2.5 inches makes a difference

[SailRace 1]

One of the key components that i'm surprised no body has pointed out is that the control and power you get from a stick is not only dependent on stick length, but also on the length of your arms. Its very similary to golf as well.

I'm 6'6", but i also have longer than average arms, so i use a standard length shaft with the standard endplug, no longer, no shorter. Most people would say that's too short, but since my arms are longer, it gives me the positioning i need. Just like in golf, my golf clubs are only .5 inches longer than standard. That's not much, but because of how they lie in my hands, that's all i need.

Lie is the other crucial aspect here. THis is what really matters, because if you skate very upright, you need a higher lie angle, if you get low, a high lie would mean only the heel of hte blade makes contact. I think this is probably more important than length. Unfortunatley, not everyone has the ability or means to try every lie out there, so people buy sticks, and then try to adjust they're skating style. Ideally, we'd all learn how to skate, get comfortable with shooting stances, and then get sticks and blades cut to match our form....but that's why we're not in the NHL.

[chippa13 1844]

Fact: arm length is proportional for all people. Try this experiment, measure the total distance from middle fingertip of your left hand to the middle fingertip of your right hand. This will be exactly your height.

[Chadd 916]

Fact: arm length is proportional for all people. Try this experiment, measure the total distance from middle fingertip of your left hand to the middle fingertip of your right hand. This will be exactly your height.

It doesn't work for everyone.

[chippa13 1844]

Sure does work for everyone. When we first heard it in college we didn't believe it. So a whole bunch of us tested it. It worked for all of us, from the short kid whose arms we thought would never reach to the tall guy with the lanky arms. Everyone's wingspan was their height.

[ktang 34]

The wingspan may match the height, but the arm length proportions would still be different because people have different shoulder widths.

[Chadd 916]

Sure does work for everyone. When we first heard it in college we didn't believe it. So a whole bunch of us tested it. It worked for all of us, from the short kid whose arms we thought would never reach to the tall guy with the lanky arms. Everyone's wingspan was their height.

Mine is off by over an inch

[chippa13 1844]

Sure does work for everyone.  When we first heard it in college we didn't believe it.  So a whole bunch of us tested it.  It worked for all of us, from the short kid whose arms we thought would never reach to the tall guy with the lanky arms.  Everyone's wingspan was their height.

Mine is off by over an inch

Then you're just weird. ;)

[Chadd 916]

Sure does work for everyone.  When we first heard it in college we didn't believe it.  So a whole bunch of us tested it.  It worked for all of us, from the short kid whose arms we thought would never reach to the tall guy with the lanky arms.  Everyone's wingspan was their height.

Mine is off by over an inch

Then you're just weird. ;)

I thought everyone knew that

[SailRace 1]

chippa13,

while this is reasonable accurate, it is not usually 100%, for the same reason that the distance from your wrist to your elboy, although very close to your foot length, it is not 100% accurate.

But proportionality does not necessarily explain away all differences in stick length. If it was 100% true, than everyone would use the same stick length, because your arms would all fall at the same level. Taller people would have longer arms, shorter people, shorter arms, and they'd all end up at the same height.....but as we all know, that doesn't work out in practice.

[chippa13 1844]

chippa13,

while this is reasonable accurate, it is not usually 100%, for the same reason that the distance from your wrist to your elboy, although very close to your foot length, it is not 100% accurate.

But proportionality does not necessarily explain away all differences in stick length. If it was 100% true, than everyone would use the same stick length, because your arms would all fall at the same level. Taller people would have longer arms, shorter people, shorter arms, and they'd all end up at the same height.....but as we all know, that doesn't work out in practice.

Read my first post in this thread. You'll find you're arguing my position on stick length.

[2-Keys 1]

my stick goes to my upper lip. i can shot fine with it. i find it better shorter for me because i can can stickhandle better. with my skating style tho my knees are really bent (thanks to laura stamm ;) ) so that could be why

[jrhky36 1]

i'm 6'4 and my stick is 2" below my chin w/out skates and w/skates at the middle of my chest. i like the puck close to me. like some else said everyone is different, you have to find what works best for you.

[ktang 34]

Blade lie would affect shaft length too.

[Sven 1]

Ive heard that lie is more important that the curve (dunno if thats right tho)

[Chadd 916]

Ive heard that lie is more important that the curve (dunno if thats right tho)

It is to me.

[SailRace 1]

Ive heard that lie is more important that the curve (dunno if thats right tho)

It is to me.

I second this opinioin. Lie can have a much greater affect on your stick handling and shooting.

I would find a lie that fits your stance and stick length first, then look for a curve that you can use, or deal with.

If the lie is way off, you'll never get the full potential of the curve anyway.