Just starting out or in ice hockey or planning to soon? Then you should follow this advice about making your first hockey stick one that works well for you. It is best to start out with an inexpensive wood hockey stick for your very first Ice Hockey Stick and it should have a basic or standard version of a blade, length and flex of the hockey stick.
Should you play with a Left handed or right handed stick? Using a right handed versus left handed hockey stick is not an automatic decision and it really comes down to which way feels more comfortable to you. One guideline is to choose a hockey stick so that your dominate hand is on top (i.e. a right handed stick for a left handed person). The best way to figure this out is to borrow one of each stick from friends, or your local hockey shop, and try them out. Choose the way that feels most comfortable to you.
Next is getting the correct length for your hockey stick. You will need a stick that is the minimum length or longer (that you will cut to the right length). See below for a good guideline for cutting your stick to the correct length. Hockey stick come in some pretty standard sizes (youth, junior, intermediate and senior sticks) and you will need to choose from this selection.
You are half way home on picking the right features for your first hockey stick. The next thing you need to know is the blade pattern that you want to use. There are a handful of common patterns that are named after start NHL players. Forget the names on the patterns and choose a blade that is mostly straight with just a slight curve. Choosing a blade that doesn't have a huge curve will help you receive and shoot from both the forehand and backhand side of the blade.
The last key thing to finding the best stick for you is to get one that has a flex (bending/stiffness) rating that matches your size, strength and ability. There are usually just a couple of standard flex ratings for each of the 4-5 sizes of sticks and you should go with the flex rating that is the standard one (ex: regular flex of 85 for senior hockey sticks) to start with. The goal of the right flex is that your hockey stick should bend a little when you are shooting so that when it unbends that is snaps back and flings the puck quicker to your target. Too much flex and your shot will be hard to control and too little flex (a very stiff stick) and you won't gain any advantage from the flexing action.
Now you need to cut your stick to the proper length. When you are standing in your skates, the top of the stick should be around your chin when the stick is held vertically in front of you. A fine tooth wood saw works best to cut both wood hockey sticks and composite sticks. The hockey shop where you buy your stick should be able to cut it for you.
The last step in getting your stick ready is to tape it. You need to tape your blade (from heel to toe is that way I do it) and tape a grip and knob on the top of the handle. Cloth tape is most common but friction tape (tape that is sticky on both sides) can be used on the blade for a stronger grip feel.
You should now have a very good stick to get you started playing ice hockey. After some playing time you will begin to develop opinions about the different aspects of the hockey stick. Once you do, it is a good time to buy a new stick! - 15343
Should you play with a Left handed or right handed stick? Using a right handed versus left handed hockey stick is not an automatic decision and it really comes down to which way feels more comfortable to you. One guideline is to choose a hockey stick so that your dominate hand is on top (i.e. a right handed stick for a left handed person). The best way to figure this out is to borrow one of each stick from friends, or your local hockey shop, and try them out. Choose the way that feels most comfortable to you.
Next is getting the correct length for your hockey stick. You will need a stick that is the minimum length or longer (that you will cut to the right length). See below for a good guideline for cutting your stick to the correct length. Hockey stick come in some pretty standard sizes (youth, junior, intermediate and senior sticks) and you will need to choose from this selection.
You are half way home on picking the right features for your first hockey stick. The next thing you need to know is the blade pattern that you want to use. There are a handful of common patterns that are named after start NHL players. Forget the names on the patterns and choose a blade that is mostly straight with just a slight curve. Choosing a blade that doesn't have a huge curve will help you receive and shoot from both the forehand and backhand side of the blade.
The last key thing to finding the best stick for you is to get one that has a flex (bending/stiffness) rating that matches your size, strength and ability. There are usually just a couple of standard flex ratings for each of the 4-5 sizes of sticks and you should go with the flex rating that is the standard one (ex: regular flex of 85 for senior hockey sticks) to start with. The goal of the right flex is that your hockey stick should bend a little when you are shooting so that when it unbends that is snaps back and flings the puck quicker to your target. Too much flex and your shot will be hard to control and too little flex (a very stiff stick) and you won't gain any advantage from the flexing action.
Now you need to cut your stick to the proper length. When you are standing in your skates, the top of the stick should be around your chin when the stick is held vertically in front of you. A fine tooth wood saw works best to cut both wood hockey sticks and composite sticks. The hockey shop where you buy your stick should be able to cut it for you.
The last step in getting your stick ready is to tape it. You need to tape your blade (from heel to toe is that way I do it) and tape a grip and knob on the top of the handle. Cloth tape is most common but friction tape (tape that is sticky on both sides) can be used on the blade for a stronger grip feel.
You should now have a very good stick to get you started playing ice hockey. After some playing time you will begin to develop opinions about the different aspects of the hockey stick. Once you do, it is a good time to buy a new stick! - 15343
About the Author:
Fred likes to play hockey and write about choosing good Hockey Blades and Hockey Shaft combinations at HockeyStickExpert.com!