4 points you should know BEFORE buying any hockey stick

Buying a hockey stick has changed, here's why! 4 points you should know BEFORE buying any hockey stick

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Everything you need to know about sticks before buying

Kick point test

Hyperlite vs Trigger 6 Pro hockey stick low kick battle -

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[supersloth]

US, I think most people around here go by baseball/golf "rules" where if you're right handed, you'd get a right stick. Personally I'm dominant hand top and went with a lefty stick, based on that recommendation from a more "canadian" approach if you will, also was told "However you'd go hold a shovel". It just made sense for stickhandling purposes since the top hand does more of the work and I like wrist shots.

[BlueFlash]

I play hokey for 20+ years since I was 6y old but I never thought that there are so many things to look for, I always picked one that "feels right" and went with it but now I used your video
as a guide and choose a stick that I would normally never pick and after a few games I can tell you that it is the best stick I ever used, thanks guys, stay awesome!

[charlieine]

I started playing like most kids from my generation (I’m 66) with a straight blade. Our NHL heroes were just starting to experiment with curved blades. When you picked up a stick you were either a right hand shot or a left. Nobody thought about it because it didn’t matter.

[forthecarson]

From the southern US. First person ever in my South Carolina family to play hockey. This is such good info. Been guess at sticks since 1997. Thank you!

[beezaa]

US - I was given a broom and told to demonstrate sweeping with it. From there that'll tell you what hand you prefer on top and which on bottom.

[sa_longo]

I could have sworn that for CCM, they actually had the CCM Tacks that was a mid-kick point.

I'm aware the CCM Jetspeed is hybrid, for I"m pretty sure they had CCM Tacks as the main mid-kick stick

[thnoobz]

This video is a great tool for those new to purchasing new twigs. Everything said is a great base line guide to buying the stick you want. I do want to point out that what is NOT mentioned is that with all that information, you should trust the feel of what makes you as a player comfortable to use. Just because you have all this info, it comes down to comfort for the individual. I use a 77 Flex with all three kick points for different situations on the ice. Since I played Defense and was on the Power Play, I used the HKP for shots and control, MKP for Even Strength and PK situations for balance and for shoot outs I have a LKP stick I use. Its all on feel and comfort. You can feel the difference between a stick that is right for you but you may need to experiment a bit with different sticks. Don't be afraid to ask a sales rep for help if you are unsure but the main focal point I am making is get something that feels comfortable for you to use all day on the ice.

[Turnstables]

I recall an interesting write up about left vs right hand dominance compared to stick hand. In Canada it’s quite common for child to pick up a stick before bat or golf club and generally picking it up with dominant hand at the top is why the larger amount of players are left handed shots. Meanwhile in the US they prioritize golf or baseball, which are considered “racket” sports. This is why so many people end up being left in hockey and right in ball and golf. That and the difficulty of finding left handed clubs or being forced to learn how to golf with your dad’s right handed clubs for hand me downs.

[dcaf]

Great video, wish I had this to show to a buddy back in high school. He (5'6") played with a longer stick than I (6'2") did, with a higher lie. I swear every pass went right beneath the toe of his stick lol

[expo]

When I was taught to play hockey with my first ever hockey stick, I was told to have my dominant hand on the bottom. It felt very natural

[francescoqueirolo]

I am relatively short 5'9" and used to use 75 flex cut down 4 or so inches. Then Bauer recently started making 70 flex adult sticks which are a little shorter than harder adult sticks and it was like day and night in a positive direction. I only post this here because it is a relatively new development and the intermediate sticks were a bit too whippy for me but OK. I also think that it is important because the game has moved a bit away from the big wind-up slapshots and towards quicker release, just get it to the net kind of mentality. Just a niche anecdote but it was a game changer for me.

[dylmwidner]

I would say the stick handedness preference is totally subjective. My dad golfs, throws, and writes with his right hand but plays hockey left handed, whereas I’m the same way but I play hockey right handed. In my opinion, using your dominant hand on top will help early on, but having your non-dominant hand on top will help in the long run.

[benlestage]

I have tried many flexes, I am around 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. I also cut my sticks down about 3 inches from retail height. This raises the flex around 9-15. Ive found that at retail height, I shoot and play best with a stick around 85/87 flex. However, since I cut my sticks down, I need to order mine about 10 flex lower so I usually go for a 77/75. I know my shooting could benefit from a lower flex, however I hate the feeling of my stick flexing in my hands when im digging in corners. Ive adapted and am very happy with my shot even though I use a stiffer stick!

[SilkySilv]

Im a lefty, i shoot left, i have great stick handling and a rocket shot. My right hand being on the top is more to grip the stick, my dominant hand left, is light when stick handling only until im shooting does it become a fist that im trying to drive into the ground.

I have done lots of reps of 1 handed stick handling with my right hand to make everything smoother.


At the end of the day it doesnt matter which side you shoot so long as you practice. I am canadian.

[Machtyn]

Yes, definitely, if you're new to hockey and don't know which handed stick to use, try both ways. For me, with my familiarity with baseball and golf, I went with a right handed stick (being a right-handed person). I tried a left handed stick, but just could not get the motion to work as well.

[charlieine]

Super explanation. Even though I’ve played for a hundred years I still have to try to decipher the marketing language every season.

[StephenTotten-dw]

I have played and coached since I was 8. I am now 49 and still can't get enough of the game. Anyways so I feel that "control" is more important than shot power. I am right handed and shoot lefty. You can always build up your strength for the bottom hand. Although when I am driving a car I feel more comfortable and in more control with my left. The main reason is driving a manual trans. Yet when I was coaching Adam Graves said strong hand on the bottom. Another example, I bat lefty in baseball. Just seems natural, but like you said it's a personal preference.

[kiwicasper]

I'm from New Zealand and it's most common hear for players having the dominant hand as the bottom one, I myself have my dominant hand up top as I'm left handed.

[brandonmitchell]

Look at Sydney crosby and Patrick kane. Both basically the same height. Yet Crosby uses a really low lie probably a 4 with a really short stick, but if you look at him play he’s always got his knees bent and low to the ice. Patty kane on the other hand uses a super high lie, probably close to a 7 and he is always upright and has the puck in close to his feet.

[mhicaoidh]

US player. When I started I was handed a stick and told to hold it both ways, and to choose what felt more natural. For me that was dominant hand on the bottom. Thank you for putting such a focus on stick Lie by the way. It wasn't until I was an adult player that I was exposed to Lie as a factor in stick design.

I finally discovered that Lie 5 in a 60" stick was my sweet spot ... improving my stick handling and shooting immensely. I was previously playing with a 60" Lie 6 or 5.5 and while it was okay is no where near as "natural" feeling as a Lie 5. I did notice that adding an inch to my Lie 6 sticks (61") improved them greatly too, though.