Many people ask the question, "Are one piece sticks better than two piece sticks?" The short answer is that from a technological standpoint, yes, OPS's are "better" than two piece hockey sticks. These days, everyone is looking to get their hands on the lightest gear available, and hockey sticks are leading the way in the race toward weightless equipment. A lighter stick means less energy and strength required for the player to shoot, pass and handle the puck. This translates to harder shots, quicker hands and greater energy conservation throughout the game.
In addition to the decreased weight of an OPS, the design also provides a more consistent feel throughout the shaft and blade because the vibrations are not interrupted by the material barrier present with the conjoining of a shaft and blade. Traditional one piece wood sticks still provide, arguably, the best overall feel because of the excellent vibration properties of wood. But, composite OPS's are a close second to wood sticks.
Another benefit of the one piece design is the increased shot power and quicker release generated by the low kick point at the blade/shaft hosel part of the stick, which is not as effectively accomplished with the two piece design because of the overlap of blade and shaft materials. Manufacturers are able to increase flexibility near the crook of the shaft while increasing stiffness in the blade and upper portion of the shaft, which enables the shooter to flex the shaft right above the blade. A low kick-point is particularly effective for generating quick, powerful, accurate snapshots.
The benefit of using a two piece shaft and blade combo is that you are able to replace the blade when it breaks and continue using the shaft which remains intact. Also, you are able to mix and match shafts and blades to create combinations that are unique and otherwise unavailable in OPS form as offered by the manufacturers. This is especially beneficial to players who prefer the feel of wood blades but would also like to benefit from the rigidity, consistency and lightweight materials of composite shafts.
Most NHL players now use one piece composite hockey sticks but there are still many who prefer to use two piece hockey sticks. All things considered, it boils down to a matter of personal preference.
My PP is for a two-piece stick. I have a Bauer Supreme One.5 shaft because it has a mid kick point at a reasonable price (and also is blue..), but I spent some harder cash on the blade which is a Bauer TotalOne PM9 blade giving me the flattest possible blade I could get.
ReplyDeleteI am 4'10" and rack in as the shortest player in both teams I train with, so I had the choice between playing with a junior stick, and playing with an intermediate stick and cutting down. I chose the junior option and have a beaut of a flex (52) because of it which makes my stick whippy and a top choice for snapshots. Only problem is that the PM9 blade only comes in OPSs in JR size in the USA and I couldn't get one meeting my specs in the UK, so I went for a two-piece option.
PM9 is important to me as an ambidextrous player. I am the only ambi player I know, and I have only heard of one fully ambi player in the NHL, so I want to be able to enhance my strength by having as flat a blade as possible!