Pro stock hockey stick listings look like a foreign language to first-time buyers. You see something like "New CCM Trigger Unleashed Pro (Jetspeed FT9 Pro Dress) Left Hand 70 Flex P28M Pro Stock Stick" and you have no idea what half of it means. Is it a Trigger Unleashed Pro or a Jetspeed FT9 Pro? What does dress mean? What's P28M and why isn't it the same as P28? Is 70 flex low or high? What if I've been playing wrong my whole life and don't know it?
Most adult buyers considering their first pro stock purchase close the tab and leave rather than ask, because they don't want to look inexperienced. This guide is the answer to every question you were afraid to ask. By the end, you'll be able to read any pro stock stick listing on our site (or anywhere else) and know exactly what you're buying.
The Full Anatomy of a Pro Stock Stick Listing
Let's break down a real example from our inventory:
New CCM Trigger Unleashed Pro (Jetspeed FT9 Pro Dress) Left Hand 70 Flex P28M Pro Stock Stick
Every piece of that title tells you something specific about the stick. Here's what each part means and how to use it when you're shopping.
Condition (New, Like New, Used)
The first word tells you the condition of the stick.
New means never used. Straight from a team's supply or a player's untouched inventory. Never taped up, never shot with, no wear anywhere on the shaft or blade.
Like New means the stick was taped up once or shot a few times but you genuinely can't tell it was used. No meaningful wear, no cosmetic damage, no signs of play. Like New sticks are essentially indistinguishable from new sticks in performance.
Used means the stick was actually played. There's visible wear, tape residue, or other signs of use. Used sticks are graded further into excellent, good, and fair condition. Excellent used sticks have minor cosmetic wear but plenty of life left. Good used sticks have more wear but are still solid performers. Fair used sticks have significant wear or minor damage, and they're priced accordingly. Any cracks, chips, or damage are always explicitly noted in the product description with photos.
Brand and Model (The Build)
The next part tells you the actual stick you're buying. In our example, "CCM Trigger Unleashed Pro" is the underlying stick. That's the construction, kick point, blade profile, and performance characteristics. Trigger Unleashed Pro sticks are built with CCM's low kick point and are designed for quick releases and snap shots. That's what your hand and shot will feel.
The brand and model always come before any parentheses. This is the actual stick. Not the parentheses part.
Dress Code (The Look, Not the Build)
Here's where it gets confusing for most buyers. Dress means the graphics and paint job of a different model. "(Jetspeed FT9 Pro Dress)" means the Trigger Unleashed Pro has been wrapped to look like a CCM Jetspeed FT9 Pro. The stick performs like a Trigger Unleashed Pro. It looks like a Jetspeed FT9 Pro. That's it.
Why do dress codes exist? Teams give players flexibility in how their sticks look. Sometimes a player prefers the graphics or color scheme of one model over another. Sometimes only certain colors are available on certain models. Sometimes a team's colors match one model's dress better than another. Rather than force players into the visual style of their build, manufacturers offer different graphics on the same underlying construction.
Every major brand does this. CCM, Bauer, Warrior, and True all build sticks in different dresses. You'll see it across all pro stock inventory.
The rule to remember: the stick outside the parentheses is what you're playing with. The stick inside the parentheses is what it looks like.
If you like the way the Jetspeed FT9 Pro looks but want the low kick point of a Trigger Unleashed Pro, a "Jetspeed FT9 Pro Dress" Trigger Unleashed Pro gives you both. That's the whole point of dress codes.
Hand (LH or RH)
Left Hand or Right Hand. This is your shooting hand, which is the hand on the bottom of the shaft when you shoot. Left Hand means your left hand is on the bottom. Right Hand means your right is.
If you don't already know your shot hand, the fastest test is to hand yourself a broom or long stick and see which way feels natural. Whichever hand ends up on the bottom is your shot. About 60 percent of hockey players are Left Hand shots, regardless of dominant handedness, because most players learn to control the puck with their dominant hand on top.
Flex
The number after the hand designation is the flex, measured in pounds of force required to bend the stick one inch. Lower flex means the stick bends more easily. Higher flex means stiffer.
