How to Choose a Hockey Stick
A few weeks ago I wrote about taping your stick (How to Tape Your Stick). I probably should have taken the first step which is actually choosing your stick. Lot’s of choices out there in multiple configurations that can get into some high prices. However, you can also get a good starter stick for around $30 at your local shop. You’ll have to make some considerations on the configuration of your stick, keeping in mind the lower end price points have less flexibility in configuration.
Wood or Composite?
- Wood sticks and blades offer the best feel but the least durability. This should not be a problem if you’re a new player and playing once or twice a week.
- Composite sticks and blades provide better shot power and durability, but they do cost more and do not have quite as much of an overall authentic “feel” compared to wood sticks when handling the puck.
The hockey stick market is being driven not only by the ever-increasing competitiveness of the players, but is also being fueled by fierce competition between the “twigmakers” themselves. This is great for the players because the result has been an innumerable amount of options available in all price ranges. You can find a decent composite stick these days for around $50–60. Top of the line models tend to run around $200–260 when they are initially released. Of course there are great, mid-range composite sticks produced as well, which deliver high performance results at a more affordable price, approximately $120–180. Over time, stick prices tend to come down pretty substantially, especially with the introduction of the newest models each product-calendar year. So, always watch for the year-end clearance sales on last year’s merchandise.
Hockey sticks are made up of a shaft and a blade. Sticks have undergone drastic changes over the last 15–20 years with the advent of composite material technology. Despite its ever-changing “properties”, the hockey stick will inevitably hold the same general geometric shape and appearance that it has for the last century or so. But with the endless research being done to create lighter, more durable materials for better performance, new and innovative construction methods have been discovered and have proven effective.
Stick Length
The length of the hockey stick is generally the easiest to determine, but imperative for a player’s success in the game. Sticks usually come in four sizes: senior, intermediate, junior and youth. Each size normally reflects a smaller shaft circumference and a softer flex. Senior sticks are usually used by players ages 14 and up; intermediate for ages 10–15; junior for ages 7 to 12; and youth for players ages 4–8. Adult women generally use intermediate or flexible senior sticks.
Determining the appropriate stick length is relatively easy. Have the player stand in place without skates, place the toe of the stick on the ground between their feet and position the stick vertically against their body so that the stick comes to about their nose. If the stick is too long, simply make a mark where it touches their nose, and cut the handle of the stick accordingly. If the player’s skates are on, the stick should come up to their chin. Please note that this is a general rule of thumb and can change with personal preference. In addition to cutting sticks to the desired length, players may also extend a stick’s length by inserting an end plug at the top of the shaft. This can be used to lengthen the life of a stick and get maximum use if the player cut the stick too short or experiences a growth spurt.
Composite Shafts & Blades
In the mid to late 90’s, carbon fiber and Kevlar shafts were introduced as a lighter and more responsive alternative to aluminum shafts and wood hockey sticks. Replaceable carbon composite and Kevlar blades also made their way onto the market at this time and offered longer lasting performance, mainly because they are less susceptible to the water damage that causes wood blades to rot and split. Composite shafts are still fairly popular today because they allow players to mix and match blades and shafts offered by different manufacturers.
One-Piece Composite Hockey Sticks (OPS)
With the turn of the century, there was a remarkable breakthrough in hockey stick technology. One-piece composite hockey sticks were created by taking the two piece system of a composite shaft and blade and combining it with the concept of the one-piece wood stick. This created the most dynamic approach to creating a stick that is both light-weight and durable, by the use of carbon composite materials, while still maintaining the benefits of the exceptional feel of the one-piece wood stick design.
