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Guide to Purchasing Hockey Sticks - Identify the Ideal Stick for Your Game
When selecting a new hockey stick, it is essential to match it to your level, height, and playing style. Consider the size, the flex, and the surface where you’ll be playing.
With a multitude of choices, locating the ideal hockey stick for your requirements can feel like a daunting endeavour. Whether you're participating in roller hockey or ice hockey, having the correct stick is vital for your performance. Below are essential points to help you determine the perfect hockey stick tailored to your style, skill level, and playing conditions.
- Surface Type: Select the stick based on ice, roller, or street play.
- Material: Opt for a stick constructed from robust yet lightweight materials.
- Length: Align the stick's length with your height and playing technique.
- Flex: Select a flex based on your strength and the type of shot you prefer.
- Handedness: Decide between left or right according to your grip style.
For a thorough understanding of these elements, continue reading!
Overview
Categories of Hockey Sticks: Ice, Roller, and Street
Initially, decide whether you’ll be employing the stick for ice hockey, roller hockey, or street hockey. The type of stick highly depends on the playing surface as well as your playing style.
- Ice hockey sticks: Tailored for ice surfaces
- Roller hockey sticks: Crafted for roller surfaces like smooth asphalt or sports courts.
- Street hockey sticks: Designed for rugged outdoor surfaces, typically contained with durable materials to resist wear and tear.
- Multi-purpose hockey sticks: Many sticks accommodate various surfaces, so an all-round stick could suffice for both street and indoor hockey.
While reviewing a product description for a hockey stick, ensure to check if it is intended for a particular type of hockey or surface.
Can Ice Hockey Sticks be Used for Roller Hockey?
If you possess an ice hockey-specific stick, we do not recommend using it for roller hockey as it will cause significant wear on the blade much quicker on rough surfaces. It’s advisable to utilise the stick for the purpose the manufacturer specified to prolong its usability.
Composition of Hockey Sticks
Hockey sticks are composed of materials such as carbon fibre, fibreglass, Kevlar, and wood—with wood being the initial material used for hockey sticks. Currently, it’s common to find sticks made from composite materials, typically a blend of fibreglass and carbon fibre.
The hockey stick blade is not made from the same material as the shaft. This is because the shaft requires durability without heavy weight, whereas the blade needs to withstand firm impacts from pucks and balls.
Hockey stick shafts must exhibit a high strength-to-weight ratio while remaining flexible to bend without damage during intense games. Different composite materials are tailored for these properties, similar to those in specific hardwoods.
Hockey stick blades need to withstand significant impacts without excessively burdening the player. They can be made of carbon fibre, fibreglass, wood, or plastic. It's vital that both the material and shape aid the player in controlling the puck and shooting with precision.
Composite vs. Wood Hockey Sticks
- Wood hockey sticks: Heavy but classic and robust, wood sticks offer a traditional feel, frequently used in street or roller hockey due to their durability.
- Composite hockey sticks: Crafted from materials like carbon fibre, Kevlar or fibreglass, these sticks are lighter and more flexible, often used for ice hockey but suitable for roller hockey if seeking a high-performance stick. Though generally more costly, composite sticks offer enhanced shot energy transfer and superior control.
While exploring our selections for roller and ice hockey sticks, you can filter based on shaft and blade materials.
Selecting the Appropriate Hockey Stick Length for You
Choosing the correct hockey stick length is crucial for optimising your control and shot power. Consider factors such as your height, skill level, playing style, and personal preferences when selecting your hockey stick length.
Short vs. Long Hockey Stick
Shorter hockey sticks are easier to manoeuvre, while longer sticks provide a wider coverage. Offensive players often prefer shorter sticks, whereas defensive players favour longer sticks.
Determining the Right Hockey Stick Length
Extend your arm along your side, and—while wearing skates—hold the end of the stick. Slightly bend your arm, keeping it close to your body. If the blade's toe points slightly upwards, the stick length is accurate.
An alternative is standing with or without skates, holding the stick vertically towards your chin.
- With skates on: The stick should not extend beyond your chin.
- Without skates on: The stick should not exceed the tip of your nose.
Many players opt for slightly longer sticks to cut them to their desired length. This is a smart approach if you know specifically what you’re doing, but keep in mind that cutting the stick voids any warranty.
Our roller and ice hockey stick selections can be filtered by length, allowing you to discover which sticks are available in your preferred size. Additionally, we encourage reviewing our hockey stick size guide to alleviate any doubts.
- Explore our hockey stick size guide
- Explore our range of ice hockey sticks
- Explore our range of roller hockey sticks
Understanding Hockey Stick Flex
Flex refers to the extent a hockey stick bends when force is applied, such as during a shot. Higher flex ratings indicate a stiffer stick. Selecting the right flex is contingent upon your strength and the shot type you wish to execute.
- Lower flex: Facilitates more refined and accurate shots, often suggested for beginner or younger players due to ease of use.
- Higher flex: Enables extremely powerful shots with extra force, usually favoured by advanced players.
The Importance of the Hockey Stick Blade Curve
The curve of the blade is a vital feature of the hockey stick, impacting how you manage the puck or ball during shooting, passing, and dribbling. It is worthwhile to experiment with different blade curves to discover what feels most natural for you and your gameplay style.
By forming a 'pocket' for the ball or puck, the blade curve enhances control and enables more consistent and potent shots.
Deciding on a Left-Handed or Right-Handed Hockey Stick
Determining whether to select a left-handed or right-handed hockey stick relies on which hand you use for stick guidance. If your right hand is at the top, a left-handed stick is appropriate (and vice versa). Your shooting side has no correlation to whether you are innately left or right-handed—it’s about what feels best for you.
If uncertain, grab a stick with both hands and assume a shooting position. Choose a...
- Left-handed hockey stick: If the puck is on your left side with the right hand at the top and left hand near the blade.
- Right-handed hockey stick: If the puck is on your right side with the left hand at the top and right hand near the blade.
Below is a video where Nicklas illustrates how to ascertain if you are a left-handed or right-handed player.
Don't miss checking out our complete selections for roller and ice hockey equipment. We have all the essentials for hockey:
