True A5.2 Stick Review

Back in June, we had the opportunity to use and review one of the sticks sold by True Sports. Shortly after our review of the 6.0 stick, we got our hands on another stick, the 5.2 stick. Check out our review of the stick

Stick: TRUE Hockey 5.2

Specs: True A5.2, 85 flex, MC Pattern, 420 grams.

The blade of the True A5.2 stick. Notice how the heel of the stick withstood most of the abuse from playing with that part exposed.
The blade of the True A5.2 stick. Notice how the heel of the stick withstood most of the abuse from playing with that part exposed.

Design and Construction:

One of the things I liked about this stick is that it is easy on the eyes. The base color of the stick is black with accents of blue and grey. And when they use blue they don’t go overboard with it, like we have seen with sticks from other brands that use louder colors such as yellow and orange against a black background. And the grey is so subtle I have to bring the stick closer to my eyes to read what it says.

Just like in the 6.0 stick, their A5.2 stick is constructed using their patented Axenic Technology which seamlessly co-molds the shaft and blade while removing unnecessary weight from the tip for improved balance and feel. Other manufacturers, on the other hand, may use something like a bladder mold or fuse technology. The stick utilizes a mid-flex profile for optimal performance in all game situations. It’s a softer flex near the butt end for leverage on wrist shots and improved feel. Near the blade, its a bit stiffer to provide stability and accuracy when shooting. The blade construction incorporates a dual 100% carbon fiber rib structure, along with a unique foam core which resists break down over time. This proved helpful as the toe of the stick still has the sharp edge as when I first received it when most sticks would see wear and tear along the toe of the stick before anywhere else.

Feel:

True Temper’s Axenic technology we previously talked about allows the blade and shaft to work better as a unit, definitely shines here in giving you the optimal feel and feedback you expect from a top end hockey stick.

The stick has a grip coating along the shaft. While it took me a while to come around to playing with a grip-coated stick, I liked this one. It doesn’t stick too much to my gloves and it kept its tack the few times it got wet. It also didn’t cause wear on the palm of my gloves, which is a good thing. It had just the right amount of tack without it becoming too much when trying to slide my hands up and down the stick.

Shooting, Accuracy and Performance:

Aside from durability, having a hard shot and knowing the puck is going to go where you intended is important. After using this stick for about 10 games, I can say that I’d put this stick up against any of the major brands and most players won’t be able to tell the difference.

The MC blade pattern is the curve I am most comfortable with after reviewing many sticks over the years. The MC pattern has a mid curve, slightly open face with a round curve and a 5.0 lie. When compared to other brands they are similar to patters such as Kane, Hossa, Zetterberg, and Hedman. Having used this blade pattern before I had an idea of how the puck will react from the stick when shooting and passing.

Durability:

The thing that impressed me the most is how well this held up over the time I’ve used it. Playing in adult leagues means you’re going up against players who slash and hack at sticks often and I’ve seen sticks start to chip away as soon as the second or third time skating with it. Not this one though. While it has a few scuffs from normal use, it exceeded my expectations for how durable it is. I only taped the stick once and there aren’t any abnormal signs of wear from using it. If you buy this stick, be prepared to use it for a long time before having to retire it for another stick.

Overall Impressions: 

I’ve had the opportunity to use and review sticks often. I’ve only had 1 stick break and it was from one of the major manufacturers. If you’re looking for something with a price point slightly higher than average but not top of the price range (this stick retails for $209) then this one is for you.

The only drawback is that it is available at select retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and will continue to become more widely available as time goes on. Be sure to keep an eye on their website as more retailers are being added.

If you’ve used  this or any other True stick, leave a comment below with your personal review and experiences to help out other HWB readers looking for more information.

5 Comments

  1. I’ve been using the A6.0 for about 2 months now. Stiff lower section really helps taking draws and resisting slashes. Soft top really helps start those wrist shots quickly. Honestly feels like my shots launch quicker and harder than my RibCor 40k. Just make sure to have soft hands when receiving those hard passes, or it’ll jump right off the blade.

  2. Was playing with T90 until I switched to True sticks 4 months ago. Love it… very quick and accurate launch on wrist shots and the grip is perfect, not too sticky. First had a A4.5 TC2 75 now having a A5.2 same curve and flex. I highly recommend True products for excellent quality/pricing.

  3. Nick bjugstad gave me his a5.2 that had only been used a few times. I’ve been using it strong for almost 3 months now and hasn’t lost a touch. Just wow. The best stick i’ve ever used, from a pro, FOR FREE! doesn’t get better than that.

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