I'd been holding off on buying a one-piece stick for a while. They're just so expensive. But, it has literally been two seasons since I broke a blade, and I don't love my current shafts (I seriously think I've been through as many shafts as blades over the last four years, but it's probably my fault for buying $5 demos off of ebay).
So there it was, nice and shiny in my favorite pro shop. A dazzler. Retail: $239. On sale: $109. The catch? Pro-return; this is the real deal. But: "NO WARRANTY." It's written there right on the side of the stick. As I understand it, most of these hot new numbers come with a 30-day warranty, or some such thing (as if getting 4-6 games out a stick will somehow take the sting out of losing a $150+ stick on day 31).
Anyway, I can afford it, and I haven't spent much money on sticks in a while, so . . . ring it up.
And it's sweet. Light as a feather, great kick point. I love it. Ok, I didn't score a goal with it in game one, but it still felt great, and in game two, I buried one on a breakaway. It's gotta be the stick, right? LOVE IT.
Karma. Game three with the sexy little number, and midway through the second period I kneel to block a shot coming from the point, and lay the paddle down. Hard shot hits twelve inches from the butt, and bam. Just like that, my new stick is now two sticks.
Ouch. Just shy of $20 per period.
Now, the guy who runs the pro shop has offered me another at a serious discount, which is cool. He certainly isn't obligated -- it was just bad luck for me. There's also the option of sending it out for repair with the SRS repair system (www.srshockey.com/usa). Maybe. Seems like a cool idea.
Either way, a dubious way to start my career playing with a 1-piece. And how to explain to the wife?
Even so, switched back to the old lumber, and sure enough, picked up another goal. Empty-netter, sure, but hey, I need the points.
Help Clearing the Crease
Three more lessons?
(1) Sometimes you have to watch a lot of chaff to finally get to what you want;
(2) Opposing players in tip videos often aren't trying very hard;
(3) This has some good tips on how to help clear the crease on defense (some of which will make your opponent mad)
(1) Sometimes you have to watch a lot of chaff to finally get to what you want;
(2) Opposing players in tip videos often aren't trying very hard;
(3) This has some good tips on how to help clear the crease on defense (some of which will make your opponent mad)
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