What's the deal with intermediate shafts?

[AutomaticBzooty]

I started playing about nine months ago, and I've been using a salvage shaft from a broken Vapor xxx that I turned upside down, cut down to fit, and popped a wood Bauer blade in.

I figure it's about time I get a second (legitimate) stick, and I'm thinking of staying the two-piece route.

So I take my Frankenstein stick into the pro shop today, and I start looking at some Easton shafts. And they're great. And I find one that's the exact length of my salvaged Vapor shaft, but with a flex of 75. And so I think, "Great! This will let me keep using the blades that I like, and I won't have to cut down a longer shaft."

Then I realize that it's an intermediate shaft. "Ohhhhh......."

So my question is, what's the deal with them? Who are they designed for? I get that they're lighter (which to me seems like a good thing) and have more flex (again, seems like a good thing, since I'm still learning and am nowhere near taking slapshots), and they're cheaper on the whole. Anything else I'm missing here?

By the way, I'm 31 years old, stand at 5'9" without skates, 153 lbs. For those people around my height and weight, what do you use? An intermediate shaft, a cut-down senior shaft, or do you just play with a longer stick?

[ianmonsta]

im not sure im correct, but i would think they are ment to be more for teenagers.

im 5'8 without skates and about 190 and use the mission l2 sr. 100 flex and its extremely light, i had it cut down quite a bit though i like my sticks to come a little below my chin with skates on

[AutomaticBzooty]

Oh, interesting. I looked at a couple Mission shafts while I was there.

If you had a 100 flex cut down, it must be stiff as a rod then!

[mudfisher]

A general Standard for stick length is between your chin and nose when you are off skates.

Stick flexibility standard is your weight divided by 2. However, there are some exceptions to this.
1) Durability factor: You might want to use senior 85 flex since, the 85 flex is a little more durable. Also, you will be playing against other adults.
2) Strength factor: If you are strong for your weight then, I would recommend the Senior 85 flex shaft.
3) Slap Shots will be easier with a more flexible stick. However, the control of the puck is a little more difficult.
4) A stiffer stick has better response on stick handling unless you have really soft hands.
5) Passing and receiving the puck is easier with a stiffer stick. The stiffer stick will tend not to flex on the pass or receive.

[AutomaticBzooty]

Okay, I called back the pro shop and did a little investigating/measuring.

Apparently, the 75 is a SENIOR shaft! It has the same dimensions as their 85 senior, just a higher flex.

Anyone ever heard of a senior 75 flex? That was news to me.

[ianmonsta]

Originally Posted by AutomaticBzooty

Oh, interesting. I looked at a couple Mission shafts while I was there.

If you had a 100 flex cut down, it must be stiff as a rod then!

it actually kept its flex quite well

[ianmonsta]

by the way i found a pretty good article about stick choices in general that might help

Epinions.com - Hockey Sticks: with so many choices, where do I start?

this section specifically

Size and Flex of the Stick
Players have recently begun to accept a common misconception that the easier a stick is to flex, the harder their shot will be. One and two-piece sticks will have a flex rating, often designated by a number. The notion that a more flexible stick yields harder shots is completely wrong.

Again think of the shaft as a bow. The stiffer a bow is, the more velocity it can send an arrow. The same is true for sticks. I suspect the source of this misconception is made from a nearly valid point. Obviously if the bow is so stiff that it cannot be pulled back, the arrow will not travel far. The same is true with sticks. Players should use the stiffest shaft that they can flex for top performance.

Flex ratings are loosely based upon how many pounds of force it takes to flex a stick 1 foot. This in mind, the amount of flex should be roughly equal to 1/2 the player's body wieght. A player over 160 pounds should be using a senior stick. In Easton terminology, this would be at least 80 flex. Players 180 and up should be using a 90 flex, over 200 a 100 flex. These numbers are simply a rule of thumb. If a player has a good shot or above average strength for his or her size, they should think about going to a stiffer stick. Novices should go with a lower number flex rating.

Women and younger advanced players might benefit from an intermediate stick. These are close to the same size as a senior stick, but have lighter flex and sometimes a slightly smaller girth.

With children the girth of the stick is generally a major factor. Make sure that the shaft is a comfortable diameter for their hands whether choosing a junior or a youth stick. The girth will often vary a bit between models and brands. Most children will not be as affected by lie as seniors since they are growing and the lie they need is continually changing. However, make sure they are not too tall for the lie to start with as it will only get worse.

