Hockey

How To Select The Right Hockey Stick

There have been tremendous strides over the last couple of years in hockey sticks and on the surface, sticks would seem to be the most basic piece of equipment. In reality though, if you're not careful, choosing the right stick can also become one of the most confusing hockey equipment purchases you can make.

While other pieces of gear either fit or don't fit, the stick really just doesn't fit neatly in a simple little package. Sticks today come in a number of materials and designs, that in and of themselves can be overwhelming.

The overall selection of a stick is as much a matter of personal taste as the type of pop you drink or whether you're a meat or salad type of person. What I hope to do over the next couple of articles, is to try help you narrow that decision down.

At its simplest, it's important to remember that the hockey stick is an extension of the hockey player's arm. This means the stick has to fit properly, and the length, curve and lie angle need to match the size and body type of the player as well as the style of game they play. What I'm going to try to do, is cover as many of the different factors to consider when buying a hockey stick as I can. Because in the end, a good hockey stick fits both your level of play, your strength and playing style.

One thing I do want to mention before we get started however, is a bit of a qualifier for many of you. In the end, no matter what technology comes built into the stick. No matter what blade pattern, "flex-rating" or lie of the blade, It's crucial to remember that basic shooting mechanics are still king. None of the technology built into today's sticks should ever be a replacement to the basic fundamentals of shooting and passing, but rather an enhancement of these core capabilities

Where to begin...

There have been some tremendous strides in stick technologies, from the time when I was a kid playing the game. Sticks are now available in a wide array of materials ranging from all wood sticks, to full Kevlar and Carbon Fibre. Prices are all over the map ranging from an entry-level simple stick costing around $20 to the latest, high-end one piece sticks surpassing the $ 250.00+ mark.

The Original - Wood Sticks

Believe it or not, with all of the emphasis on the high-end one-piece composite sticks available, the good old wooden stick is still out there and still very popular amongst a wide range of players.

Many players just won't make the switch primarily because it's what they know and they're comfortable with the feel. Even with all of the technological advances, it's still tough to create a composite stick that feels quite as nice as that of good old wood.

If your children are like my son, unfortunately wood sticks are just not "cool". The biggest drawback to a wood stick is straight-up durability. Bottom line, wood sticks tend to just wear out quicker Another consideration comes in while shooting. In order to truly shoot the puck hard, you need to be able to flex the shaft and get a good pop on your shot. Unfortunately the fibres in wooden sticks just do not provide that same level of flexibility and the spring that you need in releasing a shot.

Personally though, until a beginner level player really understands proper shot mechanics, stick handling and the other basic fundamentals, they're just not going to make use of all of the technology in a high-end stick. So when you look at it pragmatically, there really isn't much point in spending big bucks on a composite stick.

Like everything else however, there is always a potential exception. For those children playing elite level hockey, there may in fact be a case to say they will gain some benefit from the lighter weight of a composite stick.

Two Piece Shafts and Blades

The first real two-piece shafts and blades were introduced into the market made of aluminum. Over time however, the two-piece shaft and blade is now available in a wide array of materials including carbon fibre, graphite and Kevlar. At the lower price point ranges, many of the shafts are pure fibreglass which does make the stick a bit heavier and more prone to breakage.

In fact, with all of the hi-tech materials available, along with designs that include hollow cores, many of the two-piece sticks are a good deal lighter than their traditional wooden stick counterparts. The type of blade selected can also change the weight a bit, but typically these offerings will still weigh less than a wooden stick.

One of the positive things about newer two-piece technologies is better performance and longevity that ensure nearly the same flex and pop for the entire life of the stick. The pop in a composite shaft may fade slightly over time, but nothing like what takes place in a wooden stick.

The major drawback however, is that with a composite stick or shaft, you generally won't know it's going to break until you are holding a separate piece of stick in each hand. Also, even an inexpensive shaft and blade will cost twice what a wooden stick goes for.

The biggest factor in choosing a two-piece combination is the selection of the type of blade. In most instances the blade choice will determine just how much durability you're going to get in a two-piece. Reinforced wooden blades are among least expensive available. Like with their wooden stick brethren, these blades will give a good feel for the puck, but generally last the average player no more than a few months at best.

The Latest One-Piece Designs

As we've mentioned, the most recent one-piece stick offerings now really refer to the high-end, usually very expensive, featherweight, composite offerings. In other words, the sticks my son seems to gravitate to every time. Each of the major manufacturers seems to have their own unique offering, from holes in the shaft, to a spine on the blade, to elliptical and even triangular shafts.

In plain truth, there is more than a little evidence to show that a truly good player will notice a more powerful shot with a one-piece stick. In fact, given the array of options usually available, the new one-piece stick offerings can give a child playing elite level hockey, who understands their shot mechanics, a very real boost in accuracy and performance. The price of one-piece sticks is usually comparable to that of a two-piece at the entry-level, but does top out significantly higher. Usually in the $ 220.00 + and higher range.

To me personally, the biggest drawback to the one-piece stick is their position as the most expensive product going. The big issue I see at the Rep level of hockey, is that our children become brand conscious very quickly and won't consider anything other than the latest and greatest product from manufacturer "x ". They have no clue really why they want it, other than the brand name. Also, for the most part, until they get to the "Major Atom" or "Minor Pee Wee" level they won't truly take advantage of most of the built-in technology.

For many of the mainstream one-piece stick manufacturers, there is some evidence to show puck feel does degrade over time. Some of the manufacturers suffer from this more than others. Every year these sticks keep getting lighter and lighter as technology continues to advance. Most of the R&D money is going into this segment of the stick world, so continue to watch as these products continue to evolve and change. In the next article, I'll talk more about selecting the right stick for your game. We'll look at the size and flexibility of the shaft, choosing the right lie and blade pattern. We'll also talk a bit about the attributes of several of the different patterns available on the market, to help you understand what might make the most sense for you or your kids.