poor blade durability so I’ll probably rule those out.

Does anyone have any opinions or experience with any of these, or any of the other sticks around this price point on the MonkeySports.UK site? https://www.monkeysports.uk/hockey/hockey-sticks/senior-comp-sticks?dir=asc&order=price

–*Easton Synergy 450 Grip
–*True XCore 5 Grip
–*True XCore 7 Grip
–*Bauer Supreme S170 Griptac

I liked the look of the Sherwood Rekker EK40 but it’s out of stock in right-hand, unfortunately.

Thanks for any advice or tips anyone can offer!

P.s. sorry for the typo in the title, meant to say "low-budget sticks"!

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Hi guys,

Anyone out there able to give me any pointers? The blade on my cheap SBK stick has finally cracked fully, so I need a new stick but am struggling to find reviews and haven’t bought one in years. It’s just for beer league/rec hockey.

I’m probably going to go with something discounted on MonkeySports.UK, and my budget is anything around or below £80 (shipping to the UK is an additional £15, so looking for sticks around the £60 - £70 mark).

The CCM Tacks 4092/SuperTacks sticks jump out on their site as being heavily discounted/good value, but I’ve seen mentions of poor blade durability so I’ll probably rule those out.

Does anyone have any opinions or experience with any of these, or any of the other sticks around this price point on the MonkeySports.UK site? https://www.monkeysports.uk/hockey/hockey-sticks/senior-comp-sticks?dir=asc&order=price

–*Easton Synergy 450 Grip
–*True XCore 5 Grip
–*True XCore 7 Grip
–*Bauer Supreme S170 Griptac

I liked the look of the Sherwood Rekker EK40 but it’s out of stock in right-hand, unfortunately.

Thanks for any advice or tips anyone can offer!

P.s. sorry for the typo in the title, meant to say "low-budget sticks"!

I'd go with the True XCore 7 among these sticks. It is only one step down from the top end XCore 9, which was one of the best sticks in the world when it came out two years ago. That or the True A5.2. These are two high end sticks available for your budget.

 

[leftwinger37]

I'd go with the True XCore 7 among these sticks. It is only one step down from the top end XCore 9, which was one of the best sticks in the world when it came out two years ago. That or the True A5.2. These are two high end sticks available for your budget.

Spot on. I'm very impressed with True and I feel like they offer the best quality for the price. Personally, I'd recommend the A5.2. You'll get great pop and great puck feel that is pretty much unmatched at that price point. The XCore will offer great feel, but unless you are specifically looking for a less "active" blade, the XCore will disappoint a little bit when it comes to pop. Not a bad stick, just not what most players are looking for.

 

[puckpilot]

The True sticks are great sticks unfortunately that generation of stick has durability issues with the blade too like the Tacks. I have an Xcore 9 that I got for less than half price and the tip of the blade began to chip after a month and a bit. I usually mummify my blade in tape so this isn't usually a problem, but this time it was.

My favourite sticks are from Warrior. The QX5 and QRL5 are in your price range. Though I'm not sure why the QX is cheaper. Both those sticks are supposed to be at the same price point. The QX just came out in June I believe. But in terms of getting a little more bang for your buck the S170 is a tier up and might give you that but overall isn't as well balanced a stick and thus feel heavier than it is. But some players like that.

The S170 is a mid-high kick point stick so it's geared towards slap shots and heavy shooters. The two Warrior sticks are geared towards wrist and snap shots and players who like to quick release, so they're easier to load up on the shot. The Warrior sticks tend to play whippier than other sticks, meaning a 85 Flex Warrior will feel more like a 75 flex in other brands.

The Bauer N6000 in terms of kick point performance is designed to be somewhere between those sticks. But again it's a tier lower than the S170.

In terms of performance the True sticks are the best available to you. The Tacks Team stick on that site is pretty good too. But taking into account durability, from the rest of the sticks my leaning would be toward the Warrior sticks. But they fit my style of play more.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Spot on. I'm very impressed with True and I feel like they offer the best quality for the price. Personally, I'd recommend the A5.2. You'll get great pop and great puck feel that is pretty much unmatched at that price point. The XCore will offer great feel, but unless you are specifically looking for a less "active" blade, the XCore will disappoint a little bit when it comes to pop. Not a bad stick, just not what most players are looking for.

