How To Measure a Hockey Stick Properly in 2020 ? Even professionals sometimes have trouble finding a good hockey stick for themselves. Therefore, the equipment that is made specifically for them is usually manufactured on order.
On the other hand, average skaters simply cannot afford such luxury offers – most of them have to be content with what is on the shelves of the sporting goods store. And while their range satisfies the diversity, there are also plenty of selection criteria.
Let’s check out this article to know how to pick one of them that really fits your expectation to find your perfect partner.
Most popular hockey stick brands on the market
In the first place when purchasing any sports equipment, anyone would be impressed by the name of the manufacturer. Not surprisingly, famous athletes tend to choose only branded ones.
The reason for this is not their high paid advertising but it’s just the reputation of well-known companies that have high-end products with high quality, safe choice and can be used more than a season. And with the average cost of even amateur sticks at 150-200$, which is very important.
Excellent quality hockey equipment manufactured by those company:
- Bauer
- CCM
- Easton
- Fischer
- Warrior
- Larsen
You can consider all the advantages of their best models in our review. But even if you narrow the search to some manufacturers, it won’t make it easier for you to choose. In this case, you also need to pay attention to the characteristics of each type of hockey stick itself.
Read more: Top 3 Lightest Hockey Stick in 2020
Measure a Hockey Stick by Right Materials
Obviously, all of the stick’s characteristics such as the cost and its durability determined by the materials that it is made of.
- Wood
This is not the most durable option and it is very heavy. Yet it’s kind of affordable. Those are sticks that allow you to clearly control the puck, which is very important when implementing techniques in training. If you want a budget model for children, you can usually only find a wooden handle – solid casing is not so popular because of its weight, but they are much safer.
- Aluminium
This is one of the most obsolete materials used to produce sticks. Nowadays this material is only used to combine with composite models. It is light and strong enough, but without the necessary elasticity, it complicates the control of the ball.
- Carbon fiber
Combining elasticity of wood and lightness of aluminum, this material is totally great for both producing individual stick parts and casting solid composite models. Carbon shells with comparable success are generally used by beginners since they have high precision. Disadvantages include low reliability, along with high costs.
- Kevlar
Durable and flexible material, this is proved to extend the life of any stick, while reducing its weight. Similarly to carbon fiber, it is used as an additive for composites as it’s not too fragile. Kevlar works well on hooks, but it performs better in solid shells.
- Titan
This is an expensive choice which is more suitable for professionals and hockey experts. This metal is often used as a synthetic additive that allows you to make the sticker stronger and lighter at the same time, although there are also models with all-titanium pens.
- ABS plastic
A popular option for the production of low-cost hybrid sticks. It has enough strength, abrasion resistance and good elastic properties. If you don’t have enough money to buy a composite model, you can consider a plastic one. One thing we recommend is not to forget that it easily becomes fragile in the extremely cold weather.
Despite the relatively high cost of synthetic hockey sticks, for serious and regular games, it is better to use them. This material also has strength, minimum weight, and high precision. Yet if you’re planning on training and improving muscular development, good old wooden sticks would seem to be more suitable in this case.
Measure a Hockey Stick by Length
It is chosen according to the player’s growth, and the convenience of hockey players depends on the stick length. In an upright position, the stalk must reach the tip of the owner’s nose (and when skating, it should be at the neck level – from the collarbone to the chin).
To simplify the selection, producers offer sticks that are separated into different lengths by age groups:
- Youth: 106-114 cm – designed for children from 4 to 7 years of age, not taller than 122 cm.
- Junior: 119-132 cm – a stick for children aged 7-14 years with a height range of 114-145 cm.
- Intermediate: 137-145 cm – a youthful model for 14-17-year-old teenagers with a height of 137 to 165 cm.
- Senior: 142-165 cm – “adult” stick for players over 165 cm.
Read more: How to select a goalie stick?
There is also a shell unit to play in different positions on the field
- The shortest segment (71 cm with a large hook about 39 cm) is reserved for the goalkeeper.
- In defense, they play with sticks 160-163 cm long – the end of the cut in the vertical position must be at the mouth level.
- The striker and the next player choose sticks no longer than 1.5 m for better control.
Flex (also called flexibility)
This parameter depends on the player’s weight. The harder it is, the stronger the blow is, which means the club must be strong enough to withstand such a load.
Stick flex is often labeled according to the scale of the Easton brand, as it is simpler and indicates the specific weight type of the hockey player. However, it may be recorded differently than other manufacturers.
- Flex – children and teen sticks, calculated by the weight of the player up to 40-50 kg. (Junior 20 and Youth 15 can be included here)
- Int Flex – model for teenagers weighing 55-65 kg.
- Whip or Mid – assigned to “soft” sticks, for players weighing 65-75 kg.
- Reg – the most popular amateur sticks for hockey players from 75 to 85 kg
- Stiff, Pro, or Pro Mid – this is how hard sticks are marked, calculated on a player’s weight from 95 to 100 kg.
- X-Stiff (or Pro Stiff) is an exceptionally hard model for 110-pound athletes.
- Hockey players weighing 115-120 kg are categorized with stiff sticks with two or three X’s in the label.
Read more: CCM Tacks Hockey Stick Review
Scoop Shape
These are subtle experiences that were explored by more or less experienced players with their own equipment, but they also need to know this, so as not to miss other choices.
First of all, they determine the direction in which the wedge should bend. If you are a right-handed hockey player, that is, holding the handle from your right hand from the bottom up – you need to “look” to the left. For lefties, the opposite is true. Children and beginners are better to have universal straight stick.
The bends themselves also differ markedly, both in terms of position area and curvature. Each manufacturer will have a few dozen different and numbered pens, but at first, amateurs just need to know how this wedge will work in the game:
- With bent toes – copes perfectly with keeping the ball on the tape.
- Heel bends – suitable for high throws, working with the back of the hook, as well as for hitting pucks and getting clicks.
- Between (middle) – is a compromise of control and accuracy.
In compound sticks, wedges can be standard or tapered, respectively, you need to choose the right width of the handle. In the game, the difference is that with a simple hook, it is easier to control the ball, but the pitch is stronger with a narrow pen.
The shape of the wedge is chosen depending on the position of the player on the field. In all other cases, it is advisable to give priority to the circular hook, because it works better on the edges and allows you not to lose the puck.
Puckdrawn offers you more and more tips and reviews about hockey games don’t miss them at puckdrawn.com
