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.
That’s similar to my “sweeping with a broom” example. right hand on top? Use a leftie stick. I play lefty as a result and I’m right-handed. I play D and like the extra dexterity, as a right-hander, that comes with poke checking using left-hand stick.
As a kid I was given a right handed stick, because I'm right handed. After everyone grew up and we all stopped playing street hockey(I've never played organized, (yet)just pickup street) I didn't even own a stick until recently. Bought a righty, because that's what I always used, but I noticed slightly more NHL players play lefty than righty and wondered why. So I googled it and found out the "canadian" method. Bought a lefty stick, after about an hour of feeling awkward, I'm way more comfortable handling street pucks and balls than ever. Never going back.
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!
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!
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.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s and sticks had curves but I can't remember myself or anyone I played with actually thinking about which way we played, we were left or right handed based on instinct.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Where I'm at, they say your dominate hand should be on the top. However, I have also been told that try each side to see which is more comfortable. I'm a dominate lefty, but when I tried to shoot left and it was not comfortable and when I switched to right, I felt I had more power and control. So in short, I'm lefty at everything, except hockey. It's basically like you said, personal preference when it comes to choosing sticks. I didn't have a clue, so I basically looked at the used rack at my local used sporting goods store and went "Yeah I like this one". Thankfully it's been my "best friend" for almost four years now, the Warrior QRE Clutch with a 55 flex, which according to my coach, is all I'll ever need, is perfect for me!
i think you're mistaken - most right handed people shoot left and most left handed people shoot right - so you're doing whats "natural". well i dont know the %'s i could be wrong. i dont get how this is hockey specific... are you saying you don't swing right for say golf or baseball??? thats a bit strange
I feel like it’s about feel, my right hand is my dominant hand but trying to use a lefty is very uncomfortable but when I play pool I use my left hand to hold the cue. It’s definitely just about how it feels
@jmoriarty8000 It is about feel. I tried using a lefty stick and it just didn't feel right. When I tried a right stick I felt I had more power coming from that side.
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.
It seems like different Lie didn’t become a thing until a few years ago. I’m a 5 as well. I bought a stick that was a 6 without realizing it. I play defense and when I’d receive a pass at the point the puck would go right under the toe and out of the zone. I looked up the blade info on my previous sticks and realized they were all 5 lie. Now I inspect each stick at the hockey shop to make sure it’s a 5, which seems harder to find as the stores seem to load up on 6.
@@Islanders83 Different lie has always been a thing, but it was usually packaged into a "player profile" such as buying a CCM P08 Ovechkin or a Bauer P88 Kane. So you had to pay a lot of attention to the stick profile as a whole.
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.
The description about the stick's lie is excellent. What you'll find is that there are less curves avaiable with 4 and 5 lie sticks, but your passing and shooting will suffer if you choose a wrong lie.
I've really been enjoying your channel lately man. I've been playing roller derby for years and recently decided to transition into ice hockey and I'm finding your content really helpful. Mind you, I'm an absolute newbie and everything is so different when you're literally moving on knife blades on ice. Don't know if it's too late for me as I'm 28yo, can I really transition to and learn a new sport at that age but but hey, haha at least it's fun. Hope to maybe join the Leeds Roses soon. Thanks for your videos.
Welcome to the game! Don't worry about picking it up at 28; I started playing at 45 years old. Focus on having fun and the skills will come with time. Like anything, you'll have progression and regression, but stick with it and you'll be just fine. You'll also find that hockey players are some of the nicest, most welcoming people you will ever meet. It's a big family, and I think it's awesome the number of young women we have coming into the sport. Get it girl!
its never to late to try and new sport and i have talked to some members of the leeds roses and they are very welcome and kind! never forget its never too late for anything!
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.
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!
many pro's use whippy sticks - like ovi who is over 200 lbs - he doesn't use a 100+ flex. he uses something much lower like an 80 flex. it makes for an effortless release and the whippyness actually makes it harder for goalies to track as the puck comes off the blade.
@@1q3er5 actually he does use either a 90-100 (he used to use around 80 when he was with Bauer but his ccms are around 100). And as I said in my original comment, I understand the benefits of a whippier stick but I personally don’t like how it feels
I was thought to put the dominate hand on top. I raised my kids that way as well. I live in the Chicago area. Most here are thought to shoot the same side that they bat.
I shoot left. Always have, it’s just what felt right. I played a couple games as a kid with a right stick and it was so wrong. Golf left, bat left. But I’m right handed. As far as lie goes. Look at the tape at the bottom of your stick where does it wear? Should be even or in the middle. Flex. I prefer quick wrist shots, I use a whippier stick, but not too whippy. 75 but it’s cut down an inch or so. Length. Stick comes up to my chin if I stand it up wearing skates. Curve. Personal preference. Hopefully you’re able to try some. I prefer a flatter mid curve. For me, more accurate passes, more accurate shots, sharper heel curves go way to high for me. I’m not a dangler either so no toe curves either.
I'm 19 and have played hockey for as long as I remember. Currently, I am a skating and hockey instructor at my local rink. When working with younger kids or new-time hockey players we always try to make sure the dominant hand goes on top. The reality is, especially with younger kids is they try to always change their hand position. They are playing as a lefty one minute and then a righty the next and that is something we have to coach out of them. The truth is having the dominant hand on top is going to be the most effective for I would say 95% of players. There is a small majority who play with their dominant hand on the bottom that excels in the sport, but the majority you will find play with their dominant hand on top. Having the dominant hand on top gives the players numerous advantages, the biggest one being their ability to control their stick when it comes to every part of the game (shooting, puck handling, passing, receiving passes, etc..). On a side note, another thing I feel like that is severely neglected by parents and new hockey players is stick length. They almost also choose a stick too long which affects the players in a negative way. If having your dominant hand on the bottom is what feels natural, honestly go with that. But when you have someone new to hockey, try to make sure the dominant hand goes on top.
Are you in Canada? Most Americans play baseball and usually start that before they ever try hockey. In baseball most people typically hit with the dominant hand on bottom (top when holding a bat/stick upright) and thats why most Americans feel more natural playing right handed (most people are right handed). Ultimately power and strength will even out. Im right hand dominant and play defense and so hold the stick with only left hand many times and have never felt like im weak with it or anything like that. In baseball most of your power is coming from the “off hand” also, perhaps even more so than hockey. I would say try to go with whatever feels most natural though I know thats difficult to figure out at first because they both are a bit unnatural.
