The flex rating of wood sticks is tied to the type of wood used, but the flex of carbon fiber sticks can be easily changed by changing the composition of the carbon fiber in the stick. Length Another thing that affects the flex of a hockey stick is its length.
What is a flex stick in hockey?
Stick flex allows for players to shoot the puck more powerfully and with higher velocity. When they shoot, players place pressure on the stick with their lower hand. The stick then flexes forward from the point where the lower hand is – usually around the middle or halfway down the stick.
Do hockey players still use wooden sticks?
While most hockey players consider wooden hockey sticks "old school," some high-level players today continue to use them for their feel, and many newcomers to hockey will buy wood sticks for their price. Wooden hockey sticks cost a fraction of what today's composite hockey sticks cost and still deliver solid performance.
Does cutting a hockey stick make it more flexible?
Cutting a stick down will make it feel stiffer and thus perform like a stick with a slightly higher flex number. Conversely, using an extension to make a stick longer will make it feel more flexible, as if it had a slightly lower flex number.
Are wood sticks good for hockey?
2:4115:26Can You Still Use a WOOD Hockey Stick TODAY? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI mean you can just see how old this is how long it's last and although I haven't used it you knowMoreI mean you can just see how old this is how long it's last and although I haven't used it you know on a regular basis it's held up for at least ten years and that's mostly because the wood sticks are
Are hockey sticks flexible?
Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex. Most Hockey Stick manufacturers like Bauer, CCM, and Warrior add measurements to the back of the stick, at the top, showing what the flex of the stick would equate to depending on how much is cut off.
Do any NHL players use wooden sticks?
Roughly half the NHL was using the old technology in 2016. Today, five NHL goalies still use a wooden stick. "Once you switch, it's amazing to hold a wood stick and wonder how you played with it," Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton said.
Can you use a wood stick for street hockey?
In the $15 to $25 range, you can find street hockey sticks with ABS plastic blades and wood or composite shafts. Some street hockey players take an old wood or composite ice hockey stick with a bad blade and simply add an ABS blade for street play. That's a great option if you have an old ice hockey stick.
What is the most flexible hockey stick?
Intermediate sticks tend to be shorter and typically have a 65/67 flex. Below that are junior sticks, where 55 flex is usually the highest.
Who has the lowest Flex stick in the NHL?
Speaking of Whippy Shafts But here are a few NHL players whose stick flex is somewhere between “pool noodle” and “CB antenna”: Johnny Gaudreau (55 flex): At 5-foot-9, 157 pounds, it's not a shock he has the lowest flex stick in the league.
Did Gretzky play with a wooden stick?
Gretzky's sticks: from Koho to Titan to Easton Back to video Former Canadien Patrice Brisebois was one of the last NHL players to use a wooden stick, refusing to give up his trusty Sher-Wood.
Did Gretzky use a wooden stick?
The defining moment will always be the day Wayne Gretzky, the game's greatest scorer, switched from wood to aluminum, popularizing the switch from twigs to new age sticks. That Gretzky led the way is odd, in that he rarely fussed over his old wooden Titan stick he used so famously in Edmonton.
Who was the last NHL player to use a wooden stick?
Retired goalie Henrik Lundqvist was the last to use a wood Bauer stick, switching to composite in 2018-19, almost 12 years after the company started leading the NHL trend toward composite goalie sticks.
Which wood is the best for hockey stick?
Wooden hockey sticks are made from either hardwood or laminate wood. Maple, birch, aspen, ramin or ash are usually the type of wood used. Sometimes, more than one type of wood is used to make a single stick. Heavy sticks are usually made out of hardwoods such as birch or ash.
How do you tape a wooden hockey stick?
1:063:44How To Tape A Hockey Stick Blade - HowToHockey.com - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI like to do about a half overlap. So overlap the next one right half way and just keep spiralingMoreI like to do about a half overlap. So overlap the next one right half way and just keep spiraling down. And some players will stop right here the players that do that they like to have this no grip.
How long do street hockey sticks last?
Even the most durable carbon stick, players note, can break in a week or can last a year. Most people cite frequency and level of play as two central factors for determining the lifespan of a hockey stick. Remember, too, you may want to replace a stick when it's not broken—it may have lost its stiffness, its pop.
How far can a hockey stick bend?
Usually, the stick is bent over a distance of 1.0 m to get an industry standard answer for the flex of a stick. However, the result depends on which 1.0 m section of the stick is bent. It could be bent over a 1.0 m length starting at the butt end, or it could be bent over a 1.0 m length starting at the blade end.
Can you cut a hockey stick?
Cutting a stick can be done at most rinks or pro shops, and can even be done at home with a hand saw. For young players, the rule of thumb is to cut it at the tip of the nose. As players get older they'll have a personal preference. Most defensive players might prefer a longer stick.
