Composite hockey sticks are often all lumped in together but are very different. Before purchasing a stick, you need to decide what
type of player you are and want to be. Some sticks are great at shooting and durable, but poor for puck-handling. Some are durable and puck-handle but don't shoot well. Some sticks are two pieces, which have the blade inserted into the shaft and can be replaced if the blade breaks and some are true one piece sticks, OPS, which makes replacing a broken blade very difficult indeed.

Weight is often overrated when it comes to these sticks. Very few people will notice a difference in 450 and 420 grams. However, balance is a very important concern. If a stick lacks balance, it might be top or bottom heavy and result in unusual shots or puck-handling moves.

Durability is certainly a concern when you spend $150 on a hockey stick. TPS and Nike Bauer sticks are generally rated highly in this category, while Easton is a very
mixed bag. The new RBK Sickicks supposedly break very easily.

Another point worthy of consideration is the shape of the stick. The TPS Adrenaline, Mission Z-2 and Easton Stealth Cnt are all very "boxy". Easton Synergy St, Rbk 7k, TPS R6, TPS Intrigue, Montreal Nitros and most other sticks don't suffer from this. The problem with boxy shafts is that they may harm how the stick feels in your hand and your puck-handling.

What does pro stock mean? Pro Stock just means that a stick was made for a certain professional player or team and comes with no warranty. These sticks are normally stiffer than retail and may also be longer. Generally, they are of good quality and can be bought a little cheaper than regular sticks. Beware though, the curves and stick flex may be different from advertised and you usually can't return them for these issues.

What about flex and taper? What do those terms mean? The flex rating of a stick is the idea of how many lbs. x two it takes to flex the stick. A 100 flex stick is ideal for people from between 180-220 lbs, while an 85 flex stick is fine for adult males between 150-180 lbs. The problem with a skinny guy getting a 100 flex stick is that it will harm your shooting ability and possibly hurt your shoulders.

The taper of a stick refers to how long a shaft shrinks down to the hosel/blade. A longer taper is said to make shooting easier because it lets the stick load up with flex easier. This is only relative, because a stick with a 22 inch taper isn't going to be much better than shooting on a stick with an 11 inch taper.

And what about puck feel? Almost all older players (and many younger ones as well) prefer how a puck feels on a traditional wood stick/blade, because the vibrations produced are neither too stiff or too soft. They seem just right. Early composite sticks did a very poor job imitating wood feel however newer models of composites are getting very good. Top sticks currently in this area include the NB One90, Fuel Ti Pro and Easton S17. Why do these sticks have better puck feel than others? Balance is one of the most important factors, as well as shaft shape and thickness. So remember, wood is no longer the "gold standard" for puck feel.

Another thing to consider is (of course) the price. Just because a stick is selling for $200 doesn't mean you'll like it. Moreover, a $70 clearance stick might be your favorite of all time. As final words of advice, try to physically feel a stick before buying it, if it's at possible. If not, try hockey equipment review forums from the web.

Good Luck!