I started playing hockey a bit later than most (age 12 or so) and having played lacrosse prior I always had my left hand on knob and right hand towards the head of the stick. Holding a hockey stick felt more natural having my left hand on top as I do in lacrosse even though im a righty. Early on, my lacrosse muscle memory kept me from stick handling properly, using my right (bottom hand) to control the stick rather than my top hand. I had to work hard to fix it but finally did, I wish I had started younger and was using a lefty stick because its a lot easier to find pro stock lefties!
sorry man, i gotta call bullshit on that one. the dominant hand is on the strongest of your two arms. that's the power hand, & it should be the hand that is lower down on the shaft. ask the kids, which feels better? when the blade of the stick is on the ice, is it to your right or to your left? just saying, trying to make a righty shoot left & vice versa will only confuse the kids. you said, if someone is new to hockey, make sure the dominant hand is on top. my dominant hand is my right, which means if i put that hand on the butt end\top of my stick, i would shoot left, because my left hand is the lower hand, & the blade of the stick is to my left. if i try to shoot left, i look like a fish out of water, & i've been playing for 37 years... in canada. as far as length goes, when they're on skates, the top, (or butt end) of the stick should never be above the tip of the nose or lower than the chin. gretzky played with a stick that reached only up to his adams apple during his first few years, but he's gretzky, so, y'know.
regarding the Lie angle you need to consider: skate balde (runner) height, if the stick is shortened, players height, players arm lenght...skate blade is changing with sharpening or profiling you might notice difference from 4 to 8 but not 1 or 2 degrees :) unless you measure dynamic lie with a TracKMan :D
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.
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.
I guess I'm old and out of touch but I wasn't aware that people actually choose/are told which way they shoot. When I was growing up we just picked up sticks instinctually and that's the way we played, it wasn't a conscious decision. Just like throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball, you just did it.
What’s a good overall blade for a beginner? I’m starting recreational hockey next month and i have no clue what a good blade would be. I’ll most likely be using Bauer.
I would advice to a player is ,a player should try to see how they are feeling with a basic stick and see what works. I am nearly 200 pds and I don’t like a flexible stick and I can’t go with 100 .but to go with a wimpy non flexible stick sometimes is better for some.to have a lot of blade touching the ice is the most important as it seems to be important and I agree with the point of lie 4,5,6 and the size of your curve depends on the player
I literally went into the store, handed a broom, and whichever way I went for it, I got the stick that way. It so happened dominant hand was on the shaft, but the store worker said it wasn't important. I think it's also helped by the fact I'm left sided dominant in general as well as left handed. Hence, I gravitated to left shooting as well
In the US. I have four people playing in my house, my self and my 3 boys. I am right handed and shoot right. I only find that awkward when I play defense and want to poke/ stick check. I've tried to change hands but it's just so weird, I have hard time stick handling, and my shots are always pulled right. I've basically just worked to strengthen my left hand/ arm to make things easier. Though if there's a pop-up puck, I still reach for it with my left (catching) hand, which is equally awkward to playing lefty as my top hand comes off the stick. I have one kid that is also right handed and shoots right. Although when I watch him shovel snow or rake leaves he holds them with left hand on top. So that is definitely his preference. I have a left handed kid that shoots right, and right handed kid that shoots left. That's just how they picked up a stick when they started. For stick lie, I prefer a 5 or 5.5. I can play with a 6. I tried a 7 once and found I was skating over pucks and missing passes.
Speaking of flex, I went the other way. I'm 200lbs and started with an 85/87 flex. Once I really started using the stick right, I was over flexing the stick even in just passing. My current sticks are 95 cut down to about 100-102 flex rating.
I'm right handed and shoot right. I'm in Canada. But most of my friends that are right handed shoot left. They also played hockey as kids, I picked it up (seriously that is) as an adult so I just went with what felt comfortable. I also mostly play goalie, which means I have to shoot left handed anyway as I catch with my left.
Here in Finland it’s pretty rare to see righties, almost everyone seems to play with a left handed stick. Of course there are always like a few righties on the team but it’s mostly lefties
Hey nice video, I just wanted to let you know that whenever I watch one of your videos I always get into to a good mood. So thank you for that. Keep it up 👍 😃
The big windup slap shot is not as much a part of the game as it used to be. Even from the point the object is to get the shot through the defenders. This usually means a very accurate and quick snap shot or wrist shot. Keeping your head up during your shot and on the target is much more effective than a wild blaster.
UK. I play left and have my dominant hand on top. It was always that way, I even failed horribly to play field hockey at school because I wanted to play left and that is illegal in field hockey.
also uk ; funnily enough I've never thought about that - I also used to play grass hockey and even though my dominant hand is right as i made the transition to ice i just naturally used left hand on top probably because of all those years playing grass hockey !
Your views on flex, 100 percent correct. I was known to have a slapshot that could drop people if I hit them in a bad spot. Then I broke my last 85 flex stick. Before I knew we could special order any custom stick we wanted, I was unable to locate another stick with the curve and lie I wanted and the flex I needed so I settled for a 110 flex stick that I had to then cut several inches off of, so its probably more like a 115 flex now. I haven't managed to break that stick, but I have also never been able to shoot with it at all and my feel of the puck through the stick is gone, so I find myself looking down a lot now to make sure I haven't dropped the puck. I just ordered a custom 87 flex stick. I think I will order a 75 for the next stick I order to try that out. Thanks for the information.
A couple things: Lie: It can also vary based on how you cut your stick. In short, when testing make sure it's based off your preferred stick length. Flex: I wouldn't go on weight. I would go more on use. If you use more snap and wrist shots, and you like to load the stick, a lower flex is beneficial. If you take more clappers, you may like a higher flex. Not saying I'm right, just offering an opinion on what worked for me. One last thing regarding curve and kick point: To figure that out, you're just going to have to experiment and find what works. Me? I really don't care much about kick point, but curve I do. I can't use big curves with 'loft'. I'll shoot everything into the netting over the glass. I need a closed blade. Again, Each person needs to figure that out for themselves.