Hockey Stick Shaft Flexibility
The shaft of a hockey stick is going to be rated with a number ranging from about 40 to 110. The higher the number, the stiffer the shaft. Heavier players need a stiffer shaft that can handle the stress of their weight on the stick, and lighter players will need a more flexible shaft that will respond to their weight and help them generate a more powerful shot. Typically, a defenseman may take more slap shots than a forward and should perhaps therefore go with a stiffer flex. Forwards tend to do more puck-handling and take more snap and wrist shots, so they won’t likely need as much resistance from the shaft to handle their shots. Personal preference also plays a large part in selecting the flex for your stick, so don’t feel hindered by these generalized suggestions. Here is a simple breakdown of the shaft flexibility in relation to the size of a player:
Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Youth
The terms senior, intermediate, junior and youth are used to describe the general age groups of hockey players for the purposes of hockey equipment sizing. These categories are determined by the average dimensions (height/weight/waist size, etc.) of a hockey player at a certain age. Refer to the chart above to see which category you fit into. Now that you know where you place in terms of general age group sizing, you’ll want to consider the stiffness of the shaft you will be using. It is important to refer to the sizing chart for general guidelines on shaft flexibility, but depending on how the hockey stick is going to be used, there are a few key things to take into consideration. Shafts are built in different sizes and strengths to fit a player’s needs based on his height, weight, strength and playing style. For instance, as stated previously, defensemen tend to take more slapshots and usually benefit from using a stiffer flex, whereas forwards are more inclined to take wrist and snap shots, so they typically benefit from using a more flexible shaft.
Hockey Stick Blade Patterns
Fortunately, hockey sticks come in many different sizes and “patterns” that focus on the various strengths and tendencies of each hockey player as they handle the puck. The “pattern” of a stick refers to the specific type of curve that the manufacturer gives to the blade, such as the Pattern 88 (Lindros/Kane) curve which is made by Bauer and the Pattern 42 (Duchene) curve made by Reebok. There are usually somewhere between 5 to 10 different blade patterns available from each stick manufacturer. Each blade is engineered to focus on enhancing a unique combination of the different aspects of stickhandling: shooting, passing and puckhandling.
A few terms that you’ll want to become familiar with are curve direction, curve type, curve depth, face angle, blade length, and lie.
Curve Direction: When you’re looking at a blade from the top view, it will look like the left or right curve pictured below. If you have never played hockey before, or you’re at the very beginning stages of becoming familiar with hockey and have not yet solidified your decision regarding which way to shoot, there are some points to consider. There are different schools of thought on how to decide which way you ought to shoot, but the short answer is that your dominant hand (usually your writing and throwing hand) should be the top hand on your stick. This should give you the greatest amount of control over your stick as you puckhandle and shoot.
So, if you write with your right hand, you should select a “Left” curve, because your dominant hand (right) will be on the top end of the stick.
Curve Type: There are basically 3 curve types (heel, mid & toe) that you can find in conjunction with the many other blade options previously mentioned. It’s pretty straight forward, so when you see a heel curve this means that the curve of the blade begins at the heel as opposed to starting towards the middle or toe of the blade.
Curve Depth:The depth refers to the degree of the curve, whether it’s slight, moderate or deep.
Face Angle: Face angle is best understood by looking at the concept behind a set of golf clubs. A closed-face angle hockey blade would be like a 1 Iron, whereas an open-face angle blade is equivalent to something like a pitching wedge. The range is anywhere from closed face (cups over the top of the puck) to open wedge (angled back away from the puck).
Blade Length: The blade length is exactly what the description denotes (short, medium or long).
Lie: The lie is a representative measurement of how the blade is angled in relation to the shaft, which determines how the blade will rest on the ice. Higher lies are usually best for bigger players who skate more upright. Lower lies work better for smaller players and those who tend to skate bent over, closer to the ice. You have found the correct lie when the middle portion of the underside of your blade is resting flat on the ice, rather than resting on the heel with the toe off the ice or vice versa. Below is a diagram that visually displays the concept of blade lie.
Main points to consider when picking a blade pattern
Deep curves make it easier to lift shots on the forehand and slight curves give you more overall control of the puck on the forehand and backhand.
Closed face angle blades are great for puck protection on the forehand and open face angle blades provide an even greater ability to lift the puck with ease.
The puck will naturally rest on the heel, mid or toe of the blade depending on which one of these types of curves you choose.
Over time, you’ll need to experiment with different patterns in order to find the one that fits you the best.
You’re Ready To Buy A Hockey Stick
Now that you have a pretty good understanding of what makes each hockey stick unique, you’re ready to choose the best hockey stick for you. Just keep these factors in mind when you’re purchasing a hockey stick.
- Flex
- Length
- Weight
- Durability
- Blade Pattern
The Puck Drops Here!
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