flex loading and shooting

[Chadd 916]

Thanks you guys for all the tips. I'm an inline player and always wondered about some of the difference in ice and inline shooting technique. One more thing, so lower flex is generally preferable for inline than ice, right?

flex is all about what you like, some people like stiff sticks, others like em whippy, theres no this is good for inline this is good for ice... there are certain outlines, like your flex should be about half of your weight... but its what you like in the end..

Again, that particular guideline is wrong more often than it is right. The majority of people I know use the same flex for inline and ice. I liked a lighter flex for inline, as do a number of people. There are also some who use a stiffer flex. In the end, it's all trial and error to find what you like.

[english15x 3]

Thanks you guys for all the tips. I'm an inline player and always wondered about some of the difference in ice and inline shooting technique. One more thing, so lower flex is generally preferable for inline than ice, right?

flex is all about what you like, some people like stiff sticks, others like em whippy, theres no this is good for inline this is good for ice... there are certain outlines, like your flex should be about half of your weight... but its what you like in the end..

Again, that particular guideline is wrong more often than it is right. The majority of people I know use the same flex for inline and ice. I liked a lighter flex for inline, as do a number of people. There are also some who use a stiffer flex. In the end, it's all trial and error to find what you like.

The half the body weight thing is a horrible outline I think. I mean I personally can't flex 100flex after being cut down to my liking very well.

[Jarick 5]

It's a function of strength and stick length. 75 flex would be a good starting point for most adults 5'6" to 6'. 85 flex for over 6', 65 flex for under 5'6". If you're particularly strong or have a very short or long stick, you can go up or down a size. I don't know many people 5'6" who can lean into a 100 flex stick.

As I've said before, the only guy I know who benefits from a stiff stick (TPS XN10 R2 X-Stiff flex) is about 6'2" 350 pounds.

[Chadd 916]

As I've said before, the only guy I know who benefits from a stiff stick (TPS XN10 R2 X-Stiff flex) is about 6'2" 350 pounds.

My slapper with an S flex XN10 is painful when it hits people but my wrist shot suffers so much that I prefer the R. X-Stiff is just crazy.

[english15x 3]

It's a function of strength and stick length. 75 flex would be a good starting point for most adults 5'6" to 6'. 85 flex for over 6', 65 flex for under 5'6". If you're particularly strong or have a very short or long stick, you can go up or down a size. I don't know many people 5'6" who can lean into a 100 flex stick.

As I've said before, the only guy I know who benefits from a stiff stick (TPS XN10 R2 X-Stiff flex) is about 6'2" 350 pounds.

or your name is kovy.

[raygunpk 0]

A lot of the companies list the same flexes but they sometimes differ slightly. Is there a rule of thumb to find out whats good for you?

Like if you can flex it in the store a couple inches it's perfect or something.

[thejackal 46]

A lot of the companies list the same flexes but they sometimes differ slightly. Is there a rule of thumb to find out whats good for you?

Like if you can flex it in the store a couple inches it's perfect or something.

really hard to say, the more sticks you use and the more shooting you do the easier it will be for you to tell in the future.

[gxc999 7]

if you;re already moving there's no need for a leg drive, just keep skating and let it rip.

Joe Sakic has said repeatedly that his legs are the main source of power on his wrist shot and he has one of the best wristers in the league. If you aren't transferring power from your legs, you're leaving power on the table.

I know you're exactly right. My problem is transferring body weight adequately when skating and shooting wristers, it's much easier when stationary!

[rubberduckie 0]

I found i get a little better snap on my wristers with a shorter stick. This is against what I was always told, long sticks for shooting short sticks for hands, but I feel like i can just lean 'over' the stick better.

[TheBert 0]

Try a higher lie as well?

[thejackal 46]

shorter stick is good in game situations i find. it's pretty easy to take an extra stride and draw the puck in, but if it's too close to you it's harder to get a good shot off.

