How To Choose Hockey Stick – There is little sports equipment that is more important to the game of ice hockey than your stick (we think your skates might be more important, but not by much!). It affects every interaction you have with the ball, you can’t play without it, and often once you find the club for you, it’s likely to be with you for life (or at least as long as clubs are formed ) but don’t be discouraged if you can’t find the right club for you right away when you start – there are many different types of curves. , there are club lengths, bends and materials too – it took the author years to find the club for him and you often see players waiting and switching from season to season! (Mine is a Warrior Covert, Backstrom Curve, 65 Flex, since you asked).
If you’re new to the game of hockey, that last sentence probably won’t make sense to you, but by the end of his article it will. What you should know by now is that a carefully selected ice hockey stick can complement your skills and improve your game, so choosing the right stick is essential!
How To Choose Hockey Stick
First, let’s look at the main areas to consider when looking for your next ice hockey stick:
How To Choose A Goalie Stick
Wooden hockey sticks are a cheaper option. Wooden sticks tend to bend very little and are very heavy, making it very difficult to hold and fire. These are generally a more stable/budget option for playing street hockey.
Most ice hockey sticks are composite and are much lighter and more flexible than traditional wooden sticks. We recommend choosing a composite stick for anyone who wants to play hockey.
Newer hockey sticks are thinner, making them lighter and more flexible. Their height ranges from 116-138 cm (3’10”- 4’7″).
Intermediate hockey sticks bridge the gap between junior and senior sizes ranging from 140-147 cm (4’6″-4’9″). They’re usually designed for teenagers, but some adults (like the author) also use them because they can’t get older sticks at the flex rating they want. Again, we’ll explain this when we get around to bending.
Hockey Stick: Know The Size, Weight And Materials Used
Senior hockey sticks are designed for older players who can control a stronger, heavier and longer stick with a larger blade. Their height ranges from 140-158 cm (4’8″-5’3″).
Basically you are looking for a close fit (as below) with fine length tuning by cutting the stick or adding an extension.
If you hold the hockey stick vertically in front of you (with the blade toe on the ground), the stick should be roughly level with the tip of your nose (if you’re barefoot or on thin soles). On ice skates, the stick should be in the middle of your chin.
As always this is a rule, some players prefer a longer club for big checks, sweep blocks and longer shots, but a longer club means less control.
Pro Quality Junior Hockey Sticks For Kids.
Other players prefer a shorter stick, which gives better control and allows for close handling and maneuvering around opponents. It all depends on your personal skating style, so don’t be afraid to experiment with stick length!
Pro tip; Cutting the club will decrease club flex, while adding club extension to the club will increase club flex. Consider this when choosing your rod size and flex.
The flex of your hockey stick determines how much control you have over your puck and how much power you can put behind your shot.
The less bent, the more comfortable your stick; The more bend, the stronger your hockey stick. Players who often have strong shots prefer “stiff” clubs because it takes more power for forehand shots, while players who want to drop snap shots and forehand shots prefer a little less flex so they can more easily upload handheld photos. This is a personal preference unrelated to strength – remember that some players in the NHL, like Johnny Gaudreau, use little or intermediate flex to elevate their shots, while big, powerful defensemen like Zdeno Chara often have the custom. made of sticks. Stronger than any production model.
How To Choose Your Hockey Stick
Flex is measured in the amount of pressure required to bend a hockey stick one inch; For example, a 100 pound hockey stick requires 100 pounds of pressure to bend the stick one inch. To give you context of the range of bends used in the NHL, the lowest bend in the NHL is 55 (typically a small stick bend) and the most recently recorded was Zdeno Chara’s 130 (meaning his bat would bend less than an inch if a 155lb Gaudreau was standing on it, for context).
We recommend that beginners use a hockey stick with a medium flex in their category. Stronger and more experienced players can use a hockey stick with a higher curve to provide more power to the puck. As you can see, the categories often overlap, and as you play and your style develops, you’ll get a “feel” for whether you like your stick whippy (less flex) or stiff (more flex).
Hockey sticks come left (L) or right (R), but it’s not about whether you’re left or right. Left-handed sticks are for hockey players who play with the blade on the left side of their body and right-handed sticks are for players who play with the blade on the right side of their body.
Traditionally, you put your stronger hand on top of the stick (since that arm does most of the work), so a right-handed person should shoot left using a left-handed stick.
Best Hockey Stick For Defenders
However, habits formed in everyday life and other sports make this feel unnatural and many players end up playing with their weaker clubhead hand.
To determine which side is your favorite, hold the club with both hands and position it as if you were about to hit the ball.
Finding the right hockey stick to complement your game can take some research, so try a few to find the one that suits you best. If you’re ready to find your next stick, take a look at our huge range available online and remember, if you need any advice, we’re always here to help! Simply Hockey for all levels and abilities of hockey player. Prices vary depending on the materials used in production and the techniques used to coat the sticks. International players use clubs priced at $350 and up.
We always suggest asking yourself how long the stick will be used for, the larger the amount the better construction stick you will need to withstand wear and tear. You always get what you pay for.
Best Field Hockey Sticks By Position And Skill Level
It is important to understand bows, what they are good for and also the players they are not suitable for!
We divide stick bows into 5 easy categories. Standard bow. Mid Bow, Low Bow, Extreme Bow, Extreme Groove Bow.
If these are the skills you are looking to improve. Then we recommend a low/high arch form. If dragflicking is really the focus, look for an extra groove feature on some sticks.
It’s all a matter of preference, but we always recommend a medium or low bow for these skills. A mid bow always helps with a clean shot and snare improvement.
Hockey Stick Buying Guide
For juniors learning their skills, we recommend the standard to mid bow to start. This will help you learn to hit clean and flat.
As you progress in skill, you will start to see less arc. It helps with 3D skills and dribbling. But always be careful as more than one short bow can be dangerous if the shooting techniques are not perfect.
Most of the sticks we stock have an average weight of 520-530g. These are great weights for all abilities.
Lighter weight clubs are typically designed for hitting players, allowing for a faster backswing and swing ability. Usually 510g-520g.
Battlemode 30 Flex Junior Hockey Sticks From Modehockey.com
Heavy weight clubs are generally designed for defensive players and help add power and distance to your shots, ideal for clearing and passing balls. Usually 540-550 g.
If you are looking for a specific weight or always want to add a “lighter” weight in the order comments, we aim to select a stick that is close to your request.
A higher balance point (further from the head) means a lighter feel in the hands as more weight is in the grip. The lower the balance point (closer to the head) the closer the weight is to the head and the better the power to hit.
On average, most clubs have a balance point of 39 cm. If you are looking for a specific BP, once again add in the comments.
By The Numbers
Midi: The most common toe shape for most people. Improves technology and provides tighter control. Amazing sweet spot when it hits. Ideal for midfielders or players who like to move the ball quickly when dribbling.
Maxi: Large surface area. Great for shocks, injectors and reverse stick control. This finger shape is ideal for most players.
Hook: Provides a J-shaped finger
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