Short Stick = Amazing

[dnoboy 5]

Long time lurcher first time poster. I'm 6'4" and played all my life including college hockey with a plug in my stick. I've always been a good stickhandler, but after taking out the wood plug for the first time in my Response lite last night, i had the game of my life. I was also skating better probably because I was closer to the ice and always in good position to maneuver, as well as shooting position. My stick now goes to just below my chin on skates. Anyone else find a short stick increased their game this much?

[habookus 1]

Ya I cannot play with a long stick, i just don't have the same confidence that I do with a shorter stick. But even though puck handling and everything seems to be better, it affects my reach as well as my shot.

[TBLfan 25]

I actually alternate with stick length depending on how my knee feels. If it's hurting I can't get as deep of a knee bend and won't be active enough to make up for the lack of reach so I use a longer stick... But yes the short stick is awesome. I like to use one that's about to my adams apple on skates.

[jestrs 0]

A shorter stick really forces you to bend your knees, or bend over at the waist. If you learn to bend your knees your skating will improve.

[dnoboy 5]

Yeah I immediately noticed a drop off in shot velocity in my slapshot, which isnt an issue for me. My wrister didnt really lose any velocity and it seems to be more accurate. Now I have to toy around with my lie. I am using a 5 lie, and like how it forces me to lean forward and bend my knees while I skate but I was thinking of going to a 6 lie to keep the puck closer to me so I could do the more difficult puckhandling moves.

[Edge 0]

Might just want a 5.5...its quite a bit of difference.

[dnoboy 5]

Yeah the only reason I was going with a 6 is because I was offered a Perry Response lite Pro Stock. It's a 6 lie and has a pretty nasty curve. Atleast to me it's nasty, my blades are basically straight. I'm curious what kind of handling I would have with an actual toe on my blade.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

being short, all my sticks are short... however, I like a relatively long stick... tried playing with a shorter one and got thrown way off my game.

[swede 51]

Yeah I immediately noticed a drop off in shot velocity in my slapshot, which isnt an issue for me. My wrister didnt really lose any velocity and it seems to be more accurate.

Try a lower flex. I bet both your wrister and slapper will improve..

and while we're talking about short sticks, have anyone here seen Jaroslav Obsut's stick? Jaroslav obsut.. the stick comes up to about two inches below his chest bone. Obsut does probably have the hardest slapshot in the SEL (swedish elite leauge), so u can shoot hard with a short stick.

[themooseisloose 0]

doesn't crosby use a relatively short stick?

[mrusse01 0]

Tom Kaberle uses a very short stick. Oates was always known for it too.

I just can't get into it, a really short stick just kills my defensive game, I feel like I can't intercept passes I should be able to, I can't get the reach to beat guys one on one, and my shot feels too weak.

There is the other school of though where you should learn to play with a longer stick early on to improve reach, etc...Cherry's talked about a few times regarding St. Louis.

[Luckystrike 0]

I use a short stick as well. comes to about my adams apple on skates. i'll take the improved stickhandling in traffic over reach any day.

[sc37 0]

That's not what she said....

I grew up using a stick that was too short, and have gotten used to it. My stick comes up to my Adam's apple. I tried to use a normal length stick before and it just felt too awkward and I didn't notice those couple extra inches helping me too much. But I guess it just works with my skating style too since I'm hunched over.

[dnoboy 5]

Well I guess the consensus is that a shorter stick for forwards is the way to go. Do most of you guys use a low lie? My stick is 59" from heel to end. I'm 6'4" and I use a 5 lie.

[Jarick 5]

Hmm...I'm 5'8" and use a stick that goes up to about my nose in skates. Might try removing the wood end and see how that goes.

[pisani34 10]

im 5'9 and my stick comes up to the base of my neck on skates...its pretty short. i used to use full length sr sticks, but it was really awkward. i wouldn't change back now.

[BK 0]

Well I guess the consensus is that a shorter stick for forwards is the way to go. Do most of you guys use a low lie? My stick is 59" from heel to end. I'm 6'4" and I use a 5 lie.

5.5 or 6 if you can find it. I like to keep the puck nice and close when I play forward.

[topshelf11 0]

I bought a Mike Keane game used stick, and couldn't believe how short it was. He is a little shorter than me, but his stick was 3-4" shorter than mine.

[greekdrummer 0]

i cut my stick and i freakin suck with the shorter stick im sure ill get better when i adjust

[chk hrd 164]

I was at drop in hockey the other night and a guy playing had a stick that was no longer than a junior stick. This guy was about 5'10" without skates on. At first I thought he was screwin around with a kids stick but it was a chopped off senior. This guy had great hands. I'm sure the shorter stick helped him alot. He didn't try any slap shots but had a pretty decent wrister and snapper.

It was definitely the shortest stick I have ever seen an adult play with.

[Doctor Hook 0]

I prefer my stick longish (coming up below my nose when I'm on skates) since being a D-man in beer league, my weapon is my pokecheck (and hip punches).

[thejackal 46]

my sticks come up with my shoulder (so a bit below my adam's apple) and i've really noticed a positive difference in my stickhandling since switching this summer.

[cbart 1]

I bought a Mike Keane game used stick, and couldn't believe how short it was. He is a little shorter than me, but his stick was 3-4" shorter than mine.

Topshelf,

Is that Dino in your avatar or do my eyes deceive me?!

[halfmoonyote 0]

I used to cut my sticks about an inch, maybe two.

One night before a game, I had to buy a stick 30 minutes before game time, and I played with it uncut. Ever since, I don't cut anything. I don't know if it's mental or what, but I feel like I have more control with a longer stick, and I'm able to keep the puck away from defenders swinging sticks.

The TPS Pro Stock Foote I am using is 60 inches from top of shaft to arc on heel. The lie is also about a 7.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

same boat for me half moon. i feel like i've got better stick handling skills with a longer stick... i have more space to move the puck around. can reach for passes, and can still stick handle in close... my stick comes up to my eyes