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Guide to Purchasing Hockey Sticks - Find the Ideal Stick for Your Play
Selecting a hockey stick involves aligning it with your skill level, height, and play style. It's important to take into account the size, flex, and type of surface you'll play on.
With such a wide variety of choices, selecting the most suitable hockey stick can appear daunting. Whether you're engaged in roller hockey or ice hockey, having the appropriate stick is vital for optimal performance. Here are essential factors to help you find the perfect hockey stick tailored to your style, skill level, and playing conditions.
- Surface Type: Select your stick based on whether you play on ice, roller, or street surfaces.
- Material: Opt for a stick crafted from a robust yet lightweight material.
- Length: Determine the stick's length according to your height and how you play.
- Flex: Choose a flex in relation to your strength and desired shot type.
- Handedness: Decide between left or right based on your gripping style.
Continue reading for a detailed overview of these factors!
Overview
Different Hockey Stick Variants: Ice, Roller, and Street
Initially, it is vital to establish whether your stick is intended for ice hockey, roller hockey, or street hockey. The choice of stick is primarily influenced by your play surface and style.
- Ice hockey sticks: Specifically designed for icy surfaces.
- Roller hockey sticks: Ideal for roller hockey surfaces such as smooth asphalt or sports courts.
- Street hockey sticks: Created for harsh outdoor surfaces like asphalt, these sticks are usually fabricated from durable materials to handle wear.
- All-purpose hockey sticks: Numerous sticks serve multiple environments, making them suitable if you play both street and indoor hockey.
Examine product descriptions to understand whether a hockey stick is meant for a specific hockey type or surface.
Is It Advisable to Use Ice Hockey Sticks for Roller Hockey?
Using an ice hockey stick for roller hockey isn't recommended as the blade will erode faster on rough surfaces. It's advised to use the stick for its intended purpose to ensure its longevity.
Materials Used in Hockey Stick Production
Hockey sticks are fabricated from materials like carbon fibre, fibreglass, Kevlar, and wood, with wood being the initial choice for hockey sticks. These days, sticks generally comprise composite materials, often a blend of fibreglass and carbon fibre.
The shaft and blade are made from different materials as the shaft requires durability and lightness, while the blade needs resilience against puck and ball impacts.
High strength-to-weight ratios are vital for hockey stick shafts, allowing flexibility during intense play without breaking. While these traits are present in hardwoods, composite materials are typically refined for these properties.
Blades must endure strong impacts without becoming too heavy. They can be crafted from carbon fibre, fibreglass, wood, or plastic. It is essential that both material and shape facilitate puck control and accurate shooting.
Composite Versus Wooden Hockey Sticks
- Wooden hockey sticks: Traditional and robust, wooden sticks are heavier but offer a classic feel. They're often chosen for street and roller hockey due to their durability.
- Composite hockey sticks: Comprising materials like carbon fibre, Kevlar, or fibreglass, these sticks are lighter and more flexible. Typically used in ice hockey, they're also suitable for roller hockey if performance is a priority. These are generally more costly but provide superior energy transfer in shots and enhanced control.
When browsing our ice and roller hockey stick collections, you can filter by shaft and blade materials.
Determining the Right Length for Your Hockey Stick
Choosing the correct hockey stick length is crucial for maximising shot power and control. Factors such as height, skill, style, and personal taste influence this decision.
Short Versus Long Hockey Sticks
Shorter sticks offer better manoeuvrability and control, whereas longer sticks provide extended reach. Offensive players often prefer shorter sticks, while defenders opt for longer ones.
Securing the Correct Hockey Stick Length
Standing with your arm to your side while wearing skates, hold the stick's end. A slight arm bend with the blade tip pointing slightly upward indicates the correct length.
Alternatively, stand upright, aligned vertically with the stick towards your chin.
- With skates: The stick's end shouldn't exceed your chin.
- Without skates: The stick's end shouldn't go beyond your nose tip.
Many players buy a longer stick to cut to their desired length, a useful option if you know how, but bear in mind this voids any warranty.
Our collections of roller and ice hockey sticks can be filtered by length, letting you explore available options at your preferred size. Have a look at our hockey stick size guide if you're unsure.
- Examine our hockey stick size guide
- Explore our selected ice hockey sticks
- Explore our selected roller hockey sticks
Understanding Hockey Stick Flex
Flex refers to the degree a hockey stick bends under pressure, like during a shot. Sticks with higher flex are stiffer. Your strength and preferred shot type dictate the appropriate flex choice.
- Low flex: Eases shots with accuracy and finesse, suitable for younger or less experienced players due to manageability.
- High flex: Enables powerful shots with extra force, suited for advanced players.
The Role of the Hockey Stick Blade Curve
The blade curve greatly affects puck or ball control during shots, passes, and dribbles, so it's important to consider. Testing various blade curves can help discover what suits your play style best.
By forming a 'pocket' for the puck or ball, the blade curve improves handling and contributes to consistent, powerful shots.
Selecting Left-Handed or Right-Handed Hockey Stick
Whether to choose a left-handed or right-handed hockey stick depends on which hand governs the stick. A left-handed stick is ideal if your right hand is on top (and vice versa). Shooting direction is unrelated to being left or right-handed; it's about comfort.
If uncertain, hold a stick with both hands, positioning yourself for a shot, and then choose...
- Left-handed stick: If the puck is on your left and the right hand is on top, with the left near the blade.
- Right-handed stick: If the puck is on your right side and the left hand is on top, with the right near the blade.
Watch below as Nicklas shows how to identify if you're a left or right-handed player.
Explore our full range of roller and ice hockey gear. We've got everything you need for hockey:
