kent's patented hockey stick by Ballistik: Versa-lie

Hello Fellow hockey enthusiasts.

With summer ending I want to inform that Ballistik does have some of my goalie sticks in stores. They are patented and have been sanctioned (finally) by Hockey Canada.

The stores that are suppose to have them are Lacroix, Valiqettes and Houle. I recommend that you phone first and ask if they have any in stock: Versa-lie goalie sticks and are made by Ballistic. I know that they only had a few but if you phone and ask, they will keep them in stock, people just have to ask. If I could afford a dam tv commercial I would but I cannot and am sorry for the sales job but my patent payments are more than my royalities. Trust me the sticks are a great design. I know unless the dominator uses them then people turn their noses at them but trust me they work. Anyhow as I have always said "you can a led a human to logic but you cannot make them think"


Below is a list of its features and benefits. Please tell your friends and don't be like Fritz and keep putting off going and getting one. I am sorry but I have tried to load a picture onto this blog and it has not worked!

Features and Benefits of the Patented Ballistik Versa-lie

1) Feature: When the paddle is held along the ice/playing, both the butt end and paddle contact the ice/playing surface as shown: Note: The Versa-lie must be taped in the proper manner in order for the following benefits to take place (See tape stick at bottom of page).

Benefits:
a) The puck cannot slide under the shaft when the paddle is along the ice
b) The goalie can apply a stronger downward force onto his goalie stick because the goalie stick will not rock as traditional sticks do.
c)
To Tape a Versa-lie Asymmetrical Butt End

Proper way to tape a Ballistik Versa-lie: Basically one wants to tape the butt end of the goalie is the asymmetric shape that the Dominator (Dominic Hasek) uses. Start by putting a golf ball sized, ball of tape against the skinny face (3/4”) on the inside of the shaft’s handle section, as illustrated. Then you tape around the ball forming an asymmetrical grip, as illustrated below.

Features and Benefits of Ballistik Versa-lie (Continued)

There are two ways of looking at the Versa-lie, when it comes to the angle between the shaft and paddle, when used in the upright position.

Firstly, one might choose to keep the same paddle to ice angle as they traditionally do and use a lower shaft angle.

Secondly, one might choose to keep the same shaft to ice angle as they traditionally do and use a higher paddle angle.

Let us begin by considering the features and benefits of using the same paddle angle and lowering the shaft angle.

2) Feature: When standing upright the shaft angle is lowered, as is shown:

Benefits concerning puck handling:
a) Easier to handle the puck because the lowering of the shaft puts the puck slightly farther in front of the goalie.
b) Increased distance for poke check by about: 1/2”.


Benefits concerning ergonomic:

c) Since the shaft is lowered a few degrees, the grip is more ergonomic because the goalie’s wrist does not need to twist as much when he/she is in their stance.
d) Improved balance. Although minor, the shaft portion of the goalie stick provides balance for the goalie stick as it rotates in a goalie’s hand. By lowering the shaft angle one actually increases the torque that the shaft provides when blade is off the ice. In order to better understand hold a stick (hockey or otherwise) in a vertical position and you will feel no torque, thus your arm only need support the stick’s weight. Now, rotate the stick a few degrees and you begin to feel a torque that increases with the angle of rotation. Since the Versa-lie’s shaft is at a lower angle the downward torque of this shaft must be greater than a similar stick whose shaft is at a traditional angle


Features and Benefits of Ballistik Versa-lie (Continued)
If so desired one may choose to maintain the same shaft angle with the ice and raise their paddle angle. In so doing, he/she will still have all the benefits when the paddle is held along the ice/playing surface (benefits 1 on page 1) but will lose the benefits as previously discussed on page two. However, the goalie will now have the benefit of the paddle being more upright.

3) Feature: Paddle is more upright, and goalie uses same shaft angle.

Benefits:

a) Decreases the angle between the pads and the paddle when the goalie is in his/her upright stance.
b) Similarly it decreases the angle between the paddle and the goal post.



Conclusions:

The features of the Ballistik Versa-lie, does provide significant benefits. It is our belief that most goalies would prefer the combination of features and benefits as described in 1) and 2).

However, some goalies may prefer the combination of features and benefits, as described in 1) and 3).

Either way the patented Ballistic Versa-lie is worth a try and has been approved for use by Hockey Canada.