Bauer and CCM are the two most popular hockey brands in the world.
These two companies have been going head to head on everything hockey:
Hockey skates, sticks, helmets, and more.
So, who takes the cake when it comes to hockey sticks?
Well, in this post I’ll go over the differences and similarities of Bauer and CCM sticks.
I’ll go over different aspects of the sticks like flex, grip, kick point, and more.
If you’re trying to figure out whether you should get a Bauer or CCM hockey stick, then this article is for you.
And, just a heads up—I’m only going to cover composite hockey sticks in this article. I’ll save wood hockey sticks for another post.
Let’s begin.
Recommended Bauer & CCM Sticks
Before we dive into the details on what truly makes Bauer and CCM sticks different and comparable, I’ll list a few of the best recommended sticks from both brands:
Best Low Kick Point Stick: CCM Ribcor Trigger 6 Pro
Low Kick Point Stick Runner Up: Bauer Vapor Hyperlite
The reason The Trigger 6 Pro beats out the Hyperlite is because it tends to last a lot longer than the Bauer alternative.
Best Mid Kick Point Stick: Bauer Nexus Geo
Mid Kick Point Stick Runner Up: CCM Super Tacks AS4 Pro
This one’s a very close call, but I’m going to give the edge to Bauer Nexus Geo as it has a really nice 5-sided shaft.
The Bauer Sling is also a unique option as it has the same shaft as the Nexus Geo except there’s a hole in the blade. This is a limited edition stick so it may not be available in the near future.
Best High Kick Point Stick: Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic
High Kick Point Stick Runner Up: CCM Super Tacks AS4 Pro
The winner for high kick point goes to the Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic. Honestly, the CCM Super Tacks AS4 Pro is an incredible stick.
The main reason Bauer gets the advantage here is simply because it offers a slightly higher kick point than the AS4 Pro. Technically, the AS4 Pro is listed as a mid kick point stick—though it’s more of a hybrid mid-high stick.
If you want the most powerful shot, then you should go with the Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic. However, if you’re wanting a slightly quicker release, then choose the CCM Super Tacks AS4 Pro.
Weight
Now, let’s dive into the details.
First up, we’ll talk about stick weight.
This category is pretty easy to understand.
The lighter the stick, the less it weighs—which is a good thing.
You don’t want to be clunking around the ice with a super heavy stick.
Heavier means slower shots, passes, poke checks, and more.
Typically, the higher-end the stick is, the lighter it will be.
Here are some Bauer and CCM stick weights. For this example, I’ll use the weight of a Senior 85/87 flex.
| Bauer | CCM |
| Bauer Vapor Hyperlite: 385g | CCM Ribcor Trigger 6 Pro: 375 grams |
| Bauer Sling: 365 grams | CCM JetSpeed FT4 Pro: 380 grams |
| Bauer Nexus Geo: 390 grams | CCM Super Tacks AS4 Pro: 374 grams |
| Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic: 390 grams | |
| Average Weight: 382.5 grams | Average Weight: 376.3 grams |
Overall, Bauer and CCM have very similar stick weights. Strictly looking at average stick weight, CCM just edges out Bauer with 376.3 gram average stick weight. But, this is a difference of about 6 grams. A difference this small will hardly be noticeable.
However, when you’re looking at the lightest stick available, Bauer edges out CCM with the Bauer Sling at 365 grams. CCM’s lightest offering is the CCM Super Tacks AS4 at 374 grams, with a difference of 9 grams.
Kick Point
Next up, we’ll take a look at kick points.
A hockey stick’s kick point is the point on the stick where it flexes the most.
The higher the kick point on the stick is, the more powerful the shot will be.
The lower the kick point on the stick is, the quicker the shot release will be.
The most popular kick points are low to medium kick points. This is because most hockey players are taking wrist shots over slap shots. There are also hybrid sticks that offer mid-low kick points.
And, of course there are hockey sticks that come with a high kick point but this is more rare.
