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Selecting the “perfect” stick can be somewhat complex if you don't know what you are looking for. There are five key things to consider when purchasing a stick: length, flex, blade pattern, lie and composition.
- Length. Length is generally the easiest to determine, but imperative for a player’s success in the game. Sticks usually come in four sizes: senior, intermediate, junior and youth. Each size normally reflects a smaller shaft circumference and a softer flex. Senior sticks are usually used by players ages 14 and up; intermediate for ages 10-15; junior for ages 7 to 12; and youth for players ages 4-8. Adult women generally use intermediate or flexible senior sticks.
Determining your personal stick length is relatively easy. Standing without your skates on, place the toe of the stick on the ground between your feet and position the stick vertically against your body so that the stick comes to about your nose. If the stick is too long, simply make a mark where it touches your nose, and cut the handle of the stick accordingly. If you have your skates on, the stick should come up to your chin. Please note that this is a general rule of thumb and can change with personal preference. In addition to cutting sticks to your desired length, you can also extend a stick’s length by inserting an end plug at the top of the shaft. This can be used to lengthen the life of a stick and get maximum use if the player cut the stick too short or experiences a growth spurt.
- Flex. The first thing many players do when they pick up a new stick is bend it. Why? Because they are testing out the “flex” or flexibility of the stick. A good fit is a stick that allows the player to bend the shaft a little, but without much effort. A stiff stick shaft lessens shot accuracy and puck speed and does not provide a good feel for the puck. Most players prefer flexible and light shafts that allow for optimal passing and shooting. Most stick manufacturers offer a variety of flexes. The higher the flex number, the stiffer the stick. Regardless of age, the correct flex for the player should allow him/her to bend the shaft when they take a wrist shot or slap shot.
Different manufacturers have different systems for measuring flex ratings, but most conform to this method: the flex is a measure of the amount of weight required to bend a stick 4 inches when suspended between two support points that are 48 inches apart. For example, an 85 Flex stick requires 85 pounds to be applied at the center point between two support points to flex the stick 4 inches.
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Bauer
42 – Youth
52 – Junior
67 – Intermediate
77 – Senior
87 – Senior
102 – Senior
112 – Senior
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Easton
40 – Youth
50 – Junior
65 – Intermediate
75 – Senior
85 – Senior
100 – Senior
110 – Senior
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CCM/Reebok
50 – Junior
65 – Intermediate
75 – Senior
85 – Senior
100 – Senior
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Warrior
50 – Junior
65 – Intermediate
70 – Intermediate
75 – Senior
85 – Senior
95 – Senior
100 – Senior
110 – Senior
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Generally, the larger and stronger a player, the stiffer stick he/she can use. It is imperative that the player is able to flex the stick a fair amount in order to maximize shot velocity. However, if a stick is too flexible, the shaft can break or the blade of the stick could deform when shooting, resulting in a less accurate shot.
It is important to remember that the stiffness of the stick is NOT linked to durability. An 87 flex stick is not more likely to break than a 110 flex stick. Durability is mostly a function of the materials, the consistency of the walls of the stick and the weight and thickness of the materials.
- Blade Pattern. Blades come in a myriad of patterns. Many manufacturers share similar patterns; however, some may have slight variations. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is not a correlation between the blade pattern an NHL player actually uses and the retail patterns. So when you see a stick named Crosby, he simply endorses that stick for Reebok. He does not necessarily use that pattern.
- Lie. The lie, or blade, of a stick is a classification of the angle that the stick shaft would take when the bottom of the blade is sitting flat on the ice. When purchasing a stick, the lie is part of the pattern, meaning that players tend to select sticks based on patterns they prefer. The more upright a stick is, the higher the lie number. Normally, stick lies range from 4.0 to 6.0 in half increments. Most sticks have a 4.5, 5.0 or 5.5 lie.
- Composition. There are three composition types: wood, composite and stick/shaft combination. Each composition has advantages and disadvantages.
- The wood stick has a natural feel and is relatively inexpensive. However, it is less responsive than other sticks, water absorption can be problematic, the stick does not have a warranty, curves and flexes vary from stick to stick, and degradation occurs over time.
- The composite stick, on the other hand, is responsive, has a consistency of flexes and curves among the sticks, maintains the flex and shape over time and has a warranty that generally lasts for 30 days. The downside of a composite stick is that it is expensive and the blade can be less forgiving when it comes to receiving passes.
- Stick/shaft combinations are somewhat responsive, allow more variations for different shafts and blades, and can easily replace a broken blade. On the flipside, stick/shaft combinations are moderately expensive, have a slightly different kick point (flexion zone) than wood or one-piece sticks and come with a warranty on the shafts only.
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