Pattern Database – The Stick Guru (2024)

Here you will find my pattern database. It is a comparison of the most popular curves. You can find your favorite curve and see what the equivalent is in other brands and some pros and cons.

Don’t see the curve you’re looking for? Check out theCurve Comparison Chartfor more.

For the sake of consistency, the names of the curves I used will be Bauer. Theirequivalentsin other brandsare listed underneath

Bauer P88

Actual Curve Shown: Pro StockBauerP88
Type of Curve: Deep Mid Curve with a neutral toe
Similar Curves: CCM/Reebok P40 “Hedman/Perron” (Formerly “P40 Hossa”) , Easton E36, Sherwood “PP88 LS”, Warrior W88 “Zetterberg”, True Temper“MC” and All Black “AB88”.
Pros: This curve is great for stick handling and for shooting. The depth allows you to “cup” the puck giving you great control while stick handling. It has a nice smooth curve allowing for great accuracy on shots as well as passes. The closed face allows you to keep pucks low and true.
Cons: Because of the depth of the curve it may be harder to lift the puck on your back hand. It may be hard to lift pucks when you are close in towards the net. If this is something you need you may want to check out the next curve (P92)
Conclusions: This curve is best for beginners and players who want accuracy. You can pretty much put the puck anywhere you want to. Both passing, shooting and stick handling are phenomenal.

Bauer P92

**(Formerly P92 “Ovechkin”)**
Actual Curve Shown:Warrior “Kopitar”
Type of Curve: Mid-Toe
Equivalents: CCMP29 “Crosby” (formerly “Nugent-Hopkins” orReebok P87A “Crosby”), Easton E3 “Hall”,Sherwood PP26“Stastny”, Warrior W03 “Backstrom”, (formerly“Draper/Kopitar/Henrique”), True“TC2” and All Black “AB92”.
Pros: This is also known as the “Sakic” curve. Great for stick handling and sniping pucks top shelf. The deep mid curve allows for great stick handling like the P88 however it also over a very open toe for maximum lift. You can easily go top shelf in close. It is also great for the quick shots because you can lift it so quick and easily.
Cons: It may be a bit difficult to keep your shots down. As you can see from the picture the toe is really twisted back so you really have to work hard to keep shots down. You may find your passes skipping instead of gliding across the ice like you would with the P88. Alternatively, your backhand may suffer because you need to twist your wrists a lot further and quicker to get a good high back hand.
Conclusions: If you want high, top shelf shots consistently, this is the curve for you. Quick and easy shots as well as great stick handling.

Bauer PM9

Actual Curve Shown: Bauer PM9 “Stamkos”
Type of Curve: Mid-Heel Curve
Equivalents: CCM C42 “Couturier” (Formerly Reebok “P42 duch*ene” CCM P45“Tavares”), Easton E4 “Cammalleri”,Sherwood PP96 “Bouchard”, and Warrior W01“Lupol”,(formerly “Savard/Burrows/Zetterberg”), and All Black “AB7”.
Pros: This is one of the morepopular curves. It features a relatively flat blade with a mid-heel curve. Great for passing and backhanding and catching passes with ease. Also great for deflections because of the relatively flat curve. If your shots take time you can really get a lot of speed off your blade.
Cons: Stick handling can get a bit challenging because the blade can’t “cup” the puck. For the same reason it may also effect the speed of your shot. It can also be hard to get lift because there’s no real curve to it. You have to use proper wrist motions to pick your corners.
Conclusions: This stick is great for centers or players who pass more than they shoot. Easy deflections and on target passing.

Bauer P91A

Actual Curve Shown:Bauer P91A “Staal”
Type of Curve: Heel Curve with a very open face
Equivalents: Easton “Parise/Drury”, Reebok P36A “Phaneuf”, Sherwood “PP20 DR”, Warrior W05 “Granlund” (formerly “Kovalev/Vanek/Weight”), True “HCR”and All Black “AB23”.
Pros: This curve has a very large open area, great for clearing and lifting pucks out of the zone. You can very easily lift pucks close in to the net. Generally used by defenseman or playerswho like to get into the dirty areas. The long, relatively straight allows for great control when picking pucks out from the corners. It is also a great stick for deflections. Easy lifting and a straight curve allows for unmatched accuracy with deflections.
Cons: This curve is very open. This may have you shooting higher than you like to. There also isn’t much of a curve to it so there is a lot less spin to the puck than with more of a mid curve.
Conclusions: This curve is great for playerswho like to get dirty in front of the net or a defenseman who want a curve for easy clearing. Definitely not for beginners so know what you’re getting into with the P91A.

Bauer P28

Actual Curve Shown:Warrior W28
Type of Curve:Mid/Toe
Equivalents: Easton E28, Warrior W28 “Yakupov“, True TC3 & TC4,and All Black “AB28”.
Pros:TheP28 is one of the more widely used patterns in the NHL. This is perfect for players who love to use the toe of their blades. It is great for toe drags and shooting off the toe. The P28is widely gaining popularity because of its stick-handling control and ease of going top shelf.
Cons: Like all large curves it may be harder to use the backhand of this curve. Many of you may find it hard to control your shots and keep the puck down on the ice.
Conclusions: If you like toe dragging and going top shelf this is the curve for you.

Warrior W71

Actual Curve Shown: Warrior W71 “Pacioretty”
Type of Curve: Mid/Toe
Equivalents: Sherwood PP77 “Coffey”
Pros: The W71 a deeper slightly more toe based P88. This is perfect for players who grew up using “Banana Curves” like the Coffey. The W71 is great for passing, cradling the puck, and wrist shots. While the pattern is falling out of style, those who are used to it rarely switch.
Cons: Like all large curves it is not so great on the backhand.
Conclusions: If you are looking for something a bit deeper than a P88 this for for you

Bauer P14

Actual Curve Shown:
Type of Curve:Toe
Equivalents: CCM P46, Warrior W14, and Sherwood PP14.
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusions:

More to come soon!

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If you have any specific or personal questions about curve, shoot me an email and i’d be happy to answer you.

What is your Favorite Curve?