What Flex does Ovechkin use?
Flex stick 79 Alexander Ovechkin weighs 230 pounds and utilizes a 79-flex stick, which is likely a factor in his one-timer.
What are hockey sticks made of?
These hockey sticks are made from carbon fiber sheets impregnated with partially cured resin. Composite shafts are made by fusing up to 15 layers of carbon fiber sheets using epoxy resin.
What Hockey Stick Flex Should I Use?
When first starting out with the game of Ice Hockey one of the first questions that will come up is “What flex Hockey Stick should I use”? A good place to start when choosing Hockey Stick Flex is to try out a stick with a flex rating that is half of your body weight. For example, if you are 140 pounds, a good place to start would be with a 70-flex stick.
How to choose a hockey stick flex?
A good place to start when choosing a Hockey Stick Flex Rating is to choose the flex that matches half of your body weight. If you weigh 160 pounds, start with an 80 flex, and see how you like this option by testing it out in a shooting room. If you weigh 140 pounds, try the same process out with a 70 flex stick.
How much flex does a hockey stick have?
Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex. Most Hockey Stick manufacturers like Bauer, CCM, and Warrior add measurements to the back of the stick, at the top, showing what the flex of the stick would equate to depending on how much is cut off.
Why do NHL forwards use lower flex sticks?
With the increase in speed of today’s game, forwards are utilizing these lower flex sticks to help them get the puck off their blade as quickly as possible.
What is flex hockey?
Hockey Stick Flex Guide and Chart: What Flex Rating Should I Use? Hockey Stick Flex is the term used for the bending of the stick during shooting. When you shoot, your stick will bend as it makes contact with the puck, creating a “hinge-like” effect, and increasing shot power. There are many different flex options to choose from, ...
Why is a hockey stick flex important?
And utilizing the right Hockey Stick Flex can greatly improve your shot accuracy, power, and efficiency. Getting an Ice Hockey Stick that is too “whippy”, meaning a flex that is too low for you, can decrease your shot speed due to it not being resistant enough to store power in the shaft.
Why is a hockey stick less powerful?
With that said, shots will be less powerful because of the decreased energy transfer. November 13, 2019. Print.
What is the flex of a hockey stick?
The flex of a hockey stick can be defined as the amount of pressure (measured in pounds) that has to be exerted on it to bend it an inch. The higher the flex, the harder it is to bend, and vice versa. Stick flex is crucial because it will determine how accurate and powerful a player’s shot will be.
What is the point on a hockey stick that is the most flexible?
Kick-point is another one of those terms that could confuse you, but all it describes is the point on the hockey stick that is the most flexible (i.e., will bend the most). The kick point of the stick you use will be determined by how far down the shaft you place your lower hand.
Why Does Stick Flex Matter?
If you’re thinking to yourself, “This whole stick flex thing is probably just another marketing ploy to get people to buy new sticks”, you’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. However, stick flex is not a marketing ploy, and it does affect your gameplay. So let’s talk about why it matters.
What Influences Stick Flex?
One of the things that confuse people most about stick flex is what influences it. It is also the thing that people disagree about most. However, there are a few things that undeniably affect the flex of a stick.
What does stick flex rating tell you?
As you know by now, stick flex ratings will tell you how easily your hockey stick will bend, but what they don’t tell you is how much your stick bends can affect the way you play hockey.
Why are left handed and right handed hockey sticks not interchangeable?
This is the most crucial factor that goes into stick choice because right-handed and left-handed sticks are built differently. The blade on a hockey stick curves slightly forward when being held at your side, which means that left-handed and right-handed sticks are not interchangeable.
How to know which hockey stick to use?
Standing flat on your feet, the top of your hockey stick should reach somewhere around your mouth, and when you get it on the ice, wearing your skates, it should reach under your chin.
What is the flex of a hockey stick?
The answer to the above question is fairly straightforward: The flex of a hockey stick is the measurement of the amount of pressure required to bend the stick one inch, expressed in pounds.
How to adjust the length of a hockey stick?
The length of your stick. Many players adjust the length of their sticks by sawing away a bit of the end of the handle. The trick is to do so without raising the flex too much, making your stick unacceptably stiff.
What happens if you use a stick that is too stiff?
Simply put, if you’re using a stick that’s too stiff for you to bend, your shots will lack power. If you’re using a stick that’s too whippy, your shots will lack control.
What is stiffer stick?
A stiffer stick’s attributes will include winning puck battles along the boards and face-offs, and producing more powerful shots. A lighter stick-flex will give you more touch in sending and receiving passes, controlling the puck and getting shots off quickly and with precision.
Where is the kick point on a wood stick?
