Basics About Ice Hockey Sticks

By Fred Jacobs

If you are an ice hockey player, then you know that aside from skates or your protective uniform, ice hockey sticks also form part of the essential equipment needed so you can play the sport. On the ice, you can see two types of sticks. One is the regular hockey stick and the other is the goalie hockey stick.

The difference between the two is that the former is used by forwards and defensemen while the latter is used by the goalie. Goalie hockey sticks also do not have curved blades as they are used mainly for defense.

The most popular material for ice hockey sticks seems to have become, eventually, the ash wood. Although heavier, they are more durable. It is said that ash wood sticks tend to last even for the entire career of a player. Later on, laminated hockey sticks came out, with synthetic materials as coatings.

Currently, composites seem to be the trend for ice hockey sticks. They perform in much the same way as wooden sticks although they are lightweight, like their aluminum counterparts. They are less durable than wooden sticks however and tend to have a higher price.

An ice hockey stick has three parts, namely the shaft, the blade and the toe. The lie is a term used to refer to the angle between the shaft and the blade. A bigger lie is much more suited for tall players while a smaller lie is for smaller players or those who tend to play in a crouching position.

Hockey Stick Flex refers to the flexibility of the ice hockey stick. It is very important when a player calculates and makes shot. It determines the flexibility or stiffness of the stick when force is applied to it.

The flexibility of a hockey stick will depend very much on the player using it and what position they are playing. More flexible ice hockey sticks will work to the advantage of forwards while stiffer ones work best for those in defense. This is also due to the fact that they take different types of shots.

While there is no one rule as to how flexible or stiff a team's ice hockey sticks should be, a good calculation should be made. If an ice hockey stick is too stiff, the player may not be able to accelerate his or her shot. If the stick is too flexible, however, then it will tend to bend too much and reduce accuracy.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment

top