[Jarick 5]

I go back and forth with shorter and longer sticks. Right now I'm using two sticks that are about an inch apart in length depending on how I feel. Usually if I'm bending my knees properly, the shorter stick works well, and if I'm tired and standing more, the longer stick works better.

[thejackal 46]

i went from using 62in sticks at 6ft tall to 59in sticks at 6'2."

i also agree with the higher lie comment. it really forces you to shoot off the heel of the stick, which is where a lot of the power and spin come from. one thing i like to do when i mess around before practice is to get on my knees at the side of the net and try to pick the corner with wrist shots.

[Jarick 5]

Yeah I notice that too...If I'm shooting with my Forsberg or Weight, usually the puck is further away, and it's tougher to get a lot of power and accuracy on the shot since it flutters more. With my Iginla and a shorter stick, I keep the puck in closer, draw across the body, and the shots are a lot harder and flatter.

[Chadd 916]

A shorter stick is great for stickhandling but, more often than not, will rob you of velocity. Partially it's due to the stick getting stiffer as it gets shorter and partially due to the reduced leverage of the shorter stick. Longer lever = more power, that's basic physics.

[chippa13 1844]

I actually found that when I shortened my stick about an inch that I increased velocity on my slapper. I was getting more weight over the stick and generating a harder, heavier shot.

[Chadd 916]

I actually found that when I shortened my stick about an inch that I increased velocity on my slapper. I was getting more weight over the stick and generating a harder, heavier shot.

I used to find the same thing with slappers years ago. Since I changed my form, I get far more velocity with slappers and wristers. On skates my stick comes up to my chin, so it's not like I'm talking about an abnormally long stick.

[chippa13 1844]

Mine doesn't even reach my chin off skates, but then, I do have a bit of a hunched, Oleg Tverdovsky skating style.

[TBLfan 25]

I think it balances out. With a longer stick you get my leverage but the blade is more in front of you than with a shorter stick, which allows more weight to get over the stick.

[Chadd 916]

I think it balances out. With a longer stick you get my leverage but the blade is more in front of you than with a shorter stick, which allows more weight to get over the stick.

More weight on top of the stick shouldn't matter if you use the right flex. Your weight should be behind the stick, using your entire core to drive the puck forward. Leaning over and putting your weight down into the ice is just going to result in more broken sticks.

[TBLfan 25]

I don't know there... With my "short stick" it allows me to extend my hands and I feel like I get more on top of the puck. I get a faster release and still see about the same velocity with the longer sticks.

Right now my sticks are at about 57-59" depending on the lie, I'm 6'1... The stick "comes up" to about the top of my clavicle on skates.

[Chadd 916]

You're assuming being on top of the puck is a benefit. The coaches I have talked to tend to disagree with that assertion. Shoot in front of a radar gun and you will notice a major decrease in velocity with a shorter stick. You may feel as though the velocity is the same, but in most cases a stick as short as yours will sap up to 10 MPH from your shot.

If you're a guy who stickhandles a lot and gets inside the hash marks before shooting, the improved accuracy and ability to get into those areas will make up for the loss of velocity. If you tend to shoot from the outside and rely on velocity to beat goalies, the difference is obvious.

[TBLfan 25]

Velocity and speed are different... Since I went shorter I've been "hurting" my goalies. They've been complaining about stingers in their gloves and arms during warmups. Speed, I'm not sure... but my shot must be heavier.

I can shoot well with 85-100 flex on ice with a longer stick... With a shorter stick it does need to be more 95-100ish to be effective(after being cut), for me.

[chippa13 1844]

I'd have to see what I look like when I'm shooting because I'm definitely not drilling into the ice when shooting. I rarely break sticks or have heel damage on blades. Perhaps I was reaching too much with my old, slightly longer sticks.

[Jarick 5]

Well I think in this case it's probably diminishing returns. For me, average stick is just below the mouth. Shorter is at the chin. Longer is closer to the nose. At that point, I'm sweeping the puck along the ice and can't really get much flex on the stick.