To add - There aren't any stick companies that list lies on sticks anymore - so when you pick your pattern, you pick your lie, unless your're doing full custom.
@@barrybalsagna2931 I stopped playing a number of years ago due to lack of rinks where I currently live. In short, I haven't bought gear in a while. Seems like a dumb move by the manufacturers to not list lie. I do remember always playing a 5 lie (4 for Warrior) and having maybe 2 choices of blade pattern with that lie (totally forgot they didn't make all blades in all lies).
Yeah I was told that your dominant hand should be on top in the US. I tried both as a kid but I liked having my dominant hand on the bottom of the stick so I’m a righty. My brain just couldn’t figure out the mechanics for having my right hand on top haha I’m technically a lie 4, but they’re hard to find now and days. So I have switched to a lie 5 which it’s been like 6 or so years so I’m used to it now!
Pro stock sticks are way better then retail. Not only are the specs better and the custom touches but the curves are just insane and I find even my least favourite pro stock I use shoots better then the best retail I’ve used. And the best thing about pro stock is if u dial in a older model ex. Warrior qrl u can get that stick wrapped as a newer stick
I always saw lie as how close you prefer the puck to be with you. As for the blade position on the ice, that when I cut the top of the shaft to length. As for your right/left question. (Midwest USA) varries. My son is ambidextrous but prefers to use a left stick.
Any tips on how to help your four year old decide left or right? I can't remember how I chose to shoot left in spite of being right handed, but I do remember my first stick was flat-bladed so there must not have been any pressure to commit one way or another. Looking at the kids sticks in a shop now, everything was either left or right.
Hand the kid a stick and have them hold it how they want. There's no real advantage one way or the other as long as the kid feels comfortable playing that way. I am left-hand dominant and played lacrosse lefty, but played hockey righty and batted righty in baseball. I tried to make myself play left-handed because the only ice hockey (not street hockey with the plastic blade) stick my family had was a lefty stick, but I kept holding it right-handed. After like 2 practices my dad picked me up a right-handed wood stick and it made such a difference.
hi. don't mean to mess around with you, but i think you may be off on this one. for the vast majority of his career, brett used the easton aluminum stick. i also used them in that time. they didn't have flex numbers, they had "medium", "stiff", & "extra stiff". the lowest flex that easton ever had in their aluminum shafts was 90. during his heyday in st. louis, his prime, he used a very high flex shaft, probably around 105.
I have found that retail shops don’t offer all the options of, say, pro stock hockey which I believe has pro overflow inventory. At my small size and weight, I appreciate find light flex, lower lie, shorter sticks that work with my size. But warning … don’t let this overtake your brain. I’ve played enough tennis with people who get mental, make a bad short, then have to change their racquets between shots. All this fussing, if not controlled, can make you mental. Stay above it. My personal two cents, for what it’s worth.
I really need your opinion. if U had to pick one would u go with a warrior fantom QRE, warrior alpha QX, or warrior covert QR edge . Based off of best performance
I’m going to jump in on the length part. I have never used a stick that I haven’t cut down even if it’s only millimeters. Stick length is exceptionally important. We all know the Pro players have their sticks made exactly to their specifications but there is a mitre saw in every equipment room in elite hockey. Yes, there are a few players that have a reputation of not caring about their sticks but that is a slim minority. Almost every serious player makes micro adjustments to their sticks. All the work uses to go into the blade but now with composite sticks it’s only about length and the top of the stick. As consumer players fine tune your stick length because we don’t have a lot of choice. Go to a stick rack in a shop. You could have half a dozen blade patterns (each with a specific lie) in a particular stick but the length will be identical. As you adjust the length you also adjust the flex. The more you cut down a stick the stiffer it becomes.
I played lacrosse and hockey in HS and College. My strong hand is my right hand but my left hand is stronger than my right as far as grip strength goes. I can shoot both left and right hand with a lacrosse stick but I can’t shoot with my right hand at the top whatsoever. I’m right handed and my right hand is at the middle of the shaft and I can knock out a slap shot of 75-80mph. I can’t shoot with my left hand on top but I can do stickhandling and shooting with my right in the middle. I’m in the USA.
Hey! I am right handed (i write with right hand) and I also have hockey stick on right side...I heard from some people that I should have it on left side cause i am righthanded but I cant change it because i play on right side 9 years... does it effect my playing?
no, you shoot right when playing hockey. there's nothing wrong with that. your right hand is the low hand, the hand that is lower on the shaft, yes? that's your power hand & power arm. go with what feels natural.
I’ve been playing hockey for 50+ years and the dominant hand placement argument recycles every few years. In Canada the split is roughly 60/40 to dominate hand on top for right hand dominates. That means approximately 60% of right handers play with a left hand stick but these statistics don’t translate to golf. A large number of hockey players that shoot left handed in hockey will play golf right handed and in baseball I think the stats are skewed even more for right handed players batting left handed.
The biggest problem I find trying to consider lie is that it is often tied to the curve. So, if you want a particular curve you'll get it paired with a lie. I suppose the difference is that different manufacturers might vary this somewhat (and most have similar curves as their main ones found in stores). So, right now I have an idea about what flex and curve I want, but I really want to try out different kicks. Problem here is that it is difficult to try them out other than finding someone who has one.
The flex rule I had never heard of. I weigh 235 pounds, which would equate to a 115 flex (which is used by those like Zdeno Chara). I also don't have the upper body strength of most so my preferred flex is 70-75.
New Jersey - I play lefty, but bat righty, throw lefty, but write righty, tennis righty, ping pong lefty, I drive righty but putt lefty. I'm not ambidextrous, what I've found is my right is my skill hand, thus for hockey it's at the top, my left is my power hand, thus I bat righty. Thank God I was told as a kid to choose whatever felt most natural!
One thing I've never seen addressed is changing the kickpoint, particularly on mid and hybrid flex sticks, when you cut a stick down. The shorter the stick the closer to your hands the kickpoint becomes, correct?
