Why You Need A New Hockey Stick
I apologize in advance for this. Reading this post could cost you between $100-300… But it might be the little difference between getting to the next level or not.
I have been on a little bit of a rampage with my players lately about their choice of stick, more specifically, the flex of their stick, and I thought I should relay the message on to you too.
So here it is:
=> All girls’ hockey players should use sticks with an 75 flex or less.
No exceptions.
Girls do not need to be using sticks with flexes in the triple digits. Every time I see a 14 year-old girl with an 85 flex stick, I cringe. Not only is this way too stiff of a stick for most female players, but after she cuts it down to the right height, the stiffness of the
stick actually increases and she is probably using a 100 or 110 flex stick.
Keep in mind – Your stick is supposed to bend when you shoot the puck. And if it doesn’t, your shot and your game are going to suffer.
HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FLEX TO USE:
=> Pick a stick with a flex that is roughly half your weight.
Take your weight in pounds and divide it by 2.
The women’s hockey players on the Canadian and American national teams weigh an average of 150 pounds – so a stick with a 75 flex would be perfect (150 divided by 2). Most of the Olympians use a stick with an intermediate flex (70-80 flex).
Save me the story on how the more flex it is going to ruin your slap-shot. It’s the “whip” or bend in your stick that gives your shot speed. You know that to have a good slap shot, you should make contact with the ice a few inches before the puck. That is so you can pre-load the shaft, loading it full of potential energy, them to release it right before you make contact with the puck. If the stick doesn’t bend, it won’t get loaded up with energy and your shot speed will suffer. If you can only bend the stick off the ice by leaning all of your weight into it, what do you think is going to happen on the ice?
You need to be able to bend the stick when you shoot your slap-shot, wrist-shot and snap-shot. So unless you weigh 200 pounds, stay away from the 100 flex sticks. 85 flex sticks are out of bounds too unless you are a midget or junior player who weighs considerably more than 150 lbs.
Stick with a 75 flex or less.
Your friend and coach,
~ Coach Kim
Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls’ Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