A stick’s kick point is basically where it bends the most while being flexed. Wood sticks flex like a bow — which is to say, the kick point is in the middle. Composite sticks can manipulate the location of the kick point, and the trend in stick manufacturing is to get that kick point as close to the blade as possible for quicker-releasing shots.
How much does flex increase?
A sample chart produced by Bauer suggests you will increase your flex by six to 10 pounds for every two inches by which a stick is cut down.
How many flexes does a hockey stick have?
For example, the average flex of an adult’s hockey stick (usually referred to as a “ senior ” stick) is 85.
How to pick the right hockey stick flex?
How To Pick The Right Flex For You. A general rule you can start with when considering your hockey stick’s flex rating is to divide your weight by two. This would mean that our average stick flex of 85 is best suited for adult players in the 165-175lb range.
What Does “Flex” Mean For a Hockey Stick?
A hockey stick’s flex refers to the amount of pressure (in pounds) that is required to bend the stick one inch. For this reason, stick flexes are measured in numbers, most often one that is two-digits.
Why Is Stick Flex So Important?
Stick flex matters because it plays a role in how you shoot and handle the puck.
Why is it important to bend your hockey stick?
The lower the flex, the easier it will be to bend the stick. Stick flex allows for players to shoot the puck more powerfully and with higher velocity. When they shoot, players place pressure on the stick with their lower hand.
What happens if your shot stick is too stiff?
This stick’s flex would be maximized before you get a chance to apply your highest shot pressure. A stick that is too stiff won’t allow you to bend the stick at all.
What is the average flex rating for a stick?
The average for an intermediate stick is a flex rating of 60 or 65. While stick heights are relatively consistent within their classification group (junior, intermediate, or senior), each type of stick will typically be available in several different flex numbers.
What is the difference between wood and composite hockey sticks?
On the ice, some hockey players insist wood hockey sticks have better feel and are much more affordable, the overwhelming majority of hockey players choose composite hockey sticks. Composite sticks weigh less, generally provide more power, have a custom kick point, and are more durable than wood sticks, which tend to be heavier and stiffer. Wood is also less consistent—every piece of wood is different, whereas several composite hockey sticks can be built with uniform qualities. But there are still devotees of wood hockey sticks. Some hockey players like the feel of the puck on a wood hockey stick. Price is another big draw. You can find a wood hockey stick for as little as $20, whereas composite sticks range from about $50 on the low end of the continuum to as much as $300.
How much does a wood hockey stick cost?
Some hockey players like the feel of the puck on a wood hockey stick. Price is another big draw. You can find a wood hockey stick for as little as $20, whereas composite sticks range from about $50 on the low end of the continuum to as much as $300.
What Do You Use? Wood or Composite Sticks?
What do you prefer? Wood or composite hockey sticks? Do you use a wood stick? Or have you left the past in the past and moved on to the composite ?
How long can you use a composite hockey stick?
While a younger or recreational player can use a composite hockey stick for several years, players at higher levels may get only three or four weeks out of a composite stick. Still, that’s more use than players would likely get from a wood stick, which can succumb to warping and weakening.
What is a two piece hockey stick?
The two-piece hockey stick has the advantages of a lighter weight, a custom flex point, and durability, while its blade allows for the feel players love about wood—and the pieces can be changed easily and relatively affordably.
Does wood give you a better feel?
Feel—Many players agree that wood gives a player a better feel of the puck when stick handling or receiving passes.
Is composite stick lighter than wood?
Weight—A composite stick will be lighter than a wood stick of the same length and specs. Custom—You can customize a composite stick from the blade pattern, to the flex to the kick point. Durability—A composite stick will last longer than wood. Consistency—Composite sticks are more consistent stick to stick than wood.
What are hockey sticks made of?
Composite sticks are what most NHL players use today. Usually made from woven carbon fiber and fiberglass blends, they’re them incredibly lightweight making them a consistent, high-performing stick.
How long should a hockey stick be?
Stand with your skates on and hold your stick in front of you. Your stick should be anywhere from 1 to 2 inches below or above your chin. Keep in mind that shorter sticks may be great for puck handling, but might not have a powerful shot. Long sticks give you reach and could even help you develop a commanding slap shot with minimal effort.
Why do you put a grip on a stick?
The purpose of adding a grip coating to the shaft is to optimize the amount of control a player has over the stick with their bottom hand.
How to tell if a hockey blade is twisted?
But when you look straight down at the open blade face, you can see how the front is much more visible, almost as if the blade has been twisted – the result is more loft, and the more loft a blade has, the easier it is to lift or elevate the puck.
How far should your hockey stick be from your chin?
Stand with your skates on and hold your stick in front of you. Your stick should be anywhere from 1 to 2 inches below or above your chin. Keep in mind that shorter sticks may be great for puck handling, but might not have a powerful shot.
