Length of blade

[TBLfan 25]

I normally use shorter blades like the Iginla or my pro stock big toe(about a 9" blade)... Recently I grabbed a CNT z-carb Drury blade, just curious about the popularity of the curve and was the only z-carb pattern my LHS had. First thing I noticed is that this blade isn't a little bit bigger than my other blades it's a LOT longer. Haven't tried it on ice so I'm not 100% sure of the puckhandling but it seems a bit sloppier. My wrist shot seems similar although it took some time to get it to start flying flat but here's the biggie. The backhand with it is sooo easy. Even with the flat-ness of the toe curve blade it still takes some effort to get it up high quick, with the Drury it just flies up instantly. Now the curve isn't horribly different from the Iginla so I don't think it's really the overall curve, the only noticable difference is blade length. I can only guess what is happening is that because of the length of the blade the puck is able to stay on the blade longer so it's able to get up higher quicker. Your thoughts?

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on blade length. What blades have you tried and what the outcomes are.

[mack 44]

I stay with a medium-to-longer blade. No real reason other than preference. I can't really comment on the length of it having an effect on shots as I'm all snapper/slapper anyway.

Edit: This is what I go with

[Hockey* 0]

I've never really noticed a diffrence in my shot with short and long blades except some times it feels like the longer blade is flexing a bit when i take slappers or snappers.

My Current Blade selection is.

Iginla-Love it nice and stiff

Shanahan-Hate it feels like its flexing alot on all my snappers and slappers (befor i started using it on the rinks also), I think its broken because it seems to flex even more, but I only use it on the rinks now so I'm not realy intrested in taking off the tape to see if it is.

Forsberg-I loved it untill the wood started to chip, so i just use it on the rinks now, I rember it being stiff

Lindros- Its alright, I dont really use it much so I can't really comment on it...

[theone96 0]

I use a short blade...pro stock Hossa or Saprykin... like the shorter blade b/c I get a better shot off and better stickhandling

[Tyler B 0]

i use both the iginla and drury

my drury is also a z carbon.. the first ice time with it was absolutely horible... second time i fell in love with the curve... i belive ill stay with the drury from now on... do they make drury on the synergy st.

[Ratfinklives 0]

I find that having a shorter blade has a huge impact on shooting. It seems the "sweet-spot" of the stick is much easier to find as there is less blade.

It's all personal preference though as already stated. I honestly never really think about it much when choosing a pattern, it's always lie then curve. Length usually doesn't factor in unless it's absurdly short or long.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Is there a major difference from going from medium to long?

[Chadd 916]

As a female friend of mine once said, the longer the better. I take mostly slappers and snappers so short blades really don't do anything for me.

Is there a major difference from going from medium to long?

Depends on what you like and how you shoot.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

Its not the wand, it's the wizard.

[odp 0]

From a physics prospective, wouldn't a longer blade be more flexible/more prone to flex under heavy stress? Mind you, more flex may not a completely bad thing. . .

[warheart45 0]

From a physics prospective, wouldn't a longer blade be more flexible/more prone to flex under heavy stress? Mind you, more flex may not a completely bad thing. . .

You're right, the longer and straighter the blade, the more flex you will get thus adding slightly more zip to the shot. But I also find they are slightly easier to break and the flex can be something to get used to. I use a easton sakic or a nbh lindros normally but currently am trying out a gaborik. It's all about preference. I think the Gaborik is more of a wrister type blade and has a deadly forehand snapper. I find this stick absolutley sucks for backhanders and don't expect much in the stickhandling. Lindros is probably my favorite just because it's a fairly straight mid curve and is great on the forehand and backhand.

[mack 44]

I disagree, it's a very good game, but i think Donkey Kong is the best game ever.

[SickLife 2]

i tried a shorter blade for the first time last weekend (st louis). i really kinda liked it for stick handling. after only really ever having used fairly long blades before. i did notice a difference. but i still won't switch.

[TBLfan 25]

Let me discuss more in detail about my opinions:

I've used the following blades:

Titan Selanne, 11.5"

Old St Louis, 10.25"

Yzerman(wasn't a true yzerman, it wasn't as deep.), 11"

Recchi, 11.25"

Iginla, 10.25"

Lidstrom clone, 11"

Lecavalier, 10.75"

"Big toe curve" (most of you have seen a pic of it), 9.25"

Drury, 11.5"

I've noticed the best three blades for my backhand have been the Drury, Recchi and the "big toe curve"

I think the reason the big toe curve is up there is because the flatness of most of the blade. The only thing the recchi and the Drury really share is the blade length. So basically that got me into thinking about why this makes my backhand easier. I thought about the physics of it and how the puck rolls off the blade and came to the conclusion that because the puck stays on the blade longer it has the ability to get higher, quicker(or at least easier).

I still of course still like the shorter blades as I'm used to using them, but since I have the ability to adjust my shot to the blade I use(obviously i have to be able to if I've used blades that are soo different) so I'm going to continue to try out new blades. In fact I just bought two Nash blades from the sell section on here and hopefully have a ccm warranty replacement as well as a pro stock tps OPS coming. I'd still like to hear more thoughts and more experiences since I've noticed that there hasn't been too much discussion on blade length. It seems like the only thing people notice is the curve type, blade lie and blade shape... I think we need to explore blade length too.

[Roach 0]

I currently use an Easton ST Heatley and hated it for the longest time because I noticed the shorter blade length compared to its' CCM V40 Recchi predecesor. Until now, I find myself looking down at the blade to check exactly where the puck is in relation to the position of the blade before passing. Shooting is a different thing altogether - I just let it go without thinking and most of the time, my snappers and slappers go in the general direction I want them to go. I don't know what to attribute the looking down to - whether the length of my shaft (chin high on skates), material of the blade, curve of the blade, or length of the blade. I don't look down with the Recchi although I have been using that blade for the past 4-5 years whereas the Heatley for only the past 1 year. I have noticed the difference in the shorter length of the Heatley as compared to the Recchi so on off-days I attribute it to the length :P