[Roody]

I used wood for a loooonnnng time (favorite was the Bauer 3000 with the Linden pattern) even though I had a bunch of different shafts laying around. I could never find a blade pattern I liked, so I never used the shafts. For ice with the heavier puck, wood seemed to flex better and I had a better shot with wood. I had snagged a pro model Victoriaville when I worked for the Ice Dogs (back in LA a llllloooonnnnnggg time ago) that was perfect, but I was scared to use it because it might break. Backhand, wrister, snap, slap shots were perfect.

Then I started playing roller again a few months ago, and with the lighter puck, wood sucks! I stumbled upon the Bauer Naslund pattern, and it is awesome as well. I am now using this whippy as hell Louisville lockjaw shaft with that blade and it is perfect for roller. I tried using a one-piece stick with the same pattern, and it felt like a toy. They way it flexed was way too weird and it felt like there was no blade on the stick. With a wood or shaft/blade, you could feel that there was something down there. But it is a moot point now because I am sacrificing the Victoriaville stick to the Ballistik gods and having custom wood blade made.

And another thing that the article did not bring up: Composite sticks are fragile as all hell. You get a little nick on the shaft of a wood stick, you will be fine for a while. You get a little nick on a composite stick, goodbye stick. There are a lot more broken sticks nowadays, and it is very noticeable when a guy winds up for a one timer and the puck doesn't go anywhere because his stick shatters.