[xsquared]

I am a former semi-pro player and still play at a very competitive level, so very used to a pro-level C/A. I have been playing with the Sherwood 9980, and my 2 C/As before that were a Vaugn Epic 8800 (which I luckily had in my bag yesterday) and Reebok Premier Pro (the original). I also recently demoed the TPS Response R8 (which is actually the pad that Lundqvist now uses) and the Eagle Sentry Pro- ALL PRO PADS. Compared to these pads, the Summit is very bulky, especially in the arms. And the protection, especially for a pro pad is lacking. The stomach is cut too short and the clavicle area is totally exposed. The main padding is probably on par with other pads. But because of the way the pad is designed, there are a lot of seams in the pad, hence the shot to the ribs yesterday. The shot I took was a good shot through a screen (an 85 or so MPH shot taken from about 20 feet out), but should not feel it like that through the meat of the pad. I have a 6" bruise on my rib cage today. Unless I am hit where there is no padding, I have never bruised through a pad like that before. My advice is to spend the extra $$ and get a better pad, or even consider a high-end senior-level pad. In the end, I think most would be happier.