Shockey Hockey puck product...

[DannyG]

Dave at Shock Hockey asked us to try this new puck they have...I have no specifics, but he sent one out and we tried it in our league for a week, at all ages/levels...

1. It bounces/rolls almost exactly as much as the IDS Pro Shot. It does not "bounce less..." However, it does settle from bounce or roll much quicker than the IDS.

2. The angular glide pins wear out about as fast as the IDS...we were hoping that would not be the case, as the manufacturer that comes up with longer lasting glide pins will really have something. We do note, that at every stage, new, 5 hours of use, 10 hours, 20 hours...there was less surface area of the pins in contact with the playing surface (than with the IDS), and the puck therefore glided much faster, especially when brand new.

3. The weight and size was identical to the IDS. no difference.

4. was not solid-body in design...thought the spokes might break, like many other models, but after 20 hours, was still whole, and our pucks get regularly shot off a brick back wall when they deflect out-of-the-rink...

5. A vocal 10% of players (of all skill levels) expressed disgruntlement with the Shock puck. 2% felt it was easier to control than our current use IDS...88% didn't care one way or the other...

6. If pricing is a factor, this would be an okay thing to recommend...but without any significant reason to change, the puck itself didn't produce anything to directly recommend it over and above the IDS Pro Shot.

Anybody else get an offer to try this new product?

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[sactosaxons]

Yes, I received one about a week ago. We're still in the real early stages of testing it. We have noticed like you that it does settle much quicker and easier. We're planning on several hours of play time this week - will know more and report on it then.

Joy Raftery
Sacramento Saxons

[Yekcoh]

Yep, we've got the pucks on the way. Can't wait to try them out. Really looking forward to faster pucks especially since our sport court is already kinda worn down, hopefully it'll make even a little difference.

I've heard USA Hockey is making it their official puck? Is that true?

[JMUDukes26]

I doubt it, isn't IDS a partner/sponsor of USAHIL? Unless the producer of the new puck is giving USAHIL some big incentives, I would think it unlikely that they would abandon IDS. But lemme know if you have heard otherwise, the puck is a neat concept, but I've yet to see it used in play.

Gary

[Benny_Gulakiw]

The Shock Puck will be the Official Puck of Inline Hockey America. IHA will also promote and sell the puck through the IHA web site. The reason why we decided to use Shock Puck is because we feel it's a better puck. Some players express dissatisfaction with the new Shock Puck because they are so used to one specific puck. They don't like anything new because it feels different to them. The Shock Puck is a little heavier than the IDS or the Rocket Puck. This is why, initially, some players don't like it. However, after they use it for a while, many players come to like this fact. The puck stickhandles better, passes better, and shoots harder.

Yes, the price will be competitve, but the Shock Puck is a better engineered puck and players who are using the puck now and use it for a while are starting to agree.

If anyone has any questions about the Shock Puck, you can also e-mail me at [email protected]

Benny Gulakiw
President
Inline Hockey America

[MDE3]

Based on Danny G's analyses that would seem to be the case. Slides better, settles faster - major gains.

[BkHdTpShlf]

The shock puck definately has more weight than any other puck. We've been using it at my home rink in Boston. I find alot of people don't like it at first because of the different weight but once they use it a few times they get more comfortable with it. I also find most of the ice hockey guys love it right away. As far as bouncing around and speed, I find it to be alittle faster than any other puck but really not that much of a difference with rolling around and bouncing, although it does seem to settle quicker.
Oh ya, whoever said shock puck and ids are identical weight and size, better check that again. Weight and size between the two are not even close to being identical.

Darrell Interbartolo/Rink Rat Rep. New England

[sactosaxons]

Yep - first thing we noticed was the weight - it is heavier and yes again, ice hockey folks adapt and love it much quicker. We're trying it with kids 14 & under this afternoon - I'll let everyone know how it goes....

Joy Raftery
Sacramento Saxons

[DannyG]

Uh, on the weight and size thing, that would be me...since everybody else here disagrees, I guess I'd better get out the old scale and really look at this thing again...stay tuned...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[columbus_RHstar]

Danny

We tried out the same puck and we also liked the puck. However we tried it outside and it doesn't work out there.

[missionhockey21]

I tried it and wasnt extremely impressed, I prefer the IDS over it.

[missionhockey21]

Maybe I'll give the puck so time then, I've used it for a few hours, maybe I'll get used to it like others do.

[missionhockey21]

I've been playing ice since I was little and hated the puck when I first used it. But that could be because I have like 20 IDS pucks and I am pretty comfortable with them, so I'll have to give this puck some time.

[rlrhky13]

I got mine Saturday. Haven't had a chance to get out on the rink with it yet. Hopefully tomorrow. Actually liked the weight of it better than the others. Feels more like an ice puck.

[DannyG]

I concede that my initial &quot;eyeball&quot; assessment was in error...using digital calibrators, the diameters are indeed different, with the Shock puck being 1/8&quot; larger in diameter. The Shock puck is also .437 ounces heavier...the difference compares the 4 oz Shock puck weight to the 3.5 oz. of the IDS puck...

I need to second Mike's evaluation of the critical comments above...I, too, believe that the negative commentaries from our higher level players were of the sour-looking-for-something-to-blame-miscues of performance nature. These players were hard put to come up with any decent reason as to why they didn't like the puck.

I have pointed out to my young charges that it is very important for all of us to fairly evaluate these newly developed equipment items. Only by we, as a community of players, giving honest, fair, legitimate evaluations, can the industry produce better and better equipment.

We need to contribute all we can to the process.

At the present, our league will not be directly changing pucks. We will continue to use the IDS Pro Shot. We wholeheartedly, however, do endorse the Shock Hockey Puck, and recommend it as a legitimate hockey product.

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by DannyG on 04/14/03 06:40 PM.</EM></FONT></P>