by Christopher Elmgren
It's completely understandable that your child always wants the latest stick and model, but it's about making smart choices to keep your hockey budget under control. Hockey is after all a very expensive sport, at the same time as it is the world's best sport!
SIMPLE SIZE GUIDE - HOCKEY STICKS
FLEX
Hockey sticks come in different sizes and shapes, but above all the sizes are divided into Youth, Junior, Intermediate and Senior. The length, height and thickness of the blade are gradually increased between the different sizes.
Youth (20-35 flex)
Junior (30-50 flex)
Intermediate (55-70 flex)
Senior (65-120 flex)
WEIGHT
In general, it is said that you should look for a stick with flex which is approximately equal to the weight of the player. If your child weighs about 20 kg, then you should relate to a 20 flex stick. If your child weighs 30 kg, you can relate to a 30 flex stick, etc.
LENGTH
It also has to do with your child's length too. A rule of thumb to follow is that the stick should touch your nose without skates and to the chin with skates on. If you exaggerate up or down, you may not use the stick's performance to 100%, regardless of which price model you have bought.
However, one size does not fit all. Those who are a little taller, play more often or maybe like to take shots may lean towards a little longer and a harder stick, while if you are a little shorter, do not play as often or prefer fast & fast shots can lean towards a little shorter stick with lower flex than their body weight.
OTHER
If you choose to saw off your stick as many do, the flex is often increased accordingly. It usually stands on the back of the shaft at the top, what the flex will be where you saw it off.
Take myself as an example. I am 182 cm tall, weighs approx 75 kg and play with a 65 flex which has been cut off a tiny bit so it might be more around 70 flex. My stick is to the chin without skates, and that's because my style of play involves me being pretty low in my hockey stance.
QUALITY OF THE STICK
The difference between a top model stick and a budget mdoel is bigger than you might think.
Most stick manufacturers have 3-4-5 different price groups within the same stick model. The sticks within the same model usually look very similar, with slightly different graphics. Check out our article on what differs a cheap stick from an expensive hockey stick.
The biggest difference is the materials used in the manufacturing and the weight of the stick. Usually the lighter sticks are of higher quality.
Even more important than just the weight is that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the stick. Cheaper models are often more front heavy because the weight is at the bottom of the shaft and in the blade.
The stick should feel light enough and evenly distributed so that it will respond in the best way and you will get the most out of the stick.
Heavier sticks are usually full of resin from the factory which makes it heavy and does not perform as well.
What controls the stick's weight has to do with that the top model sticks are usually made of 100% carbon fiber and the other composite material used in stick manufacturing is fiberglass.
The difference between carbon fiber and fiberglass is a completely different discussion, and you can read about it here.
CHOICE OF THE RIGHT BLADE PATTERN (CURVE)
Nowadays, it is quite easy to choose a curve. There are 2-3 different curves that are standard in the retail market. Professional hockey players usually have custom-made blades that fit their playing style. But the standardized curves include:
P92 is the most balanced and common pattern that suits all players.
P28 is for those who like to shoot high and dribble a lot as it has a larger and more angled bend at the far end of the "toe".
P88 is my favorite and it is not as angled as P92 and P28 and the blade is a bit straighter.
CHOICE OF HOCKEY STICK
If you have found the right flex, length and curve, it is time to choose a model that fits you the best. In the beginning, it does not matter much, as you must first learn to shoot properly before you can expect something extra from your stick, regardless of stick model or price.
The children and younger players are usually inspired by their favorite players, either in the NHL, KHL, SHL or even their favorite local team - Which is completely understandable!
The pros always use top model sticks, which costs a little more, but can be a worthwhile investment if it lasts an entire season.
If the stick model does not matter to your child, it may be worth looking at sticks on clearence. This is a very good and budget-friendly alternative as the technology does not change much from year to year.
The big problem comes when the children grow and get bigger, this is when the sticks start to break a little more and it can be difficult for parents to have to bear that cost year after year.
Most parents are looking for reasons to minimize hockey costs, therefore we at Fixwell Hockey are here to repair your broken sticks so that everyone can afford and play the world's most enjoyable sport!
