Hockey Stick: Everything you need to know

A Brief Introduction to Hockey Sticks for Beginners What are the key things you need to know to choose the perfect hockey stick for yourself? Here are the five most important aspects: size, hand (RH or LH), curve/blade, flex, and kick point.

Size

When considering the length of your hockey stick, you first need to think about size. Are you a Youth, Junior, Intermediate, or Senior? Most people can't just pick any hockey stick and find it perfect. You might need to shorten or extend the length of your hockey stick. It's completely normal to cut a few centimeters off your hockey stick if you want it shorter, and it's perfectly okay to add an extension (or order it longer in the first place) if you need it longer. However, when choosing your size, ensure it's generally the correct size for you. For instance, if you are 1.80 meters tall, you definitely shouldn't use a Junior stick. An adult hockey stick should be fine, and you can add length if necessary. Similarly, if you are 1.20 meters tall, you shouldn't shorten a Senior stick by 30 centimeters.

If you find yourself between two hockey stick sizes, there is some room for flexibility. When you reach the flex section, you'll understand what I mean. As a smaller player, you might consider using the smaller size if you don't exceed the weight intended for the flex of the hockey stick. Hockey sticks are generally about the same size, but different brands can vary by a few centimeters. Our standard sizes are: 142 cm YHT, 147 cm JR, 160 cm INT, 165 cm SR. You can find more information on our product page.

Youth sticks are usually suitable for players up to 8 years old, Junior sticks for players aged 7-12, Intermediate sticks for ages 10-14, and Senior sticks for players aged 14 and older.

Hand (RH or LH)

The use of a right-handed or left-handed hockey stick is a very controversial topic. Many say that your dominant hand should be on top while handling the stick, while others argue that your dominant hand should be on the bottom for power. My opinion? Do what feels comfortable. If you're accustomed to a left-handed stick, use a left-handed stick, and vice versa for the right-handed stick. There is truly no advantage or disadvantage in using a particular hand orientation.

Curve/Blade

Hockey stick blades are curved to provide better puck control and increased shot speed. There are three main types of curves, with variations and combinations of the three. The primary types are: toe curves, mid curves, and heel curves. Toe curves generally have fairly straight beginnings and middle sections but bend at the tip. Toe curves help to add extra speed to your shots and can give your shots some elevation at the last moment. Toe curves are very popular among NHL forwards. An example of a toe curve is our A14.

Mid curves are the most popular among blades. They are best suited for players who handle the hockey stick well, such as passers and shooters. Mid curves are particularly suitable for beginners as they improve puck control and accuracy for all types of shots. An example of a mid curve is our A88.

Heel curves have the most open face and are great for chipping the puck into or out of the zone. Heel curves are mainly preferred by defenders. The heel curve itself gives your shots more elevation than toe curves, but it takes longer to release the shot. Moreover, for players who are not used to them, this can lead to many shots going over the net.

Flex

Alongside the blade curve, flex is one of the most important features of your hockey stick. Flex indicates how much your hockey stick bends. When you shoot, your stick bends, thereby increasing the potential energy. This increases the speed of your shot. Without flex, you could only generate as much power and speed as your body can produce. The more flex you achieve in your shot, the faster and harder the shot will be. Composite sticks exclusively rely on the flex capability, which greatly impacts the speed and consistency of your shot.

Flex is measured by the amount of pressure required to bend your hockey stick by one inch. For example, an 85-flex stick requires 85 pounds of force to bend the stick by one inch. The standard flex types are:

• YHT: 40 Flex
• JR: 50 Flex
• INT: 60-75 Flex
• SR: 75-120+ Flex

Kick Point

The kick point is the specific area of the hockey stick where it bends. The purpose is to increase the speed of your shot, depending on the types of shots the hockey stick is designed for. There are sticks specifically engineered to give you faster wrist shots, faster snap shots, harder slap shots, or overall faster releases. With a kick point, the placement of your lower hand becomes more important to achieve the best and most powerful shot. The position of the kick point can influence the ease of loading your shot.

There are three main kick points: mid kick point, low kick point, and high kick point.

• Mid kick points are generally preferred for slap shots and by players who lean into their shots.
• Low kick points are preferred for wrist shots, snap shots, and quick releases.
• High kick points are mostly used for powerful slap shots and releases from the blue line.