Low Kick Point Stick Lines:
Bauer Vapor (top model is Hyperlite)
CCM Ribcor (top model is the Trigger 6 Pro)
Mid Kick Point Stick Lines:
Bauer Nexus (top models are the Sling and Geo)
CCM JetSpeed (top model is the FT4 Pro)
CCM Super Tacks (top model is the AS4 Pro)
Just a heads up—the CCM Super Tacks hockey stick has a slightly higher kick point than typical mid kick point sticks. You could probably classify it as a mid-high kick point hockey stick.
High Kick Point Stick Lines:
Bauer Supreme (top models are the ADV and Ultrasonic)
Blade Curve
Hockey blade curves are one of the hottest topics among hockey players.
You can tell a lot about a player by their blade.
Between Bauer and CCM, there are a ton of blade curves to choose from. I’ll just talk about the most popular ones.
Some curves are designed to be great at lifting the puck, while others are great for backhands. Some are made for slap shots. Others for dangling around defenders. And, some are crafted to offer all around performance on the ice.
The most common toe curves are P92, P28, and P90. The most common mid curve is P88.
When picking out a stick, you might see the letter “M” after the curve name (like P90M). This just means that the blade is a bit taller. A taller blade can help make your shots harder and give you an overall stronger blade. Plus, it can help make faceoffs easier to win.
Keep in mind that different brands have their own names for common curves (which are almost always pretty close sounding to other brands). For instance, you’ll notice Bauer has a “P92” curve while CCM has the same curve named “P29”
Most popular curves:
- Great all around curve (great for everything): P92 (Bauer), P29 (CCM)
- Great curve for raising the puck high: P28 (Bauer), P28 (CCM)
- Great for wrist shots and stick handling: P88 (Bauer), P88 (CCM)
- Great all around plus raising the puck hybrid: P92M (Bauer), P90TM (CCM)
If you’re just learning how to play hockey, I’d recommend starting with a P92 curve (or P92 equivalent).
Flex
The flex of your hockey stick is how much it bends when you put weight on it.
It’s measured in how much weight (in pounds) it takes to flex your stick one inch.
The flex of a stick is marked as a number (i.e. 85) followed by “Flex” and it typically comes in increments of 5. Unless you’re Bauer. Then they’ll usually end in a “7” or “2”
Most senior sticks have a range of flex from 65 to 95.
Some young kids will use a flex as low as 10. And, some senior sticks will go up as high as 105 or more. For instance, Zdeno Chara uses a 130 flex.
I’d recommend you start with a flex that is about half your weight.
So, if you’re 180 pounds, try to use a flex around 90.
However, if you’re brand new to hockey, it’s usually good to go a little bit lower as you work to build up your shooting muscles. In this case, if you’re 180, instead of going with 90 flex, go with an 85 or even 80. That is, unless you’re very strong…
At the end of the day, these are really just starting points. The stick flex that’s best for you all comes down to personal preference. For instance, Phil Kessel weighs 223 pounds. According to our calculation, he should use a flex of about 110.
However, Phil uses a 65 flex! And, it’s working out pretty well. He’s got 6 30-goal seasons and back-to-back-cups with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.
Grip
Next up on our list is the stick grip. It’s exactly what it sounds like.
Some hockey players love having extra grip on their stick while others hate it.
There are 3 types of stick finishes:
1. Gloss — the most grippy
2. Matte — not as grippy as gloss
3. No Grip — no grip —but a smooth finish
Some sticks even come with a textured grip like the CCM AS4 Pro Stick
For more hockey gear tips, check out our other popular blog posts: How to Tell If Your Hockey Stick Is Broken, How to Remove Hockey Jersey Wrinkles, and the 4 Best Base Layers for Hockey Players.
Sources
https://www.bauer.com/en-US/hockey-sticks/Sticks-Landing-Page-2021.html
FAQs
Who makes better sticks CCM or Bauer? ›
Strictly looking at average stick weight, CCM just edges out Bauer with 376.3 gram average stick weight. But, this is a difference of about 6 grams. A difference this small will hardly be noticeable. However, when you're looking at the lightest stick available, Bauer edges out CCM with the Bauer Sling at 365 grams.