The biggest difference is indeed the puck feel. The A5.2 is used at the pro level, I'd go with that too.

The True sticks are great sticks unfortunately that generation of stick has durability issues with the blade too like the Tacks. I have an Xcore 9 that I got for less than half price and the tip of the blade began to chip after a month and a bit. I usually mummify my blade in tape so this usually a problem, but this time it was.

My favourite sticks are from Warrior. The QX5 and QRL5 are in your price range. Though I'm not sure why the QX is cheaper. Both those sticks are supposed to be at the same price point. The QX just came out in June I believe. But in terms of getting a little more bang for your buck the S170 is a tier up and might give you that but overall isn't as well balanced a stick and thus feel heavier than it is. But some players like that.

The S170 is a mid-high kick point stick so it's geared towards slap shots and heavy shooters. The two Warrior sticks are geared towards wrist and snap shots and players who like to quick release, so they're easier to load up on the shot. The Warrior sticks tend to play whippier than other sticks, meaning a 85 Flex Warrior will feel more like a 75 flex in other brands.

The Bauer N6000 in terms of kick point performance is designed to be somewhere between those sticks. But again it's a tier lower than the S170.

In terms of performance the True stick are the best available to you. The Tacks Team stick on that site is pretty good too. But taking into account durability, from the rest of the sticks my leaning would be toward the Warrior sticks. But they fit my style of play more.

Hope this helps a little.

My XCore 9 snapped in half after just 3 games, but the XC9 ACF they sent as a replacement is still nearly intact after 5 months of use.

 

[laskey 16]

Thanks a lot everyone, really helpful!

Think I'm torn between the XCore 7 and the Warrior QRL5.

The A5.2 sounds ideal but it's not on the Monkeysports site and is £150+ elsewhere here in the UK so out of my budget.

Got excited seeing the QRL5 for only £55 on the SportsDirect site (they're like Canadian Tire for sports gear here, I guess) but alas, they only have it in 85 flex and if Warrior sticks feel whippier I reckon it'd snap pretty quickly! (I tend to go for 100 these days).

 

[StrictlyCommercial]

The blade in my Synergy cracked within a year. Their quality is way lower than it used to be.

 

[laskey 16]

The blade in my Synergy cracked within a year. Their quality is way lower than it used to be.

Thanks. I had an Easton ST when I was younger that was great, but I've heard Easton have a lot of durability issues right now. Don't think I'll be going back to them.

That said, it does seem that blade durability has been a problem across a few brands over the last few years, from what I've read online.

Think I'll bite on either the True XCore 7 or the Warrior Covert QRL5 – like what I've heard about the performance of the True ones in general, and about the performance and durability of the Warrior sticks from puckpilot (thanks mate).

The QRL5 seems to be at a store near me so that may clinch it, I think... should anything break, that may make returns easier under warranty than if I buy into the UK from Europe.

 

[AIREAYE]

I would definitely choose the XCore 7 over the QRL5. The former is a high end stick while the latter is an entry level model. Huge difference!

 

[laskey 16]

I would definitely choose the XCore 7 over the QRL5. The former is a high end stick while the latter is an entry level model. Huge difference!

Ah right, thanks — I didn't realise they were that different in level! Bit out of touch as it's been so long since I last bought a stick...

 

[ChuckLefley]

Thanks a lot everyone, really helpful!

Think I'm torn between the XCore 7 and the Warrior QRL5.

The A5.2 sounds ideal but it's not on the Monkeysports site and is £150+ elsewhere here in the UK so out of my budget.

Got excited seeing the QRL5 for only £55 on the SportsDirect site (they're like Canadian Tire for sports gear here, I guess) but alas, they only have it in 85 flex and if Warrior sticks feel whippier I reckon it'd snap pretty quickly! (I tend to go for 100 these days).

1) Look for previous years models, you can find top of the line sticks cheap.

2) Just because a stick is "whippier" does not mean it will break easier. Many NHL players uses flexes below 85 and have no issues. I doubt you are putting more power into your stick than they are.

 

[American in Paris]

Check out HP's Sport Shop in Germany. They ship all over Europe. They have some pretty sweet close-out deals.