Taping the Blade

[joshy207 15]

As long as you go from heel to toe, directionally, the rest doesn't matter... when you shoot or pass, the puck moves forward on your blade, and it's better to have the puck going "with the grain" of the tape than against it. Other than that, where you start and finish is up to you, it depends on how you play and how you handle the puck.

[Accord 0]

I did notice that when I tape toe to heel, I get triple the amount of snow buildup than when I tape heel to toe.

[Fletch 219]

I put a piece of tape along the bottom of the entire blade and then do a simple heel to toe tape job, nothing fancy.

Same here, although I think I am going to try the electrical tape method Chadd mentioned next time I can play.

[Vapor#42 0]

White stick tape, the thin roles not thick ones, heel to an inch from toe. I like minimul tape on my blades as i find too much tape increases blade heaviness, the whole blade taped pretty much gives me an all round feel for the puck...

I also like to pick up the puck on my blade { Michigan - Crossby } its so much fun and looks good if you do it right, especially off the backhand!

[DrMolotov 0]

Heel to toe, only one wrap...

[Pinkfloydspig 0]

I used to tape my blades from the middle to the toe.Now I just put three strips of tape on the toe {ala Marian Hossa}.

[sherwood21 0]

I tape my blades a couple inches in off of the heel, so almost in the middle to 2 inches off of the toe. Same/Almost the same as Dion Phaneuf.

[cmn 0]

I tape from around the middle of the blade to about 20mm from the toe.

[hockeypunk3 0]

i prefer white, but i do use black on occasion, i use half strip and tape from heel to toe. then wax like a mad man

[LkptTiger 1]

Two strips of duct tape along the forehand and backhand faces of the blade. Black tape from heel-to-toe, covering the toe. Then I wax every bit of it...

[jimmy 194]

I've been putting a strip of electrical tape along the bottom of my composite blades, it seems to slow the wear along the bottom. On blades that chip I also cover the toe to prevent premature chipping.

FWIW, Carbon has no friction on ice. It is the only substance known to man that doesn't. Tape is unnecessary to prevent wear. Agains chips and cracks yes, but not from rubbing, as a wood blade does.

[mack 44]

Carbon may not but the actual coating of the blade will.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I think Jimmy is right cause I don't put tape at the heel and the blade isn't wearing out.

[Reaper 0]

I guess I'm a wierd one when it comes to prepping my stick blades.

I usually do the following:

1) Mask blade with tape at the top of the hosel

2) Paint entire blade with black Protectoe

3) Let dry overnight

4) Run 1 inch wide black hockey tape in a strip over the top and bottom edges of the blade

5) Tape blade from the heel to the toe as far as I can without having to trim tape

6) Wax blade and melt with heat gun to ensure it is sealed.

I find that when I do this my blades stay stiff for quite a while and they are resistant to cuts.

[troybruins89 0]

I've been putting a strip of electrical tape along the bottom of my composite blades, it seems to slow the wear along the bottom. On blades that chip I also cover the toe to prevent premature chipping.

FWIW, Carbon has no friction on ice. It is the only substance known to man that doesn't. Tape is unnecessary to prevent wear. Agains chips and cracks yes, but not from rubbing, as a wood blade does.

so im wasting my time putting duct tape on the bottom of my synthesis blade? i saw the tape wearing away and thought i should put something over it

[Chadd 916]

I've been putting a strip of electrical tape along the bottom of my composite blades, it seems to slow the wear along the bottom. On blades that chip I also cover the toe to prevent premature chipping.

FWIW, Carbon has no friction on ice. It is the only substance known to man that doesn't. Tape is unnecessary to prevent wear. Agains chips and cracks yes, but not from rubbing, as a wood blade does.

so im wasting my time putting duct tape on the bottom of my synthesis blade? i saw the tape wearing away and thought i should put something over it

It softens the corners of the blade and they don't cut through the tape as quickly. It also provides an extra layer to cushion the blade on slappers.

[troybruins89 0]

I've been putting a strip of electrical tape along the bottom of my composite blades, it seems to slow the wear along the bottom. On blades that chip I also cover the toe to prevent premature chipping.

FWIW, Carbon has no friction on ice. It is the only substance known to man that doesn't. Tape is unnecessary to prevent wear. Agains chips and cracks yes, but not from rubbing, as a wood blade does.

so im wasting my time putting duct tape on the bottom of my synthesis blade? i saw the tape wearing away and thought i should put something over it

It softens the corners of the blade and they don't cut through the tape as quickly. It also provides an extra layer to cushion the blade on slappers.

but will it damage the blade any if i dont do it....beside by chipping? what happens if the outer layer that covers the carbon wears away?

[forsberg91 0]

I tape my sticks 1" from the heel, all the around the toe everytime and ALWAYS with white tape.

[Lester8 11]

I tape the middle 4/5ths of the blade. It gives me something to aim for when handling the puck, but leaves some blade to cover my mishandles. I also run the tape from the top of the blade and down the blade face (LH stick). When I try to tape differently, the tape angle gets really slanted.

[thedoctor11 0]

for mid curves i always do mid to covering toe cuz it makes me feel like the tape gives more accuracy because its gripping and lifting the puck

[smithy19 0]

i take the tape put a strip along the bottom and the top then i rip pieces off the lenght of the blade and place them horizontal along the blade like -------------- < like that lol..but yea i'll get a pic but i dont know how to post pics so sumone will have to do it for me

[bulletproof_funk 0]

I run a piece of tape lengthwise across the bottom of the blade (sometimes I'll split it up into two pieces), the top, the toe. Then I cut strips of tape that I place veritcally and overlapping like in heel to toe fashion, covering about 3/4 of the blade from the heel. I place horizontal strips on the backhand for a "smooth" surface. I just fill in the empty spots with tape.

Basically I change only the bottom strip and the tape on the toe, I don't touch anything else unless they wear out or get cut too badly (almost never happens). This is easily the laziest tape job I could think of doing. It does a good job of protecting my Z-Carbon type blade against chipping or splitting.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I run a strip on the bottom of the heel of the blade. Then I tape the whole blade heel to the 1 inchish from toe, then when I'm at the toe end of the blade I tape back 3 strips, but not overlapping, leaving a little gap in them back until about middle of the blade. Then I cut little squares and patch up the spot on the toe of the blade that isn't covered.

[DANGLESHOW 0]

What are the benefits of only taping the toe area of the blade? I notice more and more players aare leaving the heel portion of their blades tapeless and taping only 4-5 strands till the end of the toe.

[DP_57 1]

feel, stickhandling and quick shot(snap preferaly(sp)) off the toe where the tape is. That's what I do and I also notice more and more player doing it.

Also, depending how old you are, you should develop a good feel with the puck and get puck skills before changing any tape job without knowing why.