How heavy should a hockey stick be?
Light Weight (535g-545g) A light stick allows for quick wrist movement, making it easier to have a quick backswing and stick skills. It also helps with a flawless reception. Heavy Weight (550g-560g) A heavier stick can aid in adding more power to your hits, while making the overall stick more durable.
So on the thick sort of part. Right there. And then just hold that nice and tight you want to make
In ice hockey. Ice hockey requires a hard disk of vulcanized rubber. A standard ice hockey puck is black, 1 inch (25 mm) thick, 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter, and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces (156 and 170 g); some pucks are heavier or lighter than standard (see below).
The weight of an Ice Hockey Stick is 14.64-16.75 oz (415-475 g).
To determine what flex your hockey stick should be, the general rule is to choose the flex number that's half your weight. So, if you're 150 pounds, you'll start with a 75 flex. Round down the flex number if you're between sizes.
Remember, too, you may want to replace a stick when it's not broken—it may have lost its stiffness, its pop. When a stick feels “whippy” or weak in shooting or passing, many players will buy a new stick because the old one isn't performing like it should. It's worn out—a factor that a novice may not even notice.
With that all said, the majority of NHL players use a stick with flex in the 85-100 range. Forwards tend to use a lower flex. Some players with a notable low flex are Johnny Gaudreau with a 55 flex and Phil Kessel with a 65 flex. You can see just how much bend these players get out of their stick when they shoot.
How much flex do you lose when you cut a hockey stick? Cutting a hockey stick down can affect how the stick feels and plays. Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex.
How to Hold (and control) a Hockey Stick - YouTube
According to Hockey-Graphs, the average NHLer stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 201 pounds (as of the 2014-15 season). When compared to the average NHL player of the 1944-45 season – 5-foot-10, 174 pounds – it appears that NHL teams have been giving their players the Captain America Super-Soldier Serum.
What is the hockey stick called?
The stick (also referred to as a pusher) for underwater hockey is relatively short compared to that for field/ice/roller hockey, and should be coloured either white or black in its entirety to indicate the player's team. The shape of the stick can affect playing style and is often a very personal choice.
The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton. The first Hockey Association was formed in the UK in 1876 and drew up the first formal set of rules.
The weight of a hockey stick is important to a player, and so is its weight distribution. If most of the weight was up at the handle end (as it is in a billiards cue) then the player would have a hard time hitting the puck with any force.
Light (535-560 grams)
Light field hockey sticks are mostly preferred by attackers and forwards because they allow the player to have the right balance between control and power. This weight proves to be popular amongst many players and this weight is set as the default option on all our sticks.
All sticks must be composed of wood or another league-approved material such as graphite or kevlar. Using hockey sticks that contain materials not approved by the league is illegal.
The kick point is even more important. Having a low kick point will allow for the puck to get air born just a little easier then a mid or high kick point. General rule for kick point is to use a low kick point if most of your shots are wrist shots that come inside the face off dots or 5-15 feet from the goal.
Your stick should be anywhere from 1 to 2 inches below or above your chin. Keep in mind that shorter sticks may be great for puck handling, but might not have a powerful shot. Long sticks give you reach and could even help you develop a commanding slap shot with minimal effort.
NHL players do not pay for sticks. Their current team pays for the sticks. Even if certain players are sponsored by a brand, the team still has to buy the sticks from the brand. Some teams pay $300,000 a season to provide sticks for their players.
This is usually due to the continued beating the blade takes on the ice. The constant force on the blade during a game, whether it is slap shots, stick pounding or just maneuvering the puck across the ice, weakens the blade through constant contact with the ice.
Hockey sticks do not break easily. If you pick up a stick and try to bend it and break it, you will not be able to break the wood shaft very easily. Although it happens in most NHL games, it is actually difficult to break a stick. There is a science to how sticks break during a slap shot.
What is the most popular stick in the NHL?
The Bauer Nexus Geo Grip is the most used hockey stick in the NHL, with 105 players currently using it. Right behind is the CCM Jetspeed FT3 Pro model, currently used by 100 NHL players.