It's so frustrating that nobody seems to be offering the old Coffee curve blade. Sherwood 77 Warriors Pacioretty isn't really comparable. I'm getting old so getting custom sticks isn't really an option anymore.
I’m from St. Louis, and it’s mostly personal preference on handedness here. It seems that most people use their dominant hand at the bottom of the stick, which is how I use my stick. I have tried the other way around, but it just feels very unnatural.
bullshit. i'm from the south shore of montreal, 46 years old. nobody ever told us which side we should shoot, & no coaches or adults ever tried to "correct" us. the very first time anyone picks up a hockey stick, one side will feel natural within 20 seconds. sorry man, we've never been told to have your dominant hand on top. if that happened to you, that was awful coaching.
I think I am using the incorrect lie. When I was much younger, I used an R6. More recently, I have been using an R5.5 or an R5. This morning I played drop in and noticed the most wear on the bottom heel of my stick. This made me think I should be using an R4 or at least to try an R4. What are your thoughts?
Here’s a tip for left or right. Grab a broom. Start sweeping. Which hand is on top? Right hand? Grab a left handed stick. Left hand? Grab a right handed stick.
In finland we usually do what feels the most natural. And most of the time if urnright handed ur a leftie and left handed ur a rightie. Of course there is exeptions like me, I am right handed and a rightie.
I recently broke my stick in warmups and a buddy let me use his nexus 2n pro 75 flex and I felt like ovi out there, my shot was harder and more accurate. the problem is im a very big boy and had a 75 flex vapor a few years ago and it only lasted 1/3 of a season and I can't afford that kind of turnover. I try to make my sticks last several seasons
Hey Kyle. Are you attributing the stick breakage due to the low flex relative to your size? Only reason I ask is that I find there is little correlation between the flex and likelihood of stick breakage vs the manufacturing of the stick. For example as someone who has played at a high level and is 6’1 220, I’ve broken more sticks that have a flex rating of 100-105 vs the ones that I’ve had in the 95 flex range. This is all to say - I agree that many players play with a flex that is way too stiff for their game - and I wouldn’t buy into concern that a lighter flex will lead to more breakage risk. Just my POV of course. Good luck with the sticks!
@@goatsonapost i mean I may be off but in my experience the 75 flexes ive had (only 2 of them) have broken exponentially faster than any 85 or 102 flexes ive used. I have come down from 102 to 85 and not seen any increase in broken sticks but its also not an experiment I really want to try cuz that could potentially get expensive very quickly. one of the 75 flexes I had broke in 6 games which is insane for a D level beer league. I have no factual evidence to back this up just my experience and being much closer to 300lbs than 200 im mainly just taking the safe road. I would not be opposed to finding a very long 75 and cutting it down to try and get to like an 80 flex tho but being 6'1" that'll be tricky
I’m 6’1” and 260 lb. I’ve always used a 95-105 flex. Since we are heavier, we are using our weight to flex the stick while shooting, so a higher flex should last longer for us compared to a 75 flex Bc the 75 will flex much more for us than a lighter person and it will flex further than it’s designed to do and will break faster. I recently bought a 85 flex Bc the store literally had nothing higher. I feel like my wrist shot is slower and releases later Bc of the added flexibility in the stick. I’ll be going back to 100 flex when this stick breaks.
@@kmacdizzle hi. 46 year old canadian here. "stick" with 90 or higher. or, an 85 that is zdeno chara height (64 inches, i think), & cut it down a bit. i recall when the easton aluminum shafts came out around 1986 or so, the players were saying the stiffer the stick, the harder the shot.
@@jdbankshot so in theory yes if you deflect a 102 stick and a 75 stick the same amount the stiffer stick will release with more force but im not good and my mechanics suck as I didn't start playing ice until I was 21 so the "softer" stick for me makes it easier to use the whip of the stick. thus making my shot harder with the lower flex sticks.
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.
I am right handed and use a lefty stick
And i hold a shovel different then a hockey stick.
@@justicelucas1116 ye its is indeed better
That’s similar to my “sweeping with a broom” example. right hand on top? Use a leftie stick. I play lefty as a result and I’m right-handed. I play D and like the extra dexterity, as a right-hander, that comes with poke checking using left-hand stick.
As a kid I was given a right handed stick, because I'm right handed. After everyone grew up and we all stopped playing street hockey(I've never played organized, (yet)just pickup street) I didn't even own a stick until recently. Bought a righty, because that's what I always used, but I noticed slightly more NHL players play lefty than righty and wondered why. So I googled it and found out the "canadian" method. Bought a lefty stick, after about an hour of feeling awkward, I'm way more comfortable handling street pucks and balls than ever. Never going back.
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!
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!
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.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s and sticks had curves but I can't remember myself or anyone I played with actually thinking about which way we played, we were left or right handed based on instinct.
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.
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.
Kids these days dont know how to sweep either
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.
10:37 when you say "between height of nose and chin", is that with skates on or off?
Skates on
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
im 5'10 i just use intermediates...if you buy ccm's the 65 flexes are usually longer in length than the 55 flex versions
cool thong is how 70 flex moves to Sr size
Super explanation. Even though I’ve played for a hundred years I still have to try to decipher the marketing language every season.
Where I'm at, they say your dominate hand should be on the top. However, I have also been told that try each side to see which is more comfortable. I'm a dominate lefty, but when I tried to shoot left and it was not comfortable and when I switched to right, I felt I had more power and control. So in short, I'm lefty at everything, except hockey. It's basically like you said, personal preference when it comes to choosing sticks. I didn't have a clue, so I basically looked at the used rack at my local used sporting goods store and went "Yeah I like this one". Thankfully it's been my "best friend" for almost four years now, the Warrior QRE Clutch with a 55 flex, which according to my coach, is all I'll ever need, is perfect for me!
i think you're mistaken - most right handed people shoot left and most left handed people shoot right - so you're doing whats "natural". well i dont know the %'s i could be wrong. i dont get how this is hockey specific... are you saying you don't swing right for say golf or baseball??? thats a bit strange
I feel like it’s about feel, my right hand is my dominant hand but trying to use a lefty is very uncomfortable but when I play pool I use my left hand to hold the cue. It’s definitely just about how it feels
@jmoriarty8000 It is about feel. I tried using a lefty stick and it just didn't feel right. When I tried a right stick I felt I had more power coming from that side.
