TRUE A4.5 HT Senior Goalie Stick
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The True Hockey A 4.5 HT Senior Black goal stick is a continuation of the sucessful A 4.5 SBP line that it is replacing. It retains the same three technologies -- Axemic Technology, Smartply and Braided Rib Technology -- that made the A 4.5 SBP great, while redesigning the low kick point to provide the feel of a foam core stick with the pop, durability and performance of a composite.
TRUE's Axenic Technology is a patented (US Patent 6,893,596) compression molding process, which makes their shafts taper to a dimension that is thin enough form the heel of the blade. Axenic Technology co-molds the blade and paddle to the shaft, creating a true one-piece composite goal stick. Smartply is the laminate that is used on the A4.5. Using up to 25 layers of unidirectional carbon fiber in just one shaft, the fiber angles influence the flex, torsional response and impact strength of the shaft. Braided Rib Technology (BRT) is a patent pending technology that binds the front and back faces of the blade with a continuous carbon fiber braided tube. BRT results in a thinner, stronger, more consistent structure.
The new redesigned Hair Trigger A 4.5 removed some material from the bottom of the paddle thinning out the stick in the process. By moving this material, the balance point shifts upwards creating a better balanced stick with inceased puck handling capabilites. This movement also creates a flex much more similar to a player stick, which helps with pop and release.
As well as using these great technologies, True has gone on to increase the shaft impact strength of the A 4.5 HT by 24% compared to the A 4.5 SBP that it replaces.
Goalie Stick Sizing Information
Unlike other pieces of gear, Goalie Sticks are sized mostly to the goaltender’s preference and playing style rather than their height. The most important measurement, when purchasing a new goal stick, is the paddle height (the wide portion of the stick), which is usually taken from the heel of the stick to the shaft/paddle interface. The reason for the paddle height’s significance is because it sets up the goaltender’s depth in the ready stance and (if properly sized) positions the blocker in an optimal position.
Sizing Your Goalie Stick
To start analyzing the size of your goalie stick, put on your goalie skates to get an accurate height of where you will be in your stance. If you’re looking to be even more accurate, strap on your goalie pads and blocker as well. Once that is done, get comfortable in your natural stance (the one you’d be in during a majority of gameplay) and look for the following:
1. The entire blade of the stick is flush with the ground while being 1’ - 2’ in front of your feet
2. After getting your stick into the flush position, check that the inside edge of the blocker hand sits on the outside edge of the goal pad (this is while holding just above the paddle).
Goalie Stick Sizing Considerations
Goalie Stick sizing can be very subjective compared to other pieces of equipment. The reason for this is the ambiguity of each goaltenders ‘natural stance’, especially with younger goaltenders. It is rather common for children to use taller sticks in comparison to their height, as their stance depth isn’t usually as aggressive as a seasoned goalie.
The shaft length of a goalie stick is usually best left at its stock length, as it serves to counteract the weight of the blade and ideally place the center of gravity at the top of the paddle. The one exception to this rule is for advanced puck handlers, cutting the shaft will allow more power transfer when shooting as a result of being able to keep the blade flush to the ice while near the goaltender’s feet.