What CCM stick is most like Bauer Nexus? ›In terms of kick point and shooting, the JetSpeed stick line is most similar to the Bauer Nexus stick family. However, players who liked Bauer's Vapor APX2 stick will absolutely love the CCM JetSpeed FT2 stick. Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues waits to pass to a teammate with his CCM JetSpeed FT2 stick.
What is the best CCM stick 2022? ›The overall best hockey stick for 2022 is the CCM Ribcor Trigger 6 Pro. There is no doubt that this is an elite-level hockey stick. It has everything that you could want in a stick as a player – lightweight, durable and electric.
What is the most used stick in the NHL? ›The Bauer Nexus Geo Grip is the most used hockey stick in the NHL, with 105 players currently using it. Right behind is the CCM Jetspeed FT3 Pro model, currently used by 100 NHL players.
What is the most durable hockey stick? ›Nanovate™ NiCo fully encapsulates the blade, hosel (where shaft meets blade), and bottom 24 inches of the stick. The result: The most powerful and durable hockey stick on the market today–and it's backed by an industry-leading 60-day warranty.
What stick does Ovechkin use? ›STICK. Ovi's current weapon of choice is the CCM Ribcor Trigger 2 stick. From the rate of scoring and highlight reel goals it's obvious that Ovi has chosen to keep hold of a twig that is working perfectly for his game.
What stick does Sidney Crosby use? ›Sidney Crosby uses a CCM P29 curve. This Hockey Stick Blade is one of the most popular in the game today and features a deep mid-curve allowing for great stickhandling and puck control. However, it also utilizes a very open face that provide maximum lift on your shots.
What stick does McDavid use? ›Using the new JetSpeed FT2 stick, Connor McDavid can shoot…and score from everywhere. Literally.
What is the best hockey stick for drag flicking? ›Extreme Low bow (XLB)
Being the most pronounced bow, the XLB gives you the best opportunity to get your stick under the ball. This makes it ideal for 3D skills, drag flicks and aerials, so if you're a forward, or a specialist player, then you won't find a better bow.
Kane recently took the time to explain from top to bottom how and why he customizes his Bauer Vapor 1X Lite stick the way he does. “I've always had a stiff flex, even when I was a kid.
What stick does Matthews use? ›
| Player Name | Position | Stick |
|---|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | Center | CCM JetSpeed FT4 Pro |
| Carl Dahlstrom | Defenseman | CCM Ribcor Trigger 6 Pro |
| Colin Blackwell | Center | CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro |
| David Kampf | Center | Bauer Supreme Ultra Sonic |
Built on a brand new platform, the Supreme Ultrasonic is our lightest Supreme stick ever. At 390 grams, it's the same weight as Vapor FlyLite. And it's been re-engineered for snapshots, not just slapshots.
Who uses P28 curve? ›Over the past few years you've no doubt taken notice of NHL players using what appears to be a massive hook! Most noticeably stars like Ovechkin, Doughty or Getzlaf are using what has become known as the Open Toe (P28 in most brands) pattern.
What is the P28 curve good for? ›The benefit of the P28 is in the curve of the toe. If you get your hands out in front of your body, you can really slingshot pucks off the toe with a quick snap. By doing this you get the shot off with a shorter shooting motion, which gets the puck off the blade more quickly.
Do any NHL players use Bauer Sling? ›Bauer custom made the new sticks for only seven players in the NHL, including DeBrusk, the Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov, the Senators' Brady Tkachuk, the Avalanche's Cale Makar, the Canucks' Quinn Hughes, the Devils' Jack Hughes and the Blues' Brayden Schenn.
Do expensive hockey sticks make a difference? ›The feel and performance increase with the price and the weight and durability tend to decrease. This is the range where the majority of people buy their sticks. hey are almost always two piece sticks fused together and can be subject to getting 'whipped out' or 'loosing its pop' more quickly.