For senior pro stock sticks, you'll see flex ratings from about 65 up to 125. Most adult rec and beer league players land in the 70 to 87 range. Intermediate pro stock sticks are typically 55 to 65 flex.
For the full breakdown of how to pick a flex based on your body weight, cut length, and shot style, read our Hockey Stick Flex Guide for Adult Players.
Curve
The curve pattern comes after the flex. Common curves include:
- P28 (toe curve, open face, snipers)
- P92 (mid curve, versatile, all-around)
- P88 (heel curve, closed face, good puck control)
- P90TM (hybrid mid-toe curve, now available at retail)
You'll also see M variants like P28M, P92M, and P88M. The M stands for max height, which means the same curve shape on a taller blade with less rocker. Max height blades give you more puck contact area for passes, faceoffs, and board play.
Sometimes you'll see custom NHL player curves. Things like "Sidney Crosby Curve," or "MacKinnon Curve." These are one-off pro patterns built for specific NHL players. They don't have retail equivalents and don't behave exactly like standard curves. When we have these in stock, we describe them in detail in the product description so you know what you're getting.
For a full breakdown of every curve, read our Hockey Stick Curve Guide for 2026.
Pro Stock (What It Actually Means)
Pro stock means the stick was built to pro spec. That's it. Any custom batch built to the specifications of a professional or elite team supply, that isn't sold on a retail floor. The construction, materials, and specs are what a sponsored player would receive from the manufacturer directly.
Some pro stock sticks were actually used by players before being turned over. Others were part of team supply that never made it to a locker room. Both are pro stock. The defining characteristic is the build spec, not the specific player history.
Pro stock sticks are typically priced 30 to 60 percent below the retail equivalent because they are sold with no warranty.
Grip Type
Some listings will call out the grip texture of the shaft. There are three main options.
Grip means a tacky, slightly sticky finish across the whole shaft. Your hands grip the stick without needing to squeeze hard. Popular with players who like a locked-in feel.
Gloss means a smooth, non-grip finish. No tackiness. Your hands can slide along the shaft during shooting motion, which some players prefer for quicker hand transitions.
Tactile Grip means the shaft has small dimples or textured bumps across the finish. Provides grip through texture rather than tackiness. Feels different from traditional grip but achieves a similar hold.
Corner Tactile means only the corners of the shaft have the textured grip pattern, while the flat surfaces remain gripy. Popular with players who want directional grip on the corners of the shaft during shots and stickhandling.
Grip is personal preference. There's no "better" option. Try what feels right for your hands.
Color and Custom Team Elements
If a listing mentions a specific color like "Blue," "Chrome," "Green," or "Gold" at the beginning or end of the title, that's the custom color of the stick. Pro stock sticks are often built in team-specific colorways that don't exist at retail. A green Bauer Supreme Fuse, a maroon CCM Trigger Unleashed Pro, a chrome CCM Jetspeed FT9 Pro. These are functionally identical to standard colorways but visually distinct.
Common Questions Buyers Ask About Our Listings
We get the same three questions constantly. Here are the answers upfront.
How long is this stick?
At Gear Guyz, every stick length we list is measured the same way: the stick standing straight up against a wall, measured from the ground to the top of the shaft. No angled measurement, no rounding. The number on the listing is what the stick actually measures from floor to top of shaft.
For guidance on how to pick the right length for your body and position, see our Hockey Stick Length Guide.
Has this stick been cut?
Check the product description. Every listing includes cut information. Sticks that have been cut will say so explicitly, and the listed length will reflect the actual current length of the stick. If the description doesn't mention a cut, the stick is at its original manufactured length.
How used is this stick?
Reference the condition grade at the beginning of the title. New means untouched. Like New means basically indistinguishable from new. Used means it was played with. Used sticks are further graded into excellent, good, or fair condition. All damage (cracks, chips, blade wear) is explicitly noted in the product description with photos. If you have questions about a specific piece of wear, send us a message and we'll walk you through it.
A Worked Example: Putting It All Together
Let's decode a real listing from start to finish.
New CCM Jetspeed FT9 Pro Left Hand 85 Flex P92 Pro Stock Stick - Chrome
New: Never used. Pristine condition.
