How often to tape a stick blade

[markush 12]

I would like to have your feedback about how often to tape a stick blade.

Should it be as soon the bottom has no tape and you can see the blade or longer?

[Alan 0]

Some people change it after every game.

I usually change it whenever there is a tear in the tape on the blade of the stick. It could take one game, it could take six games.

I usually tape it heel to toe, and I tape the whole blade.

[WSjo22 1]

With wood blades I take of the tape after every ice time, with composite I retape when it cuts up

[xstartxtodayx 343]

Some people change it after every game.

I usually change it whenever there is a tear in the tape on the blade of the stick. It could take one game, it could take six games.

I usually tape it heel to toe, and I tape the whole blade.

I'm the same but I'll usually change it after 3 sessions max even if it looks ok (which it usually doesn't, by that time the bottom is pretty well worn).

Heel to toe covering the whole blade and trimming the excess, followed by pressing it down w/ a puck and then some sex wax concentrated towards the bottom of the blade.

[markush 12]

I have never heard of using a wax. What is this for and how is it going to be used?

[xstartxtodayx 343]

wax coats the tape and repels water therefore proloning the life of the tape and it's effectiveness, it keeps it from getting waterlogged for the most part. Also some feel it helps the puck stick to the blade better, I think it's mostly psychological as far as the sticking (I can't tell much of a difference), but it definitely doesn't get as waterlogged during games when it's waxed.

[Jarick 5]

Yes, the wax helps repel water and snow buildup, which means it helps the tape grip the puck and create spin for me anyway.

[DevilsFan38 0]

Any advice for taping around the toe? I like to cover the toe completely but I have problems doing it neatly - the strips get closer as I get to the curved part and even though I press the excess together and trim it off it sometimes ends up slightly bumpy down there. Any tricks, or just practice?

[db88 0]

i re-tape it every game, sometimes for the next period if i get a bad tear. I re-tape for every practice too.

[s4gobabygo 0]

Any advice for taping around the toe? I like to cover the toe completely but I have problems doing it neatly - the strips get closer as I get to the curved part and even though I press the excess together and trim it off it sometimes ends up slightly bumpy down there. Any tricks, or just practice?

just continue taping past the toe of the stick as though the blade is longer than it really is. stick the excess tape to itself (sticky backings will be facing eachother because there's no longer blade between them. this will leave a flap hanging off the toe. cut it off precisely with scissors, and press the edges down onto the edge of the toe firmly.

i do this and wax after every icetime. somehow my tape is always all torn up after only one use.

[metalwinger13 1]

I found that wheni take a hair dryer and melt the wax onto the tape that the tape lasts a bit longer. i usually make a couple "coats" on the whole taped part and i try and add a lil bit more to the bottom of the blade. youll have a touch "stickier" blade and tape wont rip. i found its best to wait atleast 24 hours after you melt it to use it.. but thats me.

[B19Kress 0]

Pretty much been covered already but I retape anytime there is a tear.. normally end up switching sticks sometime during a game because of this also. I tape heel to toe and cover the heel and found its best to trim with tiny scissors.. normally the best are in the fingernail section at Meijer or Walmart... then press it down good with a puck and wax it up... I don't have any problems with it coming apart at the toe.. I get slices in the middle of the blade before that ever happens

[DevilsFan38 0]

just continue taping past the toe of the stick as though the blade is longer than it really is. stick the excess tape to itself (sticky backings will be facing eachother because there's no longer blade between them. this will leave a flap hanging off the toe. cut it off precisely with scissors, and press the edges down onto the edge of the toe firmly.

i do this and wax after every icetime. somehow my tape is always all torn up after only one use.

That's what I do, but the toe still doesn't come out as smooth as the rest of my blade. I guess it will just get better the more times I do it.

[TBLfan 25]

The best part about the wax is that the cuts are fixable. Just use a knife and pull the tape up and press it flat down. Fixes most cuts so the tape job lasts a lot longer.

[Jarick 5]

And no, that's not me.

[laquinta 0]

I like to change it after every game, however i sometimes don't wax it when in a hurry, so it can get pretty choppy!

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I tape from heel over the whole toe as well. I rub it down with a puck too, if for no other reason than to give it a little color. I've been using wax lately and it helps a lot with wear. I use trainers tape on my blades because it's wider, so it takes less tape to cover the whole blade. It's pretty thin though and wears out fast, but waxing it makes it last probably twice as long, especially on the bottom of the blade.

[Somemeat 0]

i change the tape on my blade every 2-3 ice times...unless there is a major tear in the tape..i find that white compostick lasts longer than the black compostick..so ive recently made that switch

[xstartxtodayx 343]

I tape from heel over the whole toe as well. I rub it down with a puck too, if for no other reason than to give it a little color. I've been using wax lately and it helps a lot with wear. I use trainers tape on my blades because it's wider, so it takes less tape to cover the whole blade. It's pretty thin though and wears out fast, but waxing it makes it last probably twice as long, especially on the bottom of the blade.

I've switched to the wide hockey tape, I think it's 1.5" wide and comes in a extra large roll. It's made by Renfrew and my LHS has it in black and white (I go for white), I just use it on the blade so the roll lasts pretty long.

[rbiery 0]

I take the tape off after every game so the water doesn't sit on the blade for too long, and retape right before i go on the ice so that its smooth and ready for scoring. WHen i tape i usually start at the toe and make sure that the tape always overlaps so there wont be any bumps. I end 3/4 of the way to the heel and always make sure the toe is taped.

[Jarick 5]

Here's maybe a new angle to the blade taping...

Do you find making ridges or pockets leads to better spin on the puck? By ridges, I mean having just a slight overlap in the tape to create a raised surface. By pockets, I mean having just a slight gape in the tape to create a depressed surface.

Or does it not really matter?

[K9 Unit 1]

i dunno if this answer your question but if i don't tape over the toe, i feel like my wrist shots are a little off...my guess is that the puck hits a slippery part if i didn't tape the toe...its not that much of a difference but to me it just feels a lot better and i don't need as much effort getting the puck to where i want it but once again its all PP =P one thing i love about hockey equipment lol

[troy 12]

Here's maybe a new angle to the blade taping...

Do you find making ridges or pockets leads to better spin on the puck? By ridges, I mean having just a slight overlap in the tape to create a raised surface. By pockets, I mean having just a slight gape in the tape to create a depressed surface.

Or does it not really matter?

I've never heard of intentionally leaving gaps in the tape, but when taping I usually overlap the previous strip by about an 1/8". I've noticed some guys, mainly Phaneuf, that cover the majority of the previous strip leaving many more "ridges". Once again I believe it's all determined by PP.

[xstartxtodayx 343]

There was a guy in the 90's that spiraled the tape on his blade (like some players do down the shaft), I can't remember his name now but he was european and I want to say he played for Edmonton. The blade did look pretty cool like that but I couldn't see myself ever doing it.

[IniNew 53]

There was a guy in the 90's that spiraled the tape on his blade (like some players do down the shaft), I can't remember his name now but he was european and I want to say he played for Edmonton. The blade did look pretty cool like that but I couldn't see myself ever doing it.

Thread Hi-jack; Why do some players type the shaft in a spiral? I've always wondered this.