The easiest and most effective thing you can do to prolong the life of your hockey stick blades is to tape and wax them very well. Since you naturally lose grip on the puck if your blades are wet, taping the blade of your stick prevents moisture from building up on the blade and keeps the puck from sliding off.
Speaking of Whippy Shafts
But here are a few NHL players whose stick flex is somewhere between “pool noodle” and “CB antenna”: Johnny Gaudreau (55 flex): At 5-foot-9, 157 pounds, it's not a shock he has the lowest flex stick in the league.
P92 - Another mid-curve blade, opens up mid way, great for shooting high and builds confidence for beginners who struggle to lift pucks with P88. More difficult to execute backhands due to the more open curve (more closed for backhands).
Youth = 20 to 30 flex (typically for ages 4 - 8, weight 40 to 60 lbs) Junior = 30 to 50 flex (typically for ages 7 - 13, weight 60 - 100 lbs) Intermediate = 50 to 70 flex (typically for ages 13 - 17, weight 110 to 150 lbs)
In this episode, I sit down with Sean Walker from iTrain Hockey and discuss a variety of topics from skill development to video games. It is always fun to chat with other professionals in the skill development area of hockey.
9 Stickhandling Drills to Make Your Hands Faster - YouTube
Stickhandling two or three balls at the same time is a great way to develop hand speed, hand-eye coordination and your ability to visualize and stay one step ahead of the puck. Spinning the puck is a deceptive stickhandling technique.
Hockey hits are, on average, 17% harder than football hits even though hockey players are 20% smaller than football players? Interesting.
Comparing Athletes' Toughness
According to an extensive study done by ESPN called Sports Skills Difficulty, ice hockey ranks second behind only boxing among the 60 sports measured. Football is ranked third, basketball fourth, baseball ninth and soccer tenth.
Why hockey is the toughest sport?
Ice hockey is a tough sport; the game is played in three intense periods of 20 minutes. The players are trained to be aggressive, both physically and emotionally, and require great strength and stamina. Ice hockey is a technical game and requires the player to be attentive at all times.
The development of the modern version of organized ice hockey played as a team sport is often credited to James Creighton. In 1872, he moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, bringing skates, hockey sticks, and a game with a basic set of rules with him.
Roughly half the NHL was using the old technology in 2016. Today, five NHL goalies still use a wooden stick. "Once you switch, it's amazing to hold a wood stick and wonder how you played with it," Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton said.
The longest stick in NHL history belongs to Zdeno Chara, currently of the Boston Bruins. Standing at a full seven-feet-tall on skates, the league had to make an exception and extend the legal limit of sticks by two inches in order to give this giant a stick to fit his enormous stature.
The name hockey—as the organized game came to be known—has been attributed to the French word hoquet (shepherd's stick). The term rink, referring to the designated area of play, was originally used in the game of curling in 18th-century Scotland.
The country in which ice hockey remains the most popular is Canada, which is unsurprising since the country is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern organized ice hockey. In 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) declared that the first game of organized ice hockey was played in Montreal in 1875.
The most popular stick for defencemen in the NHL is the Warrior Alpha QX, which is the stick used by 20% of all players! It's not cheap, but there are other great sticks that are lightweight and deliver awesome performance shot after shot.
Crosby Curve (P29)
This Hockey Stick Blade is one of the most popular in the game today and features a deep mid-curve allowing for great stickhandling and puck control. However, it also utilizes a very open face that provide maximum lift on your shots.
To refresh your memory: an 85 flex stick requires 85 pounds of force to bend the stick 1 inch with a full length stick. Seems simple enough, right? However, hockey is a game of preference so, just because you weigh 170 does not mean that you must use an 85 flex.
Weight. This is up to personal preference. Some players prefer lighter sticks because they are easier to handle and move around on the ice. Others choose a stick with more weight because it helps to build up strength while using it and can be tougher for opponents to lift off the ice.
Why are hockey sticks so short?
Using a short stick makes it a bit easier to move the puck around because the stick will be lighter (less material) and a shorter stick is easier to move around the body. Many players who are good at stick handling tend to bring the puck in close to their body in order to protect the puck while pulling a deke.