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.
It seems like different Lie didn’t become a thing until a few years ago. I’m a 5 as well. I bought a stick that was a 6 without realizing it. I play defense and when I’d receive a pass at the point the puck would go right under the toe and out of the zone. I looked up the blade info on my previous sticks and realized they were all 5 lie. Now I inspect each stick at the hockey shop to make sure it’s a 5, which seems harder to find as the stores seem to load up on 6.
@@Islanders83 Different lie has always been a thing, but it was usually packaged into a "player profile" such as buying a CCM P08 Ovechkin or a Bauer P88 Kane.
So you had to pay a lot of attention to the stick profile as a whole.
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.
The description about the stick's lie is excellent. What you'll find is that there are less curves avaiable with 4 and 5 lie sticks, but your passing and shooting will suffer if you choose a wrong lie.
I've really been enjoying your channel lately man. I've been playing roller derby for years and recently decided to transition into ice hockey and I'm finding your content really helpful. Mind you, I'm an absolute newbie and everything is so different when you're literally moving on knife blades on ice. Don't know if it's too late for me as I'm 28yo, can I really transition to and learn a new sport at that age but but hey, haha at least it's fun. Hope to maybe join the Leeds Roses soon. Thanks for your videos.
Welcome to the game! Don't worry about picking it up at 28; I started playing at 45 years old. Focus on having fun and the skills will come with time. Like anything, you'll have progression and regression, but stick with it and you'll be just fine. You'll also find that hockey players are some of the nicest, most welcoming people you will ever meet. It's a big family, and I think it's awesome the number of young women we have coming into the sport. Get it girl!
its never to late to try and new sport and i have talked to some members of the leeds roses and they are very welcome and kind! never forget its never too late for anything!
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.
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!
many pro's use whippy sticks - like ovi who is over 200 lbs - he doesn't use a 100+ flex. he uses something much lower like an 80 flex. it makes for an effortless release and the whippyness actually makes it harder for goalies to track as the puck comes off the blade.
@@1q3er5 actually he does use either a 90-100 (he used to use around 80 when he was with Bauer but his ccms are around 100). And as I said in my original comment, I understand the benefits of a whippier stick but I personally don’t like how it feels
I was thought to put the dominate hand on top. I raised my kids that way as well. I live in the Chicago area. Most here are thought to shoot the same side that they bat.
I was just taught to do what felt right when I was young
I shoot left. Always have, it’s just what felt right. I played a couple games as a kid with a right stick and it was so wrong. Golf left, bat left. But I’m right handed. As far as lie goes. Look at the tape at the bottom of your stick where does it wear? Should be even or in the middle. Flex. I prefer quick wrist shots, I use a whippier stick, but not too whippy. 75 but it’s cut down an inch or so. Length. Stick comes up to my chin if I stand it up wearing skates. Curve. Personal preference. Hopefully you’re able to try some. I prefer a flatter mid curve. For me, more accurate passes, more accurate shots, sharper heel curves go way to high for me. I’m not a dangler either so no toe curves either.
I'm 19 and have played hockey for as long as I remember. Currently, I am a skating and hockey instructor at my local rink. When working with younger kids or new-time hockey players we always try to make sure the dominant hand goes on top. The reality is, especially with younger kids is they try to always change their hand position. They are playing as a lefty one minute and then a righty the next and that is something we have to coach out of them. The truth is having the dominant hand on top is going to be the most effective for I would say 95% of players. There is a small majority who play with their dominant hand on the bottom that excels in the sport, but the majority you will find play with their dominant hand on top. Having the dominant hand on top gives the players numerous advantages, the biggest one being their ability to control their stick when it comes to every part of the game (shooting, puck handling, passing, receiving passes, etc..). On a side note, another thing I feel like that is severely neglected by parents and new hockey players is stick length. They almost also choose a stick too long which affects the players in a negative way. If having your dominant hand on the bottom is what feels natural, honestly go with that. But when you have someone new to hockey, try to make sure the dominant hand goes on top.
Are you in Canada? Most Americans play baseball and usually start that before they ever try hockey. In baseball most people typically hit with the dominant hand on bottom (top when holding a bat/stick upright) and thats why most Americans feel more natural playing right handed (most people are right handed).
Ultimately power and strength will even out. Im right hand dominant and play defense and so hold the stick with only left hand many times and have never felt like im weak with it or anything like that. In baseball most of your power is coming from the “off hand” also, perhaps even more so than hockey.
I would say try to go with whatever feels most natural though I know thats difficult to figure out at first because they both are a bit unnatural.
I started playing hockey a bit later than most (age 12 or so) and having played lacrosse prior I always had my left hand on knob and right hand towards the head of the stick. Holding a hockey stick felt more natural having my left hand on top as I do in lacrosse even though im a righty. Early on, my lacrosse muscle memory kept me from stick handling properly, using my right (bottom hand) to control the stick rather than my top hand. I had to work hard to fix it but finally did, I wish I had started younger and was using a lefty stick because its a lot easier to find pro stock lefties!
You are correct. Dominant hand should be top because the top hand is the fine tune hand for micro-adjustments
sorry man, i gotta call bullshit on that one. the dominant hand is on the strongest of your two arms. that's the power hand, & it should be the hand that is lower down on the shaft. ask the kids, which feels better? when the blade of the stick is on the ice, is it to your right or to your left? just saying, trying to make a righty shoot left & vice versa will only confuse the kids. you said, if someone is new to hockey, make sure the dominant hand is on top. my dominant hand is my right, which means if i put that hand on the butt end\top of my stick, i would shoot left, because my left hand is the lower hand, & the blade of the stick is to my left. if i try to shoot left, i look like a fish out of water, & i've been playing for 37 years... in canada. as far as length goes, when they're on skates, the top, (or butt end) of the stick should never be above the tip of the nose or lower than the chin. gretzky played with a stick that reached only up to his adams apple during his first few years, but he's gretzky, so, y'know.
regarding the Lie angle you need to consider: skate balde (runner) height, if the stick is shortened, players height, players arm lenght...skate blade is changing with sharpening or profiling you might notice difference from 4 to 8 but not 1 or 2 degrees :) unless you measure dynamic lie with a TracKMan :D
ccm ribcor trigger 6 pro vs bauer sling???