How long should a hockey stick last? ›Even the most durable carbon stick, players note, can break in a week or can last a year. Most people cite frequency and level of play as two central factors for determining the lifespan of a hockey stick. Remember, too, you may want to replace a stick when it's not broken—it may have lost its stiffness, its pop.
Do NHL players use a new stick every game? ›They use one new one per game on average -- not every game they get a new one, but they may break a couple in one game, so it averages about 80 or so per year. There are players in the league that'll use three new sticks in a [single] game, but in general, it's about one."
What does CCM stand for? ›CCM is an acronym for Customer Communication Management. It's a long-term for a simple concept. In a nutshell, it's the process of making sure the messages you send to your customers are congruent, complete, and personalized. CCM represents all the different ways that you communicate with your customers.
Who uses the lowest flex in the NHL? ›Johnny Gaudreau (55 flex): At 5-foot-9, 157 pounds, it's not a shock he has the lowest flex stick in the league. The four-time all-star and former Lady Byng Trophy winner also has a shorter stick than most, even for a guy of his size.
What Hollow Do NHL players use? ›
A 1/2” hollow is pretty standard for most players in the League – not too deep, not too shallow and gives a little bit of ability ... The amount of hollow is based on personal preference and style of play, among other things.
Is p29 the same as p92? ›They are all the same.
What stocks do NHL players use? ›- Stick Usage by Brand. Warrior37.3%31. Bauer37.3%31. CCM13.3%11. ...
- TRUE44.6%37. Vaughn20.5%17. Bauer20.5%17. Brians9.6%8. ...
- Skates Usage by Brand. TRUE78.3%65. Bauer14.5%12. CCM6%5. ...
- TRUE45.8%38. Vaughn20.5%17. Bauer20.5%17. Brians8.4%7. ...
- Bauer59%49. CCM20.5%17. Vaughn18.1%15. SportMask1.2%1. ...
- TRUE45.2%38. Vaughn20.2%17. Bauer20.2%17. Brians8.3%7.
How much flex do you lose when you cut a hockey stick? Cutting a hockey stick down can affect how the stick feels and plays. Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex.
What field hockey sticks do the pros use? ›- Grays GX5000.
- STX Surgeon.
- GRAYS GR7000 Ultrabow.
- GRYPHON Taboo Striker Samurai.
- TK Synergy S4.
- Adidas TX Compo 2.
- STX Field Hockey Stallion.
- Grays Jumbo Composite.
| NEW CCM Patterns | PRO STOCK # | Old Patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Retail - P19 (Nugent-Hopkins) | P19 | CCM P19 (Nugent-Hopkins), H11 *P29 is close! |
| Retail - P28 (McDavid) | P28 | H28 (Open Toe - similar to Easton E28) |
| P88 (Ovechkin) | P80 | New - Similar to the Bauer P88 Kane |
| NA | P17 | H17 (Mid - similar to the Easton Iginla) |
Adidas provide the hockey stick most used by international midfielders with Grays also being a popular brand, and in particular the GX7000 model being the most used hockey stick by pro midfielders. Kookaburra hockey sticks are also commonly used providing reliable all round hockey sticks.
Is a heavy hockey stick better? ›Weight. This is up to personal preference. Some players prefer lighter sticks because they are easier to handle and move around on the ice. Others choose a stick with more weight because it helps to build up strength while using it and can be tougher for opponents to lift off the ice.
How do you know if a hockey stick is the right size? ›The most common rule of thumb for sizing your stick is this: When standing in your skates, the end of a stick held with the toe of the blade on the floor should fall between your chin and nose. Players fond of short sticks will have the end of stick at throat height, while long sticks might hit you at the eyebrows.
How do you pick the right size hockey stick? ›
A defensive player or midfielder may prefer a longer stick in order to drive the ball further, and an offensive player might select a shorter stick for better handling and control. Sticks can range from 28” – 37.5” or more. Typically, the stick should come up to the top of your hip bone.