Benefits of Wood Hockey Sticks
Feel—Many players agree that wood gives a player a better feel of the puck when stick handling or receiving passes. Nostalgia—Players over a certain age remember watching their heros work their magic on the ice with wooden hockey sticks.
NHL – link
A player may apply tape anywhere on his stick for reinforcement or to enhance control of the puck. He may use any color tape that he prefers.
It's illegal to play with two sticks—even if one of them is a goalie stick. In fact, playing while holding the goalie stick would normally violate another rule governing the dimensions of a player's stick, but that rule is waived in this specific situation.
So, when a player drops a stick most often you will see them not pick it up and make sure they are in the proper defensive position. They will simply do what they can until a teammate can either clear the defensive zone or ice the puck.
Age Group | Height | Stick Length |
---|---|---|
Youth (6-8) | 3'10" - 4'8" | 45" - 49" |
Junior (7-13) | 4'4" - 5'1" | 50" - 54" |
Intermediate (11-14) | 4'11" - 5'4" | 55" - 58" |
Intermediate (12-14) | 5'2" - 5'8" | 55" - 58" |
Light (535-560 grams)
Youth = 20 to 30 flex (typically for ages 4 - 8, weight 40 to 60 lbs) Junior = 30 to 50 flex (typically for ages 7 - 13, weight 60 - 100 lbs) Intermediate = 50 to 70 flex (typically for ages 13 - 17, weight 110 to 150 lbs) Senior soft/regular = 75 to 90 flex (typically for ages 14 and up, weight 150 to 180 lbs)
...
Hockey Stick Length Sizing Guide.
Stick Length | Height |
---|---|
37.5″ | 5′ 10″ upwards |
Have the player stand without skates. Then, place the toe of the stick on the ground between the player's feet, positioning the stick vertically. The general rule is that the end of a proper length stick should come to about the nose. However, if the player's skates are on, the stick should come up to the chin.
How do I know what size hockey stick to buy?
What hockey stick size you should use is normally dependent upon your height however an old method used to be to pick a stick which was level to your hip in height. Ultimately the choice is down to the player on what feels most comfortable however choosing the wrong size can impact upon your playing ability.
The weight of a hockey stick is important to a player, and so is its weight distribution. If most of the weight was up at the handle end (as it is in a billiards cue) then the player would have a hard time hitting the puck with any force.
Some players prefer lighter sticks because they are easier to handle and move around on the ice. Others choose a stick with more weight because it helps to build up strength while using it and can be tougher for opponents to lift off the ice. Using a heavier stick also allows for more power on your shots.
Using a short stick makes it a bit easier to move the puck around because the stick will be lighter (less material) and a shorter stick is easier to move around the body. Many players who are good at stick handling tend to bring the puck in close to their body in order to protect the puck while pulling a deke.
How much flex do you lose when you cut a hockey stick? Cutting a hockey stick down can affect how the stick feels and plays. Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex.
With that all said, the majority of NHL players use a stick with flex in the 85-100 range. Forwards tend to use a lower flex. Some players with a notable low flex are Johnny Gaudreau with a 55 flex and Phil Kessel with a 65 flex. You can see just how much bend these players get out of their stick when they shoot.
P92 - Another mid-curve blade, opens up mid way, great for shooting high and builds confidence for beginners who struggle to lift pucks with P88. More difficult to execute backhands due to the more open curve (more closed for backhands).
The most common rule of thumb for sizing your stick is this: When standing in your skates, the end of a stick held with the toe of the blade on the floor should fall between your chin and nose. Players fond of short sticks will have the end of stick at throat height, while long sticks might hit you at the eyebrows.
Cutting a stick can be done at most rinks or pro shops, and can even be done at home with a hand saw. For young players, the rule of thumb is to cut it at the tip of the nose. As players get older they'll have a personal preference. Most defensive players might prefer a longer stick.
- Divide the player's weight (in lbs.) by two. Example: for a player who weighs 180 lbs., 180 ÷ 2 = 90.
- Adjust for strength and height. Round up for taller and stronger players. ...
- Adjust for stick length. If adding more than 3 inches, go up in flex.