Just starting out or in ice hockey or planning to soon? Then you should follow this advice about making your first hockey stick one that works well for you. It is best to start out with an inexpensive wood hockey stick for your very first Ice Hockey Stick and it should have a basic or standard version of a blade, length and flex of the hockey stick.
You first need to determine if you are going to play with a right hand stick or a left hand stick. You need to choose the direction that feels best to you. If you have any doubt, you can always start with a flat bladed hockey stick that can be used as a left hand stick or a right hand stick.
Choosing the right length stick is very important and it will dramatically affect your ability to use the hockey stick. Your hockey stick needs to be long enough to reach to approximately your chin when you are standing in skates when the hockey stick is held vertically in front of you. Hockey sticks come in a few standard sizes: junior, intermediate and senior and you will choose the one that is the closest length or longer. Expect to end up with a longer stick and cut it to the correct length with a wood saw (or have it cut at the local hockey shop).
The next thing is to choose the blade pattern that you are going to use. Every manufacture has different pro hockey player names for their blade patterns but all of the stock blades will come in just a handful of patterns. You should stick with a blade pattern that his a minor curve to is to that it is easier to learn good puck control on your forehand and backhand.
The last feature of the stick is to get the right flex or bend to it. Firs your first stick you should go with a regular/standard flex. Too stiff and to flexible both make it harder to play.
Now that you have chosen a great starter stick for you with the right blade, handedness, length and flex, it is time to prepare your stick. The first step here is to mark your stick to the correct length (as outlined above) or a little longer (you can adjust again if needed). Next you cut the stick to length with a fine tooth saw. My saw of choice is a hacksaw that works on wood and composite sticks.
Now you need to tape your hockey stick. You need to tape your blade to add some "grip" to it when you are stick handling with a puck. You can tape from toe to heel or heel to toe overlapping the tape a little each time you go around the blade. Next tape the handle to provide a better grip to the very top where you hold it. This is often done by wrapping the tape down about8 inches. The last thing to do on your taping job is to add a knob at the end to aid in keeping the stick from sliding out of your hand.
Now that you have skated through the process of choosing and preparing your hockey stick you are ready to get out and play! As you progress with your experience and skill you will develop preferences for the main hockey stick characteristics. Once you have a better idea of what you want in a stick, you can upgrade to a new one. Keeping your original hockey stick around as a spare is a good idea. Happy hockey!
You first need to determine if you are going to play with a right hand stick or a left hand stick. You need to choose the direction that feels best to you. If you have any doubt, you can always start with a flat bladed hockey stick that can be used as a left hand stick or a right hand stick.
Choosing the right length stick is very important and it will dramatically affect your ability to use the hockey stick. Your hockey stick needs to be long enough to reach to approximately your chin when you are standing in skates when the hockey stick is held vertically in front of you. Hockey sticks come in a few standard sizes: junior, intermediate and senior and you will choose the one that is the closest length or longer. Expect to end up with a longer stick and cut it to the correct length with a wood saw (or have it cut at the local hockey shop).
The next thing is to choose the blade pattern that you are going to use. Every manufacture has different pro hockey player names for their blade patterns but all of the stock blades will come in just a handful of patterns. You should stick with a blade pattern that his a minor curve to is to that it is easier to learn good puck control on your forehand and backhand.
The last feature of the stick is to get the right flex or bend to it. Firs your first stick you should go with a regular/standard flex. Too stiff and to flexible both make it harder to play.
Now that you have chosen a great starter stick for you with the right blade, handedness, length and flex, it is time to prepare your stick. The first step here is to mark your stick to the correct length (as outlined above) or a little longer (you can adjust again if needed). Next you cut the stick to length with a fine tooth saw. My saw of choice is a hacksaw that works on wood and composite sticks.
Now you need to tape your hockey stick. You need to tape your blade to add some "grip" to it when you are stick handling with a puck. You can tape from toe to heel or heel to toe overlapping the tape a little each time you go around the blade. Next tape the handle to provide a better grip to the very top where you hold it. This is often done by wrapping the tape down about8 inches. The last thing to do on your taping job is to add a knob at the end to aid in keeping the stick from sliding out of your hand.
Now that you have skated through the process of choosing and preparing your hockey stick you are ready to get out and play! As you progress with your experience and skill you will develop preferences for the main hockey stick characteristics. Once you have a better idea of what you want in a stick, you can upgrade to a new one. Keeping your original hockey stick around as a spare is a good idea. Happy hockey!
About the Author:
Fred likes to play hockey and write about matching Hockey Replacement Blades with Easton Hockey Shafts at HockeyStickExpert.com!
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