What is a two piece hockey stick?
Two-Piece Hockey Sticks. If you go the two-piece route, it means you’ll have to purchase two separate items – a blade and a shaft. In terms of the materials used to make them, the shaft on a two-piece stick is just like what’s on their one-piece counterparts.
What is a kick point in hockey?
The kick point of a hockey stick is a huge selling point for composite sticks. Kick point is most associated with flex and the style of play you want to bring to the ice.
How to figure out what flex you need for a hockey stick?
Fortunately, figuring out what flex you’ll want for your hockey stick isn’t too complicated. To get a ballpark figure, take your weight (in lbs.) and divide it in half. So, for example, if a player weighs 130 lbs, that would mean a flex of 65; for a player weighing 200 lbs, it would mean a flex of 100.
Why is a stick more flexible?
The flex number indicates how many pounds of pressure it takes to bend the stick one inch. So, a stick that has a flex number of, say, 30 is much easier to bend one inch than a stick with a flex number of 100.
What Is This Flex Thing?
OK, the short version of the answer is that flex is a measure of the stiffness of a hockey stick. Basically, the lower the flex number, the more flexible the stick is. I know, that’s a little counter intuitive. Since it’s called the flex number, some people think that a higher number would mean more flexibility, and I get why, but it’s actually the opposite.
How to determine flex stick size?
First, let’s consider the 130-lb player. Based on the rule of thumb of dividing the player’s weight (in lbs.) in half, the player would need a 65 flex stick. But, this player is going to cut their stick down about three inches. This will increase the stiffness, meaning the stick will feel like a 70 flex after being cut. A 60 flex would feel like a 65 after being cut by three inches. This player happens to be of average strength for their weight, so we don’t need to do any more adjustments; this player should get a 60 flex stick.
What is the kick point of a stick?
Kick point refers to the location along the shaft of the stick where the stick flexes the most. You’ve probably seen pictures of a player’s stick bending as they take a shot, right? If not, take a look at Zdeno Chara’s stick in the picture up at the top. When the stick is flexed, it contains potential energy; as the shot is released and the stick returns to being straight, that energy is transferred into the shot. Basically, the flexing of the stick allows you to get more velocity on your shot.
Why do they put numbers on the back of the stick shaft?
Some manufacturers put numbers on the back of the stick shaft at the top to show what flex the stick would feel like if it was cut down to that length.
Why do two sticks with the same flex feel different?
Another reason that two sticks with the same flex could feel different is that they have different kick points.
What is the MK3 hockey stick?
The Mylec MK3 ABS Hockey Stick will allow you to hit the streets with confidence! It is built with a lightweight, multi-laminated shaft that features an ABS blade material that adds strength and durability for rough outdoor surfaces without sacrificing pop.
What is a Fischer W150 wood stick?
The Fischer W150 Wood Stick features traditional wood construction with fiberglass blade reinforcement for long-lasting playability. The W150 offers a mid-kick point, ideal for players looking for maximum shot power.
What is a Mylec Eclipse stick?
The Mylec Eclipse Jet-Flo Wood Nylon Street Hockey Sticks are perfect for driveway and street hockey games. At such an affordable price, the Jet-Flo stick is a great way to get the kids together and to introduce them to the great game of hockey. The Mylec Eclipse street stick has replaceable blades that save you money so you don't have to purchase a whole new stick once the blade wears out.
What is a Sherwood 5000 stick?
The Sherwood 5000 Hockey Sticks are traditional wood hockey sticks at a great price. The Sherwood 5000 stick has a multi-layer birch laminated shaft with a white ash core blade reinforced with multi-directional and high impact-resistant fiberglass making it very responsive and durable.
What is a CCM street hockey stick?
The CCM Street Nylon and Wood Hockey Stick is perfect for the player who's looking for a durable stick to use on a variety of surfaces; including asphalt and concrete. The Injected Nylon Blade is built to last through countless ball hockey games, while the traditional mid kick flex profile provides the shooting power.
What is the A&R hockey set?
The A&R Youth Hockey Set comes with everything needed for young ones to start having fun playing the great sport of hockey. It comes with (2) 30" plastic hockey sticks that can be used by left-handed and right-handed children alike. The plastic construction allows them to be used on indoor and outdoor surfaces but the included plastic ball is the better choice for outdoor play. A&R also included a plastic puck so hockey can be played as fast as they can open the package.
What is a Fischer W250?
The Fischer W250 Wood ABS Stick is a great choice for anyone looking for an inexpensive stick that can be used on rough outdoor surfaces like asphalt and concrete. The W250 boasts a strong ABS and G-Laminate blade construction that offers long-lasting playability and feel.
