Hockey Stick Buying Guide [BETTER]
Our related guide on How to Size a Hockey Stick has more detailed information about stick length, flex, kick point, blade patterns, and blade lie, but here are a few important factors to consider when shopping for a new stick:
hockey stick buying guide
There are also different types of hockey stick grips available. In general, grip shafts employ either a sticky or tacky coating, or a textured surface to improve grip. Grip shafts are more common, but some players may prefer the freedom of movement found in a clear (non-grip) shaft, or the middle ground of a matte shaft. The drawback to non-grip shafts: the extra movement of the hands can sometimes result in less powerful shots and passes.
Our guide on How to Fit a Hockey Stick has more detail, but the rule of thumb for determining how long your hockey stick should be is to stand with your skates on and hold your stick in front of you: the stick should be an inch or two above or below your chin. The exact length will be a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind that shorter shafts tend to improve puck control, while longer shafts tend to increase shot power.
In general, a hockey stick with a lower lie may be better suited for defensemen, taller players, or players who tend to keep the puck farther from the body. Greater stick lies are usually suited for forwards and players who keep the puck closer to the body.
Composite hockey sticks start around $45 for an entry-level Youth stick and advance in features and technology to about $330 for an elite-level stick. Wood hockey sticks range from $16-$45 from entry-level to Senior players.
The main differences between entry-level and elite-level hockey sticks are in construction materials and design technologies. Entry-level composite sticks use more fiberglass and other cost-saving materials, while elite-level sticks use high-tech carbon fiber and include advanced features like special shaft and taper designs for superior performance.
Advanced or pro-level players already know they need the best hockey stick they can get their hands on. At this level, what matters most is finding the stick with the specs and design that suit your position and style of play.
Youth wood hockey sticks usually cost from $15 to $35, while Youth composite sticks range from $50 to $180. However, you can often find good hockey sticks for young players on sale or clearance.
You can help preserve the life of your stick by taping the butt end, blade, and/or shaft. We talk about How To Tape a Hockey Stick to prepare it for the ice and offer accessories like hockey tape and stick wax to keep your twig in game shape.
Players who really want to use their ice hockey stick for street hockey without damaging the blade should look into street hockey stick protectors. Products such as the Hockey Wrap Around allow you to fit your ice hockey blade with a plastic guard that protects it from the street surface. There are tradeoffs in weight and feel, but these products do offer the convenience of using your ice hockey stick on the street.
Believe it or not, there are many factors to be take into consideration when it comes to choosing a hockey stick. Using the right hockey stick can make a huge difference in your game, as it can make shooting, stick handling, and overall control of your game much easier. Use this guide to find the best hockey stick for you and your style of play.
Determining whether you need a left handed or right handed hockey stick when purchasing a new one can be confusing. The left or right hand designation comes from which hand is closest to the blade of the stick. For example, if your left hand is the lower one when comfortably holding the stick, that means you are a left-handed player. Conversely, if your right hand is lower, you will want a right-handed stick. The most important thing to focus on is how comfortable or natural a stick feels in the hands. Try stickhandling with a puck or tennis ball and see which hands feels more natural. *Note: your dominant writing hand does not always determine hockey stick handedness.
With over a century's worth of experience, Grays led the way in composite stick technology with the iconic GX range, and continue to do so with the latest AC and GR ranges. We have a range of shapes to meet the needs of every kind of player from traditional to modern. A popular choice from grass roots to international hockey. You are guaranteed incredible performance and service from Grays Hockey.
It is important to get the right size stick. We recomend choosing your size as per our guide but it comes down to what feels comfortable for you. Some people may choose a stick that is longer to gain extra advantage or so they don't have to lean down so far!
With over a 100 year's worth of experience, Grays led the way in composite stick technology with the iconic GX range, and continue to do so with the latest AC and GR ranges. We have a range of shapes to meet the needs of every kind of player from traditional to modern. A popular choice from grass roots to international hockey. You are guaranteed incredible performance and service from Grays Hockey.
There isn't a generally accepted rule of thumb of whether you should use a right or a left-haded hockey stick. You should just go with whatever feels most comfortable when you pick up a hockey stick and play.
Stick flex is a measurement of how flexible or how stiff a hockey stick is when force is applied to it. The appropriate flex varies among players, so you'll want to try out different options. The higher the flex number, the stiffer or less bend a stick has. Inversely, the smaller the flex number, the more bending and softer the stick is.
Your player type will mostly influence your hockey stick height. Again personal preference is super important. The most important is that the stick feels good in your hands but here are some guidelines that will suit most players.
Short (Below the chin): Shorter hockey stick are likely used by player with good stickhandling. 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
All of our sticks are measured from heel to the top. For length measured against a wall, simply add 6 inches to our measurements. Standard hockey stick length measured from heel to top is 60" and 66" measured against a wall.
If you are keep asking yourself what stick should I buy, then at first you must understand what the bends of the stick signify. Hockey sticks are never perfectly straight, and they come in various angles and shapes. The easiest way to remember the difference in hockey stick bows is that the closer the bow is to the head of the stick, the easier it is to get the hockey ball in the air.
This is the hockey stick bend that most junior and entry-level adult sticks come in. The standard hockey stick bend is not aggressive or in your face! To see the full range of Standard Bow Hockey Sticks, Click Here.
This is a hockey stick bend for hockey players who want to keep the hockey ball on the hockey pitch consistently. The shape of this hockey stick is designed by keeping the bow is in the middle of the hockey stick shaft.
The Pro Bow bend on a hockey stick is designed to be somewhere between a Mid Bow and a Low Bow. It is perfect for people who still prefer to keep the ball along the ground but occasionally needs to get it in the air via some silky 3D skills. To see the full range of Pro Bow Hockey Sticks, Click Here.
This is the most extreme bend on a hockey stick on the market. The curve is right at the legal limit of how close the angle can be to the head of the stick. This hockey stick bend is designed for players who want to quickly get the ball in the air. So it is perfect for throwing aerials and 3D skills. Click here to see the full range of Extreme Low Bow Hockey Sticks.
This is a very specialized hockey stick for players that Drag Flick during attacking short corners. Most of these will be a hockey stick with an Extreme Low Bow. These also feature a shaft groove to allow the ball to get extra power and whip for when dragging the ball.
Modern hockey sticks are made up of many different materials, from Wood to Carbon Fiber and almost everything in between. However, the idea of having different materials in a hockey stick means many other things.
This includes anything from how hard you can hit the ball to the softness of the stick for close control. But again, here at Total-Hockey, we hope to have made things easier on you when getting the suitable hockey stick material.
We have found them to be the best stick for beginners as they are lovely and soft, perfect for developing skills. These sticks can be used on any surface, including hockey pitches, driveways, and gardens. Moreover, they are perfect for learning the game anywhere and anytime.
Fiberglass hockey sticks are the next level of hockey stick up from a wooden hockey stick. These are the softest of the composite hockey sticks, making them ideal for hockey players who are still finding their feet in our beautiful sport.
Carbon Hockey sticks are now the most common hockey sticks on the market. The higher the carbon content of a hockey stick, the higher the hitting power you have. All you need is a bit of effort being put in.
We would always suggest working up the carbon points with each stick you buy instead of jumping high amounts of carbon. We have split our carbon hockey sticks up into what we think are the perfect carbon points for players to work up.
There are several things to consider when purchasing a stick; Length, Weight, Skill Level, Composition, and the Bow (or bend) of a stick are all features that impact your performance. A perfectly selected field hockey stick will compliment your skills and truly elevates your game. So where to start? 041b061a72