CCM Jetspeed FT9 Pro: The actual stick. This is a Jetspeed FT9 Pro, not a Jetspeed FT9 Pro dressed as something else. Jetspeed is CCM's line built for balanced kick and versatility across shot types.
Left Hand: Left hand on the bottom when shooting.
85 Flex: Moderately stiff. Suits players around 170 to 190 pounds who cut their stick 0 to 1 inches, or lighter players who don't cut at all.
P92: Mid curve with a slightly open face. Versatile and forgiving. The most popular curve at every level.
Pro Stock Stick: Built to pro spec, not from a retail floor.
Chrome: Custom chrome colorway.
A buyer who reads that listing knows exactly what they're getting. Untouched Jetspeed FT9 Pro construction, custom chrome finish, left hand shot, 85 flex, standard P92 curve, priced below what the retail equivalent would cost.
FAQ
What does "Pro Stock" actually mean on a hockey stick listing?
Pro stock means the stick was built to the specifications of professional or elite team supply, in a custom batch that isn't sold on a retail floor. The construction, materials, and performance specs are what a sponsored player would receive directly from the manufacturer. Some pro stock sticks were actually used by professionals before being turned over, while others were part of team supply that never made it to a locker room. Both are pro stock. The defining characteristic is the build spec, not the individual player history.
What does "(Tacks XF Ghost Dress)" or "(Vapor Flylite Dress)" mean on a stick listing?
Dress refers to the graphics and paint job of a different stick model. A stick listed as "Trigger Unleashed Pro (Jetspeed FT9 Pro Dress)" performs like a Trigger Unleashed Pro but has the visual appearance of a Jetspeed FT9 Pro. The stick outside the parentheses is what you're playing with. The stick inside the parentheses is what it looks like. Teams give sponsored players flexibility in graphics and colorways, which is why the same underlying build can appear in different dresses.
Is a Bauer Vapor Flylite (Supreme Fuse Dress) actually a Vapor or a Supreme?
It's a Vapor Flylite. The stick outside the parentheses is the actual build. The parentheses tell you what it visually looks like. So the example above is a Vapor Flylite (a low kick, quick release stick) that has been painted to look like a Supreme Fuse. You get Vapor performance in Supreme visual dress.
What's the difference between P28 and P28M?
Same curve shape, different blade height. P28 is the standard toe curve. P28M is the max height version, which has the same P28 curve profile on a taller blade with less rocker in the heel and toe. Max height blades give you more puck contact area for passes, faceoffs, and board play. Pro stock supply has significantly more M variants than retail because pros request them constantly.
What does grip vs gloss vs tactile grip mean?
Grip is a tacky, sticky finish across the whole shaft. Gloss is a smooth non-grip finish. Tactile grip is a textured finish with small dimples that provides grip through texture rather than tackiness. Corner tactile is textured grip only on the corners of the shaft. Grip type is personal preference and doesn't affect stick performance.
How do I know if I'm a Left Hand or Right Hand shot?
Grab a long stick or broom and hold it like you'd hold a hockey stick. The hand on the bottom of the shaft is your shooting hand. About 60 percent of hockey players are Left Hand shots regardless of overall handedness. Sticks cannot be flipped, so make sure you buy the correct hand.
Are pro stock sticks better than retail sticks?
Pro stock sticks are built to the same construction standards as the retail versions, but often include custom specs (unique curves, non-standard flexes, custom lies, alternative kick points) that aren't available at retail. Performance-wise, a pro stock and retail equivalent play very similarly. The main advantages of pro stock are lower price and access to curves, flexes, and specs you can't get at retail.
Bottom Line
Reading a pro stock stick listing is straightforward once you know the pattern. Condition first, brand and model second, dress in parentheses if applicable, hand and flex next, curve after that, and any extra specs at the end. The stick outside the parentheses is what you're playing with. Everything else describes the specifications, finish, and appearance.
If you're new to pro stock and unsure about a specific listing, send us a message. We're a direct buyer of pro stock hockey gear and we grade every stick by hand before it goes on the site. We'd rather answer a question upfront than have you buy the wrong thing.
Browse our current pro stock stick inventory or send us a message through thegearguyz.com if you have questions about a specific stick.
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