When you are just starting out in ice hockey, it is best to begin with a wood hockey stick for your first Hockey Stick. The wood hockey stick should also be a stick that has basic versions of the features of the blade, the length and the flex. Once you choose your first hockey stick, you will need to prepare it but cutting it to final length and taping it on the handle and the blade of the 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.
The next thing to determine is the proper length of your hockey stick. If you have a stick that is significantly too long or too short, you will not be able to play to the best of your ability. How long is the right length? There is a general guide line that says that when you hold the hockey stick vertically in front of you with the blade end on the floor (or ice) that the top of the handle should be between your lips and your nose if you are in street shoes or around your chin if you are in your hockey skates. Expect to have to purchase a stick that is taller than you need (they only come in a 4-5 standard lengths) and that you will have to cut it to the correct length. Cutting a hockey stick is easy with a fine tooth blade (like a hacksaw blade). Your local hockey shop should be able to do this for you if you ask them.
The next thing is to choose the blade pattern that you are going to use. Every manufacture has different pro hockey player names for their blade patterns but all of the stock blades will come in just a handful of patterns. You should stick with a blade pattern that his a minor curve to is to that it is easier to learn good puck control on your forehand and backhand.
Flex is a measurement of how flexible or stiff the hockey stick is. When you take a shot, the pressure you apply with your lower hand causes the hockey stick to bend. This bending is good when it helps accelerate your shot when the hockey stick bends or snaps back. The correct flex for you is one that is the stiffest that you can still bend when you shoot. Too much bending causes accuracy challenges. Too stiff and you don't get any bending. Go with a "regular flex" rating (regular flex = 85 for an adult stick) for your first stick.
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.
Now you need to tape your hockey stick. You need to tape your blade to add some "grip" to it when you are stick handling with a puck. You can tape from toe to heel or heel to toe overlapping the tape a little each time you go around the blade. Next tape the handle to provide a better grip to the very top where you hold it. This is often done by wrapping the tape down about8 inches. The last thing to do on your taping job is to add a knob at the end to aid in keeping the stick from sliding out of your hand.
Okay, you should have a good first time hockey stick that you are ready to take to the rink and start playing with. When you gain some more experience you will get the chance to play with other sticks and make a decision as to what hockey characteristics are working for you and which ones you might want to change. Don't be afraid to experiment and you should be able to find an even better stick for you the second time around. - 15438
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.
The next thing to determine is the proper length of your hockey stick. If you have a stick that is significantly too long or too short, you will not be able to play to the best of your ability. How long is the right length? There is a general guide line that says that when you hold the hockey stick vertically in front of you with the blade end on the floor (or ice) that the top of the handle should be between your lips and your nose if you are in street shoes or around your chin if you are in your hockey skates. Expect to have to purchase a stick that is taller than you need (they only come in a 4-5 standard lengths) and that you will have to cut it to the correct length. Cutting a hockey stick is easy with a fine tooth blade (like a hacksaw blade). Your local hockey shop should be able to do this for you if you ask them.
The next thing is to choose the blade pattern that you are going to use. Every manufacture has different pro hockey player names for their blade patterns but all of the stock blades will come in just a handful of patterns. You should stick with a blade pattern that his a minor curve to is to that it is easier to learn good puck control on your forehand and backhand.
Flex is a measurement of how flexible or stiff the hockey stick is. When you take a shot, the pressure you apply with your lower hand causes the hockey stick to bend. This bending is good when it helps accelerate your shot when the hockey stick bends or snaps back. The correct flex for you is one that is the stiffest that you can still bend when you shoot. Too much bending causes accuracy challenges. Too stiff and you don't get any bending. Go with a "regular flex" rating (regular flex = 85 for an adult stick) for your first stick.
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.
Now you need to tape your hockey stick. You need to tape your blade to add some "grip" to it when you are stick handling with a puck. You can tape from toe to heel or heel to toe overlapping the tape a little each time you go around the blade. Next tape the handle to provide a better grip to the very top where you hold it. This is often done by wrapping the tape down about8 inches. The last thing to do on your taping job is to add a knob at the end to aid in keeping the stick from sliding out of your hand.
Okay, you should have a good first time hockey stick that you are ready to take to the rink and start playing with. When you gain some more experience you will get the chance to play with other sticks and make a decision as to what hockey characteristics are working for you and which ones you might want to change. Don't be afraid to experiment and you should be able to find an even better stick for you the second time around. - 15438
About the Author:
Fred writes at Hockey Stick Expert about ice hockey stick features like Ice Hockey Sticks Lie and Roller Hockey Stick Lie.