What's the best hockey stick 2021? ›- #5. Warrior Alpha DX – 47 active NHL players. ...
- #4. CCM Ribcor Trigger 5 Pro – 56 active NHL players. ...
- #3. Bauer Vapor Flylite – 97 active NHL players. ...
- #2. CCM Jetspeed FT3 Pro – 98 active NHL players. ...
- #1. Bauer Nexus Geo – 105 active NHL players.
NHLers are usually in the 190 to 210lb range, and they commonly use 95 to 110 flex rating sticks. But they are also professional athletes who undertake extensive training to maximize their strength and technique. Nothing would be wrong for a casual hockey player to use a flex that's less than half their body weight.
Is Bauer and CCM the same company? ›With different origins, CCM and Bauer have followed similar paths in the past 30 years, continuously pushing innovations in skate, stick, helmet, glove, and pad technology, each company owned for a short stint by the two biggest names in sports, and still the two most popular brands at all levels of play today.
Why Bauer is the best hockey brand? ›To put it all simply, Bauer has made a name for itself in several ways. The first, and most long-lasting, is the company's desire for innovation. They started with blades that were attached to boots and have progressed all of the way to the most modern hockey technology out on the market.
What field hockey sticks do the pros use? ›- Grays GX5000.
- STX Surgeon.
- GRAYS GR7000 Ultrabow.
- GRYPHON Taboo Striker Samurai.
- TK Synergy S4.
- Adidas TX Compo 2.
- STX Field Hockey Stallion.
- Grays Jumbo Composite.
Overall, CCM is a dominant force in the hockey equipment industry but is still second to Bauer.
Does Nike Own CCM? ›The company is currently owned by Canadian private "Birch Hill Equity Partners", after the Adidas Group sold the brand for around $100 million in 2017.
How many NHL players wear CCM skates? ›CCM introduced the one-piece skate to the market several years ago and the design has become popular in the NHL, with as many as 150 players choosing to wear it.
What is the best hockey stick for a midfielder? ›Adidas provide the hockey stick most used by international midfielders with Grays also being a popular brand, and in particular the GX7000 model being the most used hockey stick by pro midfielders. Kookaburra hockey sticks are also commonly used providing reliable all round hockey sticks.
What percent of NHL uses Bauer? ›
“We are number one in every category,” boasts president and CEO Kevin Davis. Roughly 90 per cent of NHL players wear at least one piece of Bauer equipment. Seven out of 10 wear Bauer skates.
Do any NHL players wear true skates? ›True Pro Custom Skates are now worn by 122 NHL players, 110 AHL players, and 60% of all NHL goaltenders.
Is the Hyperlite better than the Flylite? ›The DuraFlex resin in the shaft is what makes the stick a bit stronger than the Flylite that Bauer released previously. The new HyperCore blade has also improved the release speed by 20% according to Bauer.
What is the best carbon in a hockey stick? ›- Designed for stiffness and rigidity, greater carbon content in a stick gives it harder hits and more power.
- Carbon content can run as high as 95% of a stick's make-up, although even a 50% carbon stick is still going to give you elite-level power.
Extreme Low bow (XLB)
Being the most pronounced bow, the XLB gives you the best opportunity to get your stick under the ball. This makes it ideal for 3D skills, drag flicks and aerials, so if you're a forward, or a specialist player, then you won't find a better bow.
Carbon adds a stiffness and more power to your stick. A high carbon content will generate into more power behind your stick. Fiberglass adds durability and strength to the stick.
Is Bauer or CCM more expensive? ›The majority of people use Bauer more because of the cheaper prices. For skates, CCM can have a price range as low as youth skates costing $60 to adult skates that can cost up to $1,300. However for Bauer, the low youth skates can cost $45 to where the adult skates only cost up to $1,000.
What sticks do NHL defenseman use? ›The most popular stick for defencemen in the NHL is the Warrior Alpha QX, which is the stick used by 20% of all players! It's not cheap, but there are other great sticks that are lightweight and deliver awesome performance shot after shot.