All About Hockey Sticks

The very first hockey stick was created of wood and was made in the early 1800s. It was made with a flat blade. In the 1920s, hockey players started to tape their stick so they got better grip on the stick and increased the strength of their blade. In 1957-1980, they created the curve of the blade which we see today. The curved blade was created by a player named Bobby Hull who, one day in practice, broke his stick, then realized that he had a better and more accurate shot with a curved blade. After the curved blades started coming out, in the early 1980s, the sticks, or shafts as they are called now, started to be made of metal. Now in the 21st century, there are three different main types of sticks, we have wood, composite, and aluminum (not only aluminum but also includes fiber glass, Kevlar, Titanium etc.) Compositehockey sticks are just wood sticks reinforced with an outer coating of a different material such as the metals listed above. Aluminum hockey sticks are the most commonly used sticks today due to their lightweight, durability, and capability to replace blades.

Purchasing hockey sticks are one of the most important decisions for hockey players to make. When choosing hockey sticks, they must think about several things because hockey sticks are the most important part of equipment. If you pick the correct stick, then it can excel your game into a whole new level. However, pick the wrong stick, and you may not be able to shoot worth a darn. So what do you look for when picking a good hockey stick you may be asking? Well, there are several things that you need to consider when picking one out and the most important thing is to make sure you get one with the right curve. Not only do I mean whether it is a righty or a lefty stick, but also the angle of the blade. Blades come with many different curves on them to help different types of hockey players. So you must consider this when picking out a hockey stick. Another thing you have to consider is what type of shaft you want and whether a one piece or two piece configured stick. There are several different types of shafts out there including wood, fiber glass, titanium, and Kevlar. With all of these shafts except for wood, you have the option of getting a one or a two piece configured stick. What this means is with a one piece configured stick, the blade will be attached to the stick. With a two piece configured stick, you will be required to purchase that shaft and blade separately. Therefore, having to put the stick together yourself as well. The two piece sticks are usually for more advanced hockey players.

What is flex of hockey sticks and why is it important? Well, that is a very good question and I am going to go over that a little bit but in some good detail but simple to understand. Flex is simply what it takes to bend your stick and how much pressure, or weight it takes to do that. And it is very important because if you get the right flex, then it can act as a sling shot on the puck for you if used correctly. But, if you get a flex that is to high and you are unable to bend, then it is useless because you won't be able to bend it. Flex's range from 45-75 pounds. Youth sticks are usually between 45 and 55 pounds and then senior sticks are usually between 65 and 75 pounds. When looking for flex, you want to make sure that you do not get a stick that is impossible for you to bend, but also make sure you don't get one that is to easy for you to bend. The harder the stick is that you are able to bend, then the harder your shot will be because that creates more pressure going to the puck. So if your looking at hockey sticks and new to learning about the flex in them, then the only way to truly know what sticks are best for you is to try many different ones out. You could either ask around and borrow some from friends, or try the ones at stores but you can't exactly play with those. So learning what flex is exactly right for is definitely going to take some time and probably more then you think it should, but just be patient and let it come and don't force it. Because when it does, you will be thankful and your shots will be better then ever and you will be glad you were patient. Everything will be worth it in the long run, trust me.