Buying a Hockey Stick as a Gift: Get Hand, Flex, Curve & Size Right (2026 Guide)

Last updated: 09.11.2026 · by Andri Farrer

A hockey stick is one of the best gifts you can give a player – and one of the trickiest. Wrong hand, and the stick is useless. Wrong flex, and it ends up in the corner. Wrong curve, and you get a polite thank-you and a stick that never sees the ice. The good news: you don't need to be a hockey expert. You need four pieces of information – and you can usually find them without anyone noticing.

The four things you need to know

A stick isn't a sweater where "M" will fit somehow. A player has spent years getting used to their hand, their flex and their curve. Those three plus the size decide whether your gift gets played.

Spec	What it looks like	Where to find it	If you can't find it
Hand	L or R, depending on the brand also "LFT"/"RGT"	printed on the shaft, often next to flex and curve	Watch them play: if the left hand is lower on the shaft, they shoot left (L). More: Left or right shot?
Flex	a number, e.g. 65, 75, 85	printed on the shaft	Rule of thumb: flex ≈ body weight in kg, when in doubt a bit lower. Details in the flex chart
Curve	a code like P28, P29, P92, P88	printed on the shaft or the blade	Take a photo of the blade and send it to us – or go for the gift card
Size	SR, INT, JR, YTH	printed on the shaft	By height and weight: size chart, for kids the parents' guide

Detective mode: how to find the specs secretly

You want to surprise them, not ask. Fair enough. Here's how:

• The hockey bag is your friend. Almost every player has a spare stick or an old broken one lying around. Snap the print above the blade – done.
• A photo of the stick in the hallway or the car is enough. Make sure flex, curve and L/R are readable.
• Ask a teammate or the coach. On every team at least one person knows who plays which blade.
• The disguised question: "What flex do you actually use? I just read an article about it." Works surprisingly often.
• Kids: easier – you know their height and weight. Hand and curve are on their current stick.

Not sure what the photo says? Send it to us on WhatsApp. We'll tell you which SOYUZ matches.

In stock, custom or gift card?

That's the real decision. My honest advice: if you know hand, flex and curve for sure, buy an in-stock stick. If you can only guess, buy the gift card. Custom is the biggest gift – but only if you have all the specs and order early enough.

	In stock	Custom	Gift card
Delivery	ordered by 2 pm, usually delivered the next day in Switzerland (1–3 working days); EU 3–5 working days	4–6 weeks production	instantly by email
Returns	30-day return window if unused, uncut, untaped and in original packaging	excluded from returns (made to order)	remaining balance is kept
Price (SR)	CHF 187 (STD PRO) to CHF 285 (RAPID)	depends on model and configuration	CHF 50, 100, 150, 200 or 300
Best if	you know hand, flex and curve	you know everything and want a personal gift – with their name on the shaft	you're unsure or in a hurry

Small bonus if you give two sticks (or grab one for yourself): from 2 sticks you get 5 % off and free tape.

Which SOYUZ makes a good gift?

The easiest starting point is the stick they use today. SOYUZ is built along the lines of CCM's and Bauer's top lines – so switching feels familiar:

Plays today …	Matching SOYUZ	Kick point	In stock SR
CCM Jetspeed	HIT GRIT	Hybrid	CHF 245
Bauer Vapor	AURORA or STD PRO	Low	CHF 204 / 187
CCM Ribcor Trigger, Bauer Vapor Flylite	ARCANE or RAPID	Ultra-low	CHF 268 / 285
CCM Tacks	MASTER FRST	Mid	CHF 235
Bauer Nexus	CLASSIC SPR	High	CHF 235

And if you don't know their current model? Then the AURORA is the safe bet: 365 g, low kick, CHF 204 – and our best-selling in-stock SOYUZ stick of the last 90 days. If they play a lot and want something durable, the STD PRO is a great pick: 400 g, flexed 12,000 times at maximum force in the SOYUZ test lab without breaking. The exact differences are in our SOYUZ vs. Bauer, CCM & co. comparison, and the stick finder answers it in five questions.