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.
same - i think your normal man
I prefer dominant hand on top, because for snap shots I pull my top hand back quite a bit. And the better poke checks as a D is nice.
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.
I guess I'm old and out of touch but I wasn't aware that people actually choose/are told which way they shoot. When I was growing up we just picked up sticks instinctually and that's the way we played, it wasn't a conscious decision. Just like throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball, you just did it.
What’s a good overall blade for a beginner? I’m starting recreational hockey next month and i have no clue what a good blade would be. I’ll most likely be using Bauer.
I would advice to a player is ,a player should try to see how they are feeling with a basic stick and see what works. I am nearly 200 pds and I don’t like a flexible stick and I can’t go with 100 .but to go with a wimpy non flexible stick sometimes is better for some.to have a lot of blade touching the ice is the most important as it seems to be important and I agree with the point of lie 4,5,6 and the size of your curve depends on the player
I literally went into the store, handed a broom, and whichever way I went for it, I got the stick that way. It so happened dominant hand was on the shaft, but the store worker said it wasn't important.
I think it's also helped by the fact I'm left sided dominant in general as well as left handed. Hence, I gravitated to left shooting as well
LMAO
In the US. I have four people playing in my house, my self and my 3 boys. I am right handed and shoot right. I only find that awkward when I play defense and want to poke/ stick check. I've tried to change hands but it's just so weird, I have hard time stick handling, and my shots are always pulled right. I've basically just worked to strengthen my left hand/ arm to make things easier. Though if there's a pop-up puck, I still reach for it with my left (catching) hand, which is equally awkward to playing lefty as my top hand comes off the stick.
I have one kid that is also right handed and shoots right. Although when I watch him shovel snow or rake leaves he holds them with left hand on top. So that is definitely his preference. I have a left handed kid that shoots right, and right handed kid that shoots left. That's just how they picked up a stick when they started.
For stick lie, I prefer a 5 or 5.5. I can play with a 6. I tried a 7 once and found I was skating over pucks and missing passes.
Speaking of flex, I went the other way. I'm 200lbs and started with an 85/87 flex. Once I really started using the stick right, I was over flexing the stick even in just passing. My current sticks are 95 cut down to about 100-102 flex rating.
Alberta, Canada I’ve never heard anyone really talk about it just go by what feels natural to you
I'm right handed and shoot right. I'm in Canada. But most of my friends that are right handed shoot left. They also played hockey as kids, I picked it up (seriously that is) as an adult so I just went with what felt comfortable. I also mostly play goalie, which means I have to shoot left handed anyway as I catch with my left.
Love the informative videos along with fun facts like the one about Ovechkin.
Here in Finland it’s pretty rare to see righties, almost everyone seems to play with a left handed stick. Of course there are always like a few righties on the team but it’s mostly lefties
Can you do a video where you have the same stick but with different curves and see if you can feel the difference significantly
Hey nice video, I just wanted to let you know that whenever I watch one of your videos I always get into to a good mood. So thank you for that. Keep it up 👍 😃
I need my dominant hand on top because it's doing all the rotation work with stick handling.
way better when you use one hand on the stick as well if your dominant hand is on top
Great job, answered a lot of questions . Thanks
The big windup slap shot is not as much a part of the game as it used to be. Even from the point the object is to get the shot through the defenders. This usually means a very accurate and quick snap shot or wrist shot. Keeping your head up during your shot and on the target is much more effective than a wild blaster.
Alex Ovechkin has entered the chat 💬
Any Recommendation/advice of stick for beginner ? right handed , heights 171cm
UK. I play left and have my dominant hand on top. It was always that way, I even failed horribly to play field hockey at school because I wanted to play left and that is illegal in field hockey.
also uk ; funnily enough I've never thought about that - I also used to play grass hockey and even though my dominant hand is right as i made the transition to ice i just naturally used left hand on top probably because of all those years playing grass hockey !
Can you do a best goalie gear?
I’m 5ft 10 and only 120 lbs and I have been using a 65 flex but the sticks are always to short for me so I am kind of stuck on what to do.
Always a good video to look back on and refresh my memory. Cheers!
Your views on flex, 100 percent correct. I was known to have a slapshot that could drop people if I hit them in a bad spot. Then I broke my last 85 flex stick. Before I knew we could special order any custom stick we wanted, I was unable to locate another stick with the curve and lie I wanted and the flex I needed so I settled for a 110 flex stick that I had to then cut several inches off of, so its probably more like a 115 flex now. I haven't managed to break that stick, but I have also never been able to shoot with it at all and my feel of the puck through the stick is gone, so I find myself looking down a lot now to make sure I haven't dropped the puck. I just ordered a custom 87 flex stick. I think I will order a 75 for the next stick I order to try that out. Thanks for the information.
A couple things:
Lie: It can also vary based on how you cut your stick. In short, when testing make sure it's based off your preferred stick length.
Flex: I wouldn't go on weight. I would go more on use. If you use more snap and wrist shots, and you like to load the stick, a lower flex is beneficial. If you take more clappers, you may like a higher flex.
Not saying I'm right, just offering an opinion on what worked for me.
One last thing regarding curve and kick point: To figure that out, you're just going to have to experiment and find what works. Me? I really don't care much about kick point, but curve I do. I can't use big curves with 'loft'. I'll shoot everything into the netting over the glass. I need a closed blade. Again, Each person needs to figure that out for themselves.
To add - There aren't any stick companies that list lies on sticks anymore - so when you pick your pattern, you pick your lie, unless your're doing full custom.
@@barrybalsagna2931 I stopped playing a number of years ago due to lack of rinks where I currently live. In short, I haven't bought gear in a while. Seems like a dumb move by the manufacturers to not list lie. I do remember always playing a 5 lie (4 for Warrior) and having maybe 2 choices of blade pattern with that lie (totally forgot they didn't make all blades in all lies).
@@barrybalsagna2931 just look up the blade pattern online and it’ll give you all the info including Lie.
