A hockey stick is chosen with the individual characteristics of the athlete in mind. Absolutely all elements of this sports attribute must match the anthropometric data of the player. However, it is impossible to choose a good hockey stick based only on this information. What else should you pay attention to when choosing a hockey stick?
Selecting a hockey stick according to the height, weight, and age of the player choosing a hockey stick
When choosing a hockey stick, the age and height of the athlete is of special importance. Specialists recommend to buy different hockey sticks for different age groups:
children (youth, yth) 4-7 years old stick length 106-114 cm (42-45 inches);
to juniors (junior, jr) 7-14 years – 119-132 cm (47-52 inches);
for teenagers (intermediate, int) 14-17 years old – 137-145 cm (54-57 inches)
Adults (senior, sr) – 142-157 cm (56-62 inches). Adults hockey players who are not tall and do not weigh much (up to 70 kg) often use teenage hockey sticks.
Concerning weight: if you are over 17 but weigh less than 70 kg, you can order a junior hockey stick. In other cases, take your age into account.
How to determine stiffness and grip
Choosing a hockey stick
To decide what kind of stick stiffness you need, simply stand on a scale and find out your weight. Then use that number as a guide when choosing a hockey stick. The stiffness of almost all modern hockey sticks is measured by the Easton scale, which ranges from 40 to 120. The stiffness value that corresponds to the weight of the player is considered optimal. The thing is that the stiffness of the stick will influence the quality of your puck throw. To make a good shot, you need to bend the stick. The softer it is, the easier it is. That’s why a player who weighs 90-100 kg should not use a softer product. Otherwise, the stick will quickly become unusable.
Depending on the player’s grip, determined by the side in which the hook will be bent hockey stick. To understand your grip and find the right stick, do a little research:
Hold the hockey stick with both hands (as you feel comfortable);
if your right hand is higher than the left hand, you have a right grip;
If it is the other way around, you have a left grip.
Your child should buy a stick with a straight hook, as at this age he can’t yet understand exactly what his grip is. He will change it from time to time during training to find his own comfortable position. A stick with a straight hook will be ideal for a young athlete: it can be used by a player with both right and left handed grip.
Types of hockey stick hooks Choosing a hockey stick
Hockey stick hooks vary in shape, bend location and curvature plane. The hook toe comes in round, square or square with rounded corners.
A round hook toe is best for attackers and a square one for defenders. A hook that has a square toe with rounded corners would be a compromise option. The bend of hockey sticks starts at the heel, toe or in the middle of the hook. You should choose one or the other model depending on the tasks to be performed by the player. Bend at the heel makes it easier to lift the puck. Bend at the tip allows controlling it on the ice. The bend in the middle of the hook is universal.
Hockey sticks with a curved hook plane are used to lift the puck and make one-touch shots.
Choosing a hockey stick, pay attention to one more parameter: the size of the angle between the hook plane and the handle. Most often it is in the range of 4,5-6. Optimal angle is chosen according to the individual characteristics of the athlete (more precisely, his height). If everything is done correctly, during the game the stick will lay on the ice field with the whole edge of the hook. And the insulating tape wrapped around it will wear down evenly.
Choosing the length of a hockey stick
Length of a hockey stick for your height should also be chosen correctly. It is easy to do: stand on a flat surface and put the hockey stick so that the hook is between your feet. If you do it with skates, the stick should reach your chin. Without skates, it should reach to the tip of your nose.