Stick length for adults is generally between the chin and lips when standing the stick straight up on skates. In shoes, this should be roughly between the lips and the player's eyes. For growing players, the top of the nose is a good place to cut the stick. This should get them through a season. When playing, the top hand should cover the end of the shaft. I have heard rare cases of penalties given for having a stick too long. This can be determined by a longer than standard shaft length, but in a couple cases it was because too much of the shaft was above the player’s top hand. As odd as this penalty might sound, this creates a safety issue for players who might get butt ended by such sticks.

When cutting a one or two-piece stick, the butt-end should be cut as small as possible before cutting the composite portion of the stick. It can even be cut flush and later retrieved by driving a screw into it. This method ensures that as much of the stick is left intact, preserving the flex rate and dynamics and leaving room for growth if needed. Butt ends are required for safety and the lack of one can result in penalties in most leagues.

[AutomaticBzooty]

That's a great article. Thanks for posting it.

I think I'll probably wind up using either the 75 or 85 senior flex. The big thing for me was that I was hoping to find something in the 80 flex range, at the size that I wanted, without having to cut it down. I mistakenly thought that size was the intermediate size, but in fact, it's the senior size that I'm looking for. So really, the senior 75 or 85 would both work great.

[yipperzz]

i know the dolomite comes in a 75 flex. i would go with a senior 75 than a intermediate shaft. i was using a 75 int. synergy and didn't like the feeling. it felt like a noodle. the size of the shaft is smaller than a senior too and that didn't feel right. i'm 5'8" 170 pounds. i use a 85 flex and it feels the best for me. i tried an 100 flex and it worked ok but my wristers weren't as good as on the flexier shaft.

[Kopitar11Fan]

i have played for 13 years but honestly don't know much about sticks and stuff, my mom would just always buy me pretty cheap ones. I had a mission one piece for the last 2 or 3 years and my slapshot absolutely sucked, it was terrible. That stick broke so my mom had a friend of ours pick one out for me, and it's a Nike Bauer (i believe the same one Jack uses) and I must say, I have a pretty amazing slapshot with it. I honestly didn't think that which stick u used made that much of a difference

[JMFJ3]

It all comes down to what you feel more comfortable with, and what you can get a better shot with. I'm 6'0" 170lbs...when I play forward, I use an 85 flex so i can get more whip for my wristers, but when I play D I'll use a 100 flex since most of my shots are slapshots from the point that I can really lean into.

[VegasHockey]

Originally Posted by Kopitar11Fan

i have played for 13 years but honestly don't know much about sticks and stuff, my mom would just always buy me pretty cheap ones. I had a mission one piece for the last 2 or 3 years and my slapshot absolutely sucked, it was terrible. That stick broke so my mom had a friend of ours pick one out for me, and it's a Nike Bauer (i believe the same one Jack uses) and I must say, I have a pretty amazing slapshot with it. I honestly didn't think that which stick u used made that much of a difference

Jack uses Warrior sticks. My shaft is probably 10 or 11 years old now. I haven't played much in the past 9 or 10 years, hence why. But I like something right in the middle as far as flex goes. Back when I got mine (Koho Revolution, the very first Revolution shaft after they discontinued the Vector's) they didn't even utilize flex ratings. Mine just says MID STIFF on it. It works right for my playing style. I'm more of a sniper, wrist shot type. It's rare that I'm looking for a slap shot so I really don't need anything too flexible. As far as the length goes, usually the shaft should be up to your nose with your skates on. Mine's probably a bit more than that cause I like having the long reach. When it comes down to it, it all depends on your playing style and really, just what you like.

[yipperzz]

yeah jack's using an ak27.

[pkd88]

I am 5'8" and probably shrinking, I like the intermediate sticks. They are also narrower (less circumfrence?)

I bought a used Gleason stick and cut it down. It is as stiff as.. well whatever is super stiff and not on a pill.

[Kopitar11Fan]

actually, mine is vapor stick, not bauer, my bad.

i am pretty sure Jack's is a bauer though, at Staples I sit right next to the tunnel so I am looking at their sticks all night long.

Jack Johnson - Los Angeles Kings Fan Photo Gallery

[AutomaticBzooty]

Bauer makes the Vapor, so it's both.