Yeah I was told that your dominant hand should be on top in the US. I tried both as a kid but I liked having my dominant hand on the bottom of the stick so I’m a righty. My brain just couldn’t figure out the mechanics for having my right hand on top haha
I’m technically a lie 4, but they’re hard to find now and days. So I have switched to a lie 5 which it’s been like 6 or so years so I’m used to it now!
Pro stock sticks are way better then retail. Not only are the specs better and the custom touches but the curves are just insane and I find even my least favourite pro stock I use shoots better then the best retail I’ve used. And the best thing about pro stock is if u dial in a older model ex. Warrior qrl u can get that stick wrapped as a newer stick
in sweden it is dominant hand on the top
Where the best/ recommend place for pro stock and customs sticks
I always saw lie as how close you prefer the puck to be with you. As for the blade position on the ice, that when I cut the top of the shaft to length.
As for your right/left question. (Midwest USA) varries. My son is ambidextrous but prefers to use a left stick.
What does your son being able to live both on land and sea have to do with hockey ?
this channel is so good man
Much love !
Any tips on how to help your four year old decide left or right? I can't remember how I chose to shoot left in spite of being right handed, but I do remember my first stick was flat-bladed so there must not have been any pressure to commit one way or another. Looking at the kids sticks in a shop now, everything was either left or right.
Hand the kid a stick and have them hold it how they want. There's no real advantage one way or the other as long as the kid feels comfortable playing that way. I am left-hand dominant and played lacrosse lefty, but played hockey righty and batted righty in baseball.
I tried to make myself play left-handed because the only ice hockey (not street hockey with the plastic blade) stick my family had was a lefty stick, but I kept holding it right-handed.
After like 2 practices my dad picked me up a right-handed wood stick and it made such a difference.
@@HeyZeus096 Sounds good. Thanks for the response!
Using a bauer hyperlite flex 87 loving it, im 163 Pounds and are 6 feet
Hi, can you do a review on the True stick please?
I like using the Warrior brand (currently using the QRE4) What do you think would be a better stick to use but still in the Warrior brand?
Great video! Brett Hull used a very low flex as well.
Do you think the lie will become optional like the fit system today? Wouldn’t that be great?
hi. don't mean to mess around with you, but i think you may be off on this one. for the vast majority of his career, brett used the easton aluminum stick. i also used them in that time. they didn't have flex numbers, they had "medium", "stiff", & "extra stiff". the lowest flex that easton ever had in their aluminum shafts was 90. during his heyday in st. louis, his prime, he used a very high flex shaft, probably around 105.
I am 175 pounds and play mostly roller and some ice. I learned I like a 75 flex for roller and an 85 for ice (due to puck weight differences).
I have found that retail shops don’t offer all the options of, say, pro stock hockey which I believe has pro overflow inventory. At my small size and weight, I appreciate find light flex, lower lie, shorter sticks that work with my size. But warning … don’t let this overtake your brain. I’ve played enough tennis with people who get mental, make a bad short, then have to change their racquets between shots. All this fussing, if not controlled, can make you mental. Stay above it. My personal two cents, for what it’s worth.
when he says "height", does that mean with skates on or off? Great video!
I really need your opinion. if U had to pick one would u go with a warrior fantom QRE, warrior alpha QX, or warrior covert QR edge . Based off of best performance
for me, old canadian guy, the alpha qx. however, i've never played with or tried out a bad warrior.
newer to hockey anyone know how to change blade holder on skates?
Just have the equipment manager do it
I'm right handed but it feels more natural left handed. I'm 6'1 165 could I use an intermediate stick or no??
If left feels right tey lefty
I’m going to jump in on the length part. I have never used a stick that I haven’t cut down even if it’s only millimeters. Stick length is exceptionally important. We all know the Pro players have their sticks made exactly to their specifications but there is a mitre saw in every equipment room in elite hockey. Yes, there are a few players that have a reputation of not caring about their sticks but that is a slim minority. Almost every serious player makes micro adjustments to their sticks. All the work uses to go into the blade but now with composite sticks it’s only about length and the top of the stick. As consumer players fine tune your stick length because we don’t have a lot of choice. Go to a stick rack in a shop. You could have half a dozen blade patterns (each with a specific lie) in a particular stick but the length will be identical. As you adjust the length you also adjust the flex. The more you cut down a stick the stiffer it becomes.
Great video as always, thanks!
I played lacrosse and hockey in HS and College. My strong hand is my right hand but my left hand is stronger than my right as far as grip strength goes. I can shoot both left and right hand with a lacrosse stick but I can’t shoot with my right hand at the top whatsoever. I’m right handed and my right hand is at the middle of the shaft and I can knock out a slap shot of 75-80mph. I can’t shoot with my left hand on top but I can do stickhandling and shooting with my right in the middle. I’m in the USA.
Would love it if you guys reviewed “no name” hockey sticks. Love the content though keep it up.
Hey! I am right handed (i write with right hand) and I also have hockey stick on right side...I heard from some people that I should have it on left side cause i am righthanded but I cant change it because i play on right side 9 years... does it effect my playing?
no, you shoot right when playing hockey. there's nothing wrong with that. your right hand is the low hand, the hand that is lower on the shaft, yes? that's your power hand & power arm. go with what feels natural.
I'm right handed and swing a bat right but, I shoot left in hockey. I've tried right handed sticks and it doesn't work out too well.
I’ve been playing hockey for 50+ years and the dominant hand placement argument recycles every few years. In Canada the split is roughly 60/40 to dominate hand on top for right hand dominates. That means approximately 60% of right handers play with a left hand stick but these statistics don’t translate to golf. A large number of hockey players that shoot left handed in hockey will play golf right handed and in baseball I think the stats are skewed even more for right handed players batting left handed.
im in that 60%! lol
In my area it’s usually dominant hand at the bottom
Is there a way you can buy pro stock?
I'm a righty I prefer my dominant hand on bottom because I feel like I have more control
The biggest problem I find trying to consider lie is that it is often tied to the curve. So, if you want a particular curve you'll get it paired with a lie. I suppose the difference is that different manufacturers might vary this somewhat (and most have similar curves as their main ones found in stores). So, right now I have an idea about what flex and curve I want, but I really want to try out different kicks. Problem here is that it is difficult to try them out other than finding someone who has one.
