Pro Stock Hockey Sticks (PSHS) have previously given amazing value for hockey sticks while also giving a ridiculous amount of pro and “custom” curve options. Before this new generation of sticks PSHS offered just a mid kick and low kick sticks. With their newest models, they have added a couple of new kick point options including this VS high kick stick targeted towards power and slap shot heavy shooters. I have previously reviewed the VX low kick option here and the VF hybrid kick option here.
Firstly, I want to thank the person behind PSHS for sending me these sticks to review and make content on. I will also be reviewing their custom stick models in the future which I purchased myself previously!
High kick sticks are mostly an option of the past now, with Bauer abandoning their Supreme line of sticks after the Ultrasonic. While Warrior has introduced the Novium line that adds an option, the “high” kick sticks are the most low volume models for sales with the CCM Tacks being considerably less popular than their Trigger and Jetspeed models. Something to note of “high” kick sticks, the kick point on these has been a marketing mess forever, with Bauer claiming the “high” and other brands using “mid” to explain this kick point. From my experience the Tacks line, Novium line, and Supreme line are all high kicks.
Like the PSHS other new models of sticks, the VS also includes a new taper design that differentiates it from the other options including the OG Blue mid kick. I love seeing changing designs and tapers in a smaller branded stick company, something you don’t often see from the other “blackout” style of sticks or small companies. While the taper on a high kick is used specifically for stiffening the lower portion of the stick to ensure it stays stable and doesn’t flex towards the blade, it is interesting to see the difference between the PSHS taper and the taper on the Tacks and Supreme models. The VS model also includes an almost completely square shaft shape with straight sidewalls. The corners are still rounded but they are so square it almost feels like they dig into your hands, if you are used to a more rounded shape this can certainly feel uncomfortable and you have to get used to it. It also means these corners transfer more vibrations through your hands but at the same time allow you to really lock in your grip so the stick has very little rotation in your hands under load. The exact opposite feeling of the low kick VX shaft shape.
Watch the full review below on YouTube for all of the details of the Pro Stock Hockey Sticks VS high kick stick!
Like the VX and the VF that I have reviewed previously, the butt end plug on the VS is the same new and unique design that creates a small butt end that overlaps the top edge of the stick. The ideal behind this is it should allow players who want a smaller butt end to save from taping the top of their sticks or to just use this cap instead of wrapping around tape. While I like that this is something different than other companies, this isn’t my preferred style so I had to remove it and was left with a hollow top and I prefer the standard and more traditional butt end that is on the OG Blue.
Flex rating on the PSHS VS played true to the 85 flex that it is listed as. Although Being a high kick stick might make it feel stiffer because the stick itself doesn’t “help” with shooting and the player must load the force into the stick to get the kick they are expecting. The high kick demands a certain hand position and a technique to get it to actually release. If your hand position doesn’t line up or you don’t have the strength to load into the shaft, this stick might feel like it is stiffer than you are used to.
Which brings me to passing, the PSHS VS stick has probably been the best stick I have ever used for making hard and multiple zone passes. With the kick point being so high on the shaft, making hard passes never caused the stick to whip and turn the pass into a shot. I could pass as hard as I needed and they would stay controlled.
With the high kick brings a more difficult shooting experience, which is to be completely expected. The high kick doesn’t help shoot the puck at all, it demands proper hand position and demands the shooter actually loads the stick. With low kick sticks, minimal effort is needed for the bottom of the stick to kick and whip out for an easy shot release. Putting the same shot type and effort into the VS compared to the VX produces a shot that feels like it went nowhere and the stick itself feels like it barely flexed. After using the VS for a while and getting used to the flex profile and how to shoot it correctly, I was very happy with my shooting results once I adjusted my hand position and shot type. While it isn’t as easy to load as a hybrid or low kicking stick, once you get a consistent feel for it you can still get off quick shots after making the adjustments and out of 10 shots I was satisfied with the release and my shot about 8 of them.
I have seen people online state that the VS high kick plays just like a mid kick, but I was able to take out all of PSHS offerings (OG Blue mid kick, VS high kick, VF hybrid kick) next to each other and I could easily notice the difference between the flex profiles and kick points. The OG Blue feels much closer to the VF than the VS and is considerably less demanding in terms of loading and hand position. But the OG Blue still has more of a “sweat spot” where the VF allows a wider variation of hand positions and shooting styles.
Once again though, comparing the Pro stock hockey sticks VS to the big brand competitors comes with a big BUT. Which is the ridiculous price difference… this PSHS comes in at $235 Canadian currently… and the top end from the competition are $440 now (at least from CCM) and “previous gen” sticks are $420. Which is absolutely ridiculous and easy for me to say that the constantly raising prices of sticks compared to something like this makes them absolutely not worth it. I have previously written about Tage Thompson breaking the NHL hardest shot with a PSHS and if you pay close attention I also cover the currently NHL leader of all time goals in this review video as well… so if this stick is good enough to be used let alone tested in World Championship games by Nathan MacKinnon (see below) I think it is safe to say this stick will give YOU enough performance and is a MUCH better value proposition. Since CCM Tacks line is now going to a very unique shaft shape a lot of people don’t enjoy, the only real competition to this stick is Warriors Novium line (which I unfortunately haven’t been able to test out the Novium 2). The PSHS VS fills a niche and more old school market and with that it easily beats out the competition for performance/$.
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