Buying a Hockey Stick

With the prices of hockey sticks soaring, you want to make the right decision when buying one. There are many different things to consider when purchasing a stick.

Junior, Intermediate, or Senior?

This is probably one of the easier things to determine when buying the stick. They each have a different level of flex. Junior sticks have a flex of about 50; intermediate 70; senior 90 and above. The flex of a stick tells you how much the stick bends. If you are strong and can bend a stick quite a bit, you will want a senior stick so it won't break as quickly. If you are a younger player with less strength you will want a junior stick because you can still bend it without breaking it easily. Test the flex of the stick at the store to make sure it is not too bendable or too stiff. The more the stick flexes the better shot you can get, so you want to find a balance. Make sure you can flex it, but make sure it doesn't flex too easily.

Length

The stick you choose should reach about your nose on foot and your chin with skates on. There is a popular belief that defensemen should have a longer stick for a better poke check. This myth is not true and short sticks are the way to go. Short sticks allow players to stickhandle easier and shoot better. If a stick is two inches longer it doesn't give a noticeable advantage in regards to poke-checking. If the defenseman is playing the body like he should be, then he doesn't need those two inches. However, you may ask: I want to grow into my stick. This is a very big concern for many parents because they don't want their child to outgrow a stick too quickly and have to buy a new one. If the stick becomes too short, then buy a wooden insert that can be put into top of the stick. Any store will put in that insert for you.

Curve

A "toe curve" means that the curve is concentrated near the toe of the blade, and it is usually preferred by forwards, who desire better puck handling and more accurate wrist shots. A "heel curve" is generally better for slap shots, and is used more by defensemen. Curve is all based on personal preference. If you like to shoot high wrist shots then a closed blade with a deep curve is what you want. If you like to take low slap shots from the point then you may want an open blade with a moderate curve. See Hockey Monkey to see various curves for different brands of sticks.

Other things to consider

There are some different little things to take into account when buying a stick. Some sticks have grips that can be very annoying to some, but comfortable and useful to others. Color is another thing to look at. Whenever I saw a player with a bright yellow stick he would stick out in my mind. This can be good and bad depending on how you look at it.

Always consult employees at stores in order to make the best purchase. Please contact me at petro438@yahoo.com if you have any specific questions in regards to purchasing a stick.