The flex rule I had never heard of. I weigh 235 pounds, which would equate to a 115 flex (which is used by those like Zdeno Chara). I also don't have the upper body strength of most so my preferred flex is 70-75.
So if I’m 6’3-230pounds, I should get a 115 FLEX??? Does that even exist?
New Jersey - I play lefty, but bat righty, throw lefty, but write righty, tennis righty, ping pong lefty, I drive righty but putt lefty. I'm not ambidextrous, what I've found is my right is my skill hand, thus for hockey it's at the top, my left is my power hand, thus I bat righty. Thank God I was told as a kid to choose whatever felt most natural!
One thing I've never seen addressed is changing the kickpoint, particularly on mid and hybrid flex sticks, when you cut a stick down. The shorter the stick the closer to your hands the kickpoint becomes, correct?
Well, the kickpoint stays in the same spot, but your top hand gets closer to the kickpoint, which makes it harder to flex the stick.
Personal preference on stick length isn't optional is it?
Another great video Chris!
It's so frustrating that nobody seems to be offering the old Coffee curve blade. Sherwood 77
Warriors Pacioretty isn't really comparable.
I'm getting old so getting custom sticks isn't really an option anymore.
I agree I have 2 old paul coffee wooden hanldle, L5 Left - they are long enough and heavy enough to be nicely controlled sherwood tpms
check the sher-wood website. we still have them here in quebec, in wood & composite.
Modano’s curve, is the only way to go. In the USA, it’s dominant hand=the stick side you use. Right handed, right handed stick.
I’m from St. Louis, and it’s mostly personal preference on handedness here. It seems that most people use their dominant hand at the bottom of the stick, which is how I use my stick. I have tried the other way around, but it just feels very unnatural.
lol damn i feel like the dominant hand should be at the top to "anchor" your stick. each to their own
I'm from Canada and we've always been told to have your dominate hand on top
Nah it’s personal preference where I live. (In canada)
That’s more something they do in like gym class. Most players it’s just how they grab it the first time will feel most natural
Doesn’t matter. Whatever feels better with both hands on the stick
bullshit. i'm from the south shore of montreal, 46 years old. nobody ever told us which side we should shoot, & no coaches or adults ever tried to "correct" us. the very first time anyone picks up a hockey stick, one side will feel natural within 20 seconds. sorry man, we've never been told to have your dominant hand on top. if that happened to you, that was awful coaching.
I think I am using the incorrect lie. When I was much younger, I used an R6. More recently, I have been using an R5.5 or an R5. This morning I played drop in and noticed the most wear on the bottom heel of my stick. This made me think I should be using an R4 or at least to try an R4. What are your thoughts?
In Canada I was taught that dominant hand is the lower one
Dominant hand on top grab a rake that will show the natural hand arrangement... Ambidextrous if you have the proper coaching
Here’s a tip for left or right. Grab a broom. Start sweeping. Which hand is on top? Right hand? Grab a left handed stick. Left hand? Grab a right handed stick.
What if ive been sweeping for like 20 minutes and my arms are tired
@@LizardSkin if the floor is clean, stop!
Yeah good video i identified my self in a ccm jet speed ft 2 and it is what i use 👏
I can go both ways lol left or right.. definitely more comfortable on the left (Canadian here)
Massachusetts bottom strong hand
In finland we usually do what feels the most natural. And most of the time if urnright handed ur a leftie and left handed ur a rightie. Of course there is exeptions like me, I am right handed and a rightie.
If a stick is said to be 60” how is that measured? Bottom of toe to top of shaft? Or bottom of shaft to the top.
I just went with whatever one was most comfortable
I recently broke my stick in warmups and a buddy let me use his nexus 2n pro 75 flex and I felt like ovi out there, my shot was harder and more accurate. the problem is im a very big boy and had a 75 flex vapor a few years ago and it only lasted 1/3 of a season and I can't afford that kind of turnover. I try to make my sticks last several seasons
Hey Kyle. Are you attributing the stick breakage due to the low flex relative to your size?
Only reason I ask is that I find there is little correlation between the flex and likelihood of stick breakage vs the manufacturing of the stick. For example as someone who has played at a high level and is 6’1 220, I’ve broken more sticks that have a flex rating of 100-105 vs the ones that I’ve had in the 95 flex range.
This is all to say - I agree that many players play with a flex that is way too stiff for their game - and I wouldn’t buy into concern that a lighter flex will lead to more breakage risk.
Just my POV of course. Good luck with the sticks!
@@goatsonapost i mean I may be off but in my experience the 75 flexes ive had (only 2 of them) have broken exponentially faster than any 85 or 102 flexes ive used. I have come down from 102 to 85 and not seen any increase in broken sticks but its also not an experiment I really want to try cuz that could potentially get expensive very quickly. one of the 75 flexes I had broke in 6 games which is insane for a D level beer league. I have no factual evidence to back this up just my experience and being much closer to 300lbs than 200 im mainly just taking the safe road. I would not be opposed to finding a very long 75 and cutting it down to try and get to like an 80 flex tho but being 6'1" that'll be tricky
I’m 6’1” and 260 lb. I’ve always used a 95-105 flex. Since we are heavier, we are using our weight to flex the stick while shooting, so a higher flex should last longer for us compared to a 75 flex Bc the 75 will flex much more for us than a lighter person and it will flex further than it’s designed to do and will break faster.
I recently bought a 85 flex Bc the store literally had nothing higher. I feel like my wrist shot is slower and releases later Bc of the added flexibility in the stick. I’ll be going back to 100 flex when this stick breaks.
@@kmacdizzle hi. 46 year old canadian here. "stick" with 90 or higher. or, an 85 that is zdeno chara height (64 inches, i think), & cut it down a bit. i recall when the easton aluminum shafts came out around 1986 or so, the players were saying the stiffer the stick, the harder the shot.
@@jdbankshot so in theory yes if you deflect a 102 stick and a 75 stick the same amount the stiffer stick will release with more force but im not good and my mechanics suck as I didn't start playing ice until I was 21 so the "softer" stick for me makes it easier to use the whip of the stick. thus making my shot harder with the lower flex sticks.