Why do some people only tape half thier blade?

[Accord 0]

Good picture of Kovalchuk's blade: http://www.ty-comemorabilia.com/Kovo_with_..._XX_stick_2.jpg

I'll try and find good pics of other blades of players mentioned above.

[Accord 0]

Funny nobody has mentioned Bobby Orr.

I just did a Google image search for Bobby Orr and it all the pictures I found he wasn't using any tape at all :o.

[Accord 0]

Here's an old school picture of Spezza, good shot of his blade...

Good pic of Havlat's blade:

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Funny nobody has mentioned Bobby Orr.

I just did a Google image search for Bobby Orr and it all the pictures I found he wasn't using any tape at all :o.

He had one strand of tape.

http://www.bobbyorr.com/product1.aspx?SID=...&Category_ID=38

[hurricane 0]

I heard that some players who handle the puck a lot only tape the toe because when stick handling they get a better feel of the bare wooden blade as opposed to it being covered with tape?

I noticed it's only mostly forwards who do this.

keep in my mind a lot of the good stickhandlers who only tape the toe of the blade have toe curves (kovalev, havlat, hossa, spezza) maybe it helps them identify when the puck is in the curve of their stick

Is'nt Hossa a mid/Heel curve.Like a forsberg/Modano.? I use a modano and when I wanted to go to bauer I was told that I would use a Hossa Curve. The curves are identical.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Hurricane -

The retail patterns are not the patterns the player actually uses.

[hurricane 0]

Hurricane -

The retail patterns are not the patterns the player actually uses.

Makes sense? <_< Please explain?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

It's just marketing.

[hurricane 0]

It's just marketing.

I did'nt know that.

[McCabe24 0]

I tape the entire blade, Lang style, used to not make a difference but I have been doing it the same way for a over a year now and found that when I just tape from the middle to the toe I can't control the puck as well.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Yep. Best example is the Drury pattern. It is actually the YP, Yzerman Pro.

[jbyun04 7]

Good picture of Kovalchuk's blade: http://www.ty-comemorabilia.com/Kovo_with_..._XX_stick_2.jpg

I'll try and find good pics of other blades of players mentioned above.

off topic but

does anyone else notice kovalchuks nike vapor xx skates and his bauer quest 1 pants? :P

[sdh 0]

in my experience ...

fresh tape grabs the puck more. easier lift, more spin, etc.

I've known defensemen who would tape the heel and not the toe so they could get softer (less bouncy) and more accurate passes.

technically, you're supposed to stickhandle on the heel of the stick, so no tape there means the puck doesn't grab as has less of a tendancy to bounce on its side.

you tend to take wrist shots off the toe so tape there makes it easier to get the puck off the ice.

backhand shots are easier with tape from heel to toe.

I tried not using any tape once and found the puck slid off the blade too easily. feel for the puck was great. lift sucked.

[analog999 0]

Almost always I have taped the blade where I basically tape it from heel to toe, but I only tape every couple inches, kind of looks like a candy cane when I'm done with it. I've noticed that for me it enhances control, keeps weight down and also allows for almost as much feel. I'm not sure why more people don't do what I do. In fact, a guy just yesterday said to me "that is the weirdest tape job I have ever seen."

I used to tape it tight and together, but the added weight and reduced feel just didn't work for me.

To each their own.

[donkey87 0]

I used to tape it tight and together, but the added weight and reduced feel just didn't work for me.

To each their own.

Added weight? How much tape were you using?

And I type my entire blade. I do it just because it seems to increase the life of my blades.

[analog999 0]

I was using way too much... I don't see the benefit of using more than I am now. I do put a strip along the bottom of the blade, which helps with the blade life. I have not noticed any chipping...

[smaile9 0]

I tape it from heel to toe, then rub some sex wax on it, under and on both sides!

Do you think that would hinder the grip of the tape? Dude candy cane tape job! that is crazy!

[London27 0]

ok - another twist.. who tapes heal to toe and toe to heal (direction wise) ???

- kovalchuck always rocks it toe to heal.. maybe because the ridges of the tape are facing in the direction so there is less spinn....quicker release. i heard that on a video once.

[smaile9 0]

I've seen a guy do that! I've also seen a guy get a file or shander and take the bottom of the tape off the blade so there was less friction on the ice! but the wierdest thing ive ever seen is a guy on my team, he's scored over 1,000 goals over 900+ games in the UK and he goes round the toe of his blade 4 or 5 times! He says its for when he shoots it makes the puck dip and hard to read! Anyone else heard of this?

[devilsrule711 0]

Good picture of Kovalchuk's blade: http://www.ty-comemorabilia.com/Kovo_with_..._XX_stick_2.jpg

I'll try and find good pics of other blades of players mentioned above.

off topic but

does anyone else notice kovalchuks nike vapor xx skates and his bauer quest 1 pants? :P

theyre not XX skates theyre old Vapor 10's dressed up to look like V-12's just like Naslunds but alil different

[London27 0]

I've seen a guy do that! I've also seen a guy get a file or shander and take the bottom of the tape off the blade so there was less friction on the ice! but the wierdest thing ive ever seen is a guy on my team, he's scored over 1,000 goals over 900+ games in the UK and he goes round the toe of his blade 4 or 5 times! He says its for when he shoots it makes the puck dip and hard to read! Anyone else heard of this?

i used to take the bottom off my tape..

never herd of the other one tho eh... how he do it? just in one spot or just taped his twig over the blade 5 times?

[mack 44]

Yeah...we already had a "how do you tape your blade" thread which this has mutated into.

[London27 0]

yh - just asking

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

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My blade tape

[ktang 34]

Almost always I have taped the blade where I basically tape it from heel to toe, but I only tape every couple inches, kind of looks like a candy cane when I'm done with it. I've noticed that for me it enhances control, keeps weight down and also allows for almost as much feel. I'm not sure why more people don't do what I do. In fact, a guy just yesterday said to me "that is the weirdest tape job I have ever seen."

I used to tape it tight and together, but the added weight and reduced feel just didn't work for me.

To each their own.

I think Petr Klima also taped it your way.

I used to play with a guy who did it like you, too, but he would fill in the gaps with another piece of tape.