How to choose a hockey stick for training

Hockey is one of those sports that makes quite serious demands on the equipment used. Dynamic and gambling, and at the same time very traumatic – such a game is hockey for many of us. And therefore, in order to get maximum pleasure and improve as a hockey player, the utmost attention must be paid to the correct selection of hockey equipment in general and the hockey stick in particular.

Choosing a hockey stick depending on the age and weight of the hockey player

This formulation in hockey circles is the most real axiom that does not require proof. The selection of a club is not difficult: all a hockey player needs is to pay attention to the inscriptions indicated on it:

1. The youth marking (abbreviated as yth) indicates that the stick is for children, and the optimal age for a hockey player with its help is from 4 to 7 years;

2. Junior (JR) is for older players. As a rule, we are talking about adolescents from 7 to 14-15 years old;

3. Intermediate (Int) is an excellent choice for older adolescents who are between 15 and 18 years old;

4. If the club is chosen for an adult, an adult, models with the Senior (Sr) marking should be purchased;

Types of hockey sticks and what material are made from

Regardless of what age group this or that club is designed for, they all consist of two main parts – the handle and the hook. Depending on the design, hockey sticks are divided into two main groups:

1. One-piece golf clubs. Made from one single piece of material and have an inseparable structure. The characteristics of such models are at the highest level, however, in the event of a breakdown, such a stick will hardly be repaired;

2. Collapsible sticks. They consist of two separate elements connected with a special hot melt adhesive. Damage during the game in this situation is fixable – the elements are disconnected, and the damaged one is replaced with a new one.

Hockey sticks differ in the type of material used. The first models were made of wood or aluminum, but their performance was far from perfect. Currently on sale you can find golf clubs made from the following materials:

1. Multi-layer plywood. The most budgetary and least durable material;

2. Solid wood mass. The durability of such clubs is much higher, as well as the price;

3. Polymer materials – fiberglass, carbon fiber, carbon. They differ in the maximum possible strength and wear resistance, however, they are quite laborious to manufacture, and therefore have the highest price. On top of that, these clubs are quite laborious to repair;

4. Aluminum. Their inherent advantage is the highest possible strength. The disadvantages include low sensitivity and regular loss of control over the puck during the game;

5. Titanium and Kevlar. The lightest, most flexible and durable materials. Hockey sticks made from these metals are the lot of professional hockey players. They have, perhaps, one drawback – exorbitant cost;

In order to eliminate the disadvantages of a particular type of material, a modular design is widely used, which implies the use of several types of materials. For example, the combination of a wooden handle and a carbon or titanium hook provides an affordable price and excellent performance;

Determining the rigidity and grip of the hockey stick

Stick stiffness is an important parameter that directly affects the usability of the instrument and the overall performance of the game. Every seasoned hockey player knows that in order to shoot the puck accurately and powerfully, the stick needs to be deflected appropriately. And the heavier the hockey player, the more powerful the deflection created by him. It is for this reason that the stiffness of the stick is matched to the weight of the hockey player: the greater his weight, the more rigid this or that stick should be. Otherwise, the soft stick will become unusable after 2-3 full matches.

To assess hardness, a special scale called Eastcon is used, and its values ​​vary between marks 40 and 120. There are also markings on the stick: the softest model is abbreviated as Whip, the hardest – XX Stiff.

The grip of a particular club is equally important. The choice of a club for this parameter depends entirely on whether a person is right-handed or left-handed. There are also universal clubs that do not have a bend – such models are suitable for both right-handers and left-handers. They are recommended to buy, first of all, for young hockey players, who often do not know what grip they will have during the game.

What are the hooks in hockey sticks

Despite the seeming simplicity and primitiveness of this element of a hockey stick, many requirements are imposed on its features:

1. Depending on the position of the player in the arena, the shape of the toe of the club is selected. For example, the round toe is ideal for strikers who need constant contact with the puck and high maneuverability. Square, on the other hand, is ideal for defenders, making it easier to control the puck. Midfielders can be provided with a compromise option – a square toe with rounded corners;

2. The place where the hook starts. The farther from the toe it starts, the more active play this or that club is intended for. The option is considered universal in which the bend starts from the middle of the toe;

3. The angle between the club handle and the plane of the hook. This parameter is individual and depends entirely on the height of the player, his build and weight. As a rule, this parameter ranges from 4.4 to 6 degrees;

How to choose the length of your hockey stick

The length of the hockey stick is another highly individual parameter, selected depending on the physical characteristics of a particular hockey player. Choosing the length is easy – you need to stand on a flat surface and place the club next to you. Ideally, its length should reach to the tip of the nose (or to the chin if you are on skates). For playing in attack, you can choose a slightly shorter stick, for a defender, accordingly, more authentic models are suitable.

Hockey stick selection video

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.