What stick is right for you? There's no right answer to this question. Your stick is a personal preference and the only way to find out what you like best is to try out different sticks until you find the right match for your style of play.
Choosing the right stick is a very personal choice. What works very well for one player may not be right for another.
Stick Length
Stick length really depends on personal preference as well as your position. A common way to measure your stick is to stand in your stocking feet, without your skates on and
on a flat surface.
Place the toe of your stick on the ground between your feet. Lean the stick straight up-and-down so that the handle of the stick touches the tip of your nose.
Then when you stand in your skates, the stick should come up to your chin or just below it. The general rule is to mark the stick at this point and cut the handle on your mark.
Keep in mind that the more you cut a stick down, the stiffer it becomes.
Lie Angle
A lower lie (5 or lower) works well for players that skate in a crouched down position. To
determine if you need to use a lower lie look at the wear on the bottom of your blade. If most
of the wear is on the heel, switching to a lower lie will put more of your blade on the ice.
A mid lie (5.5 to 6) works well for most players. This lie is a happy medium between the crouched over skating style and the very upright skater.
A high lie (7) will allow the player to keep the puck in close to the body. To determine if you need to use a higher lie look at the wear on the bottom of your blade. If most of the wear is on the toe, switching to a higher lie will put more of your blade on the ice.
Curves
There are three main types of stick/blade curves - heel curve, mid curve and toe curve.
A heel curve has a flat blade face that opens up at the toe (lots of loft). This will allow you to cradle the puck near the heel of the blade when you stickhandle. When you shoot or pass, the puck travels along the entire length of the blade, translating into more accuracy and a harder wrist shot. Also, the more open the blade face is, the easier it is to raise the puck in a hurry.
A mid curve bends gradually from heel to toe with a closed blade face (very little loft). This is the most common choice for the player who wants the best combination for puck control when shooting and passing. The mid curve is a good place to start if you are unsure what type of curve is right for you as it is probably the most user friendly.
A toe curve has a flat blade face until near the end of blade where it curves sharply. Typically used by players who favor quick hard snap shots and toe drags, the toe curve is more difficult to control for shooting and passing accuracy.
Flex
Composite sticks and shafts offer three main Senior flexes: Mid, Stiff and X-Stiff.
There will typically only be one flex available for Intermediate and Junior by each supplier.
The chart below is provided as a guide for comparing and contrasting various flexes by supplier. This is only a guide and if you have any detailed questions about the flex each supplier offers or how they compare to your current stick, please give us a call.
Keep in mind that the more you cut a stick down, the stiffer it becomes.
Wood Sticks and Blades
Wood sticks will give you the best feel for the puck. Graphite blades still can't match the
"soft touch" that wood provides.
One reason that wood has fallen out of favor with some players is that it tends to have a short life-span and can be inconsistent from stick to stick.
Composite Sticks and Shafts
Huge advancements have been made in this category making the one piece stick the most exciting
piece of equipment you will purchase.
This is definitely the "toy" for every player who picks one up.
These sticks can be found in different shapes, weights and flexes. Not sure where to start? Give us a call and we'll help you decide which stick is right for your game.
We carry a huge selection from Nike Bauer, CCM, RBK and Easton. A composite shaft should be purchased for improved shaft consistency, shot speed, shot accuracy and its lighter weight.
Most composite sticks and shafts come with a 30-Day Manufacturer Warranty that can be redeemed directly from the manufacturer.
Composite replacement blades do not come with any warranty.
Stick Performance and Maintenance
Taping your stick is totally dependent upon personal preference. As a general rule, you want to tape the blade
of the stick from heel to toe.
How you tape the grip of the butt end of your stick is your call but to enhance the feel and grip you might want to try some specialty grip tape. Once you try it, you'll be hooked.
We stock Renfrew Tape. After extensive testing and research we believe it to be the highest possible quality of hockey tape available on the market today.
A good way to get extra life out of your stick blades is to run a strip of sock tape along the bottom of your blade before taping it up. You won't feel the extra strip of tape but it will add life to the bottom of your blade.
A tip to keep ice from building up on the tape of the blade of your stick is to use a stick wax.
Rub the wax on the entire taped area of your blade and then smooth it in with a puck to seal it.
This should help your tape to last longer as well.