And the curve? If you don't know the code but really want to give a stick: P29 and P28 are the most played curves – in our orders and worldwide (the P29 is practically the Bauer P92, which Hockey Stick Man calls the most played curve in the world). Both are in stock in all seven SR models. You can compare them in the Curve Lab or in the article P28 vs P29. Still: a player with a favourite curve wants exactly that one. When in doubt, go for the gift card.

What gets chosen most

So you're not guessing blindly, here are our own numbers from SOYUZ in-stock SR orders over roughly the last 90 days:

• Flex 75 is clearly number 1 with about two thirds of orders, followed by flex 85 and flex 70.
• Left shots (L) make up more than 80 %.
• P28 and P29 are the most chosen curves.

In other words: flex 75, L, P28 or P29 is the most likely hit for an adult recreational player. But "most likely" isn't "certain" – that's why the return window only applies to unused sticks. So: unwrap, hold it, compare. Cut and tape it only once it really fits.

Christmas timeline 2026

What	Order by when?
Custom stick	Now. With 4–6 weeks of production it gets tight for Christmas from the end of November. Ordering later? Put a gift card under the tree and order the custom stick in the new year.
In stock, Switzerland	ordered by 2 pm, usually there the next day. Swiss Post names 22 December as the last safe drop-off date for domestic parcels – still, plan a few days of buffer.
In stock, EU	3–5 working days plus Christmas traffic – ideally by early December.
Gift card	up to Christmas Eve, arrives instantly by email. Print it, put it in a card, done.

The 5 most common gift mistakes

1. The wrong hand

Game over. A left shot can't do anything with a right-handed stick. Note: the hand someone writes with says nothing about how they play hockey.

2. Too much flex

"He's strong, so I'll get flex 100." A stick that's too stiff barely loads, and the shot gets weaker, not harder. Better slightly too soft than too stiff.

3. Cutting the stick before Christmas

Well meant, but a cut stick can no longer be returned – and it gets stiffer. How much, you'll find in cutting or extending a hockey stick. Let the player do it.

4. Guessing the curve when they have a favourite

Someone who has played the same blade for years notices every difference. For players with a clear preference: find out the code or give the gift card.

5. Ordering custom too late

A custom stick with their name on the shaft is the most personal gift. But 4–6 weeks are 4–6 weeks. How ordering works is explained in ordering a custom stick.

FAQ

Can I return an in-stock stick if the flex doesn't fit?

Yes, within 30 days of receipt – as long as it is unused, uncut, untaped and in its original packaging. Return shipping is on you. Details are in our refund policy.

Can I return a custom stick?

No. Custom sticks are made to your specifications and excluded from returns. Our warranty against material and manufacturing defects still applies to them.

How do I put a gift card under the tree?

The code arrives by email. Print it or write it in a card – and add an old puck or a roll of tape so it looks like something. The gift card works for the entire range, including custom sticks, and any remaining balance is kept.

My kid is still growing – which size should I buy?

Don't buy too big: a stick that's too long and too stiff holds back technique. The parents' guide and stick size for kids & juniors show you what matters. In stock, SOYUZ is also available in INT (from CHF 178), JR (from CHF 175) and YTH (CHF 165).

What if nothing is readable on the old stick anymore?

Photograph the blade from above and from the side and send us the pictures. The shape tells a lot. If it isn't clear, we'll tell you honestly – then the gift card is the better choice.

Keep reading

• Left or right shot? How to find your hand
• Which flex fits? The flex chart
• Hockey stick size chart
• Hockey sticks for kids: the parents' guide
• P28 vs P29: which curve fits?
• How to spot fake hockey sticks

Sources: ABSHockey order data (SOYUZ in stock SR, approx. 90 days to early November 2026) · ABSHockey refund policy · Swiss Post, Christmas mailing deadlines 2026 · Hockey Stick Man (most played curves).