Was the game better with wooden sticks?

[BraveCanadian]

Entry level composite sticks are comparable in price to wooden sticks, anyway.

Were your wooden sticks made of black walnut or something?

Composite sticks don't make you shoot harder, they just make it easier and more efficient.

For the average player they absolutely do.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Were your wooden sticks made of black walnut or something?



For the average player they absolutely do.

You can find a decent entry level youth composite stick in various brands for around $40-45 price range USD. Wood sticks what maybe $25?

It’s really not much a difference.


As for shooting harder, it doesn’t create a safety risk which was my point. MLB players don’t use metal bats because people would die or get severely injured if they did.

 

[Victorias]

You can find a decent entry level youth composite stick in various brands for around $40-45 price range USD. Wood sticks what maybe $25?

It’s really not much a difference.


As for shooting harder, it doesn’t create a safety risk which was my point. MLB players don’t use metal bats because people would die or get severely injured if they did.

Yeah, I believe what you are saying is that max shot velocity hasn’t necessarily increased - which may be true (based on the hardest shot competition for example).

But wrist shot velocity has, right? So the average shot velocity has increased and that has perhaps led to a decrease in goalie “skill” (ie they are more like lacrosse goalies).

The question is whether composite sticks are bringing out skill in players or making it easier for less skilled players to snipe top corner every time.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Yeah, I believe what you are saying is that max shot velocity hasn’t necessarily increased - which may be true (based on the hardest shot competition for example).

But wrist shot velocity has, right? So the average shot velocity has increased and that has perhaps led to a decrease in goalie “skill” (ie they are more like lacrosse goalies).

The question is whether composite sticks are bringing out skill in players or making it easier for less skilled players to snipe top corner every time.

With composite you get can get a bit quicker releases on shots and can shoot as hard with a bit less effort. But again not so much that they're actually shooting harder.

Good shooters will still shoot quicker and harder than bad shooters no matter the stick.

 

[JFedol]

I unironically think so tbh.

I felt like it showcased the true talent between superstars and the typical 3rd/4th line bottom six players. Stickhandling also felt way more fluid with wood compared to composition and lots of goals from goalscorers using those sticks had a very common skill based theme revolving around it. Kurri, Bossy, 90s Hull and Bure had lasers of shots that felt like only they could do it because they were just snipers

The difference is very noticeable if you watch old games IMO.

 

[Danny46]

Yeah, in today's game most of the players look like they have a lot of skill, bring back the wooden sticks and we will be able to separate the men from the boys.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I unironically think so tbh.

I felt like it showcased the true talent between superstars and the typical 3rd/4th line bottom six players. Stickhandling also felt way more fluid with wood compared to composition and lots of goals from goalscorers using those sticks had a very common skill based theme revolving around it. Kurri, Bossy, 90s Hull and Bure had lasers of shots that felt like only they could do it because they were just snipers

The difference is very noticeable if you watch old games IMO.

this is the reasoning for me too.

it really let you see the skill difference between stars and bottom roster guys. with modern composites anyone can snap a wrister with accuracy, but back then it was an actual skill. (yes I sound like a "back in my day" old man, so be it)

 

[Michael Farkas]

I'm always game for trading wood stick usage for smaller goalie equipment...