Longer Stick Question

[furlanitalia 1]

Lol. I'm 6'2, and use my sticks at stock length. I have a one95 that is about a cm longer then stock ones and that feels perfect. Not sure what lie I use, believe it is 6.5 (sakic). Definitely play very upright but that has always been my style. Find that it all comes down to personal preference.

[Chadd 916]

Two - The longer your stick is, the more apt you are to skate in a more up-right stance. It may be more comfortable but it is less efficient. From the players I coach and the players I watch around the local rinks, 90% of them stand up too tall when they skate. Ironically, most of that 90% have sticks that are too long. If you are trying to improve your skating or are new to skating (like in the last 10 years), then you will sacrifice your skating with a longer stick.

Depends on the lie of the stick.

Which none of these guys talking about how you should cut your stick takes in account. If I went by this guy's way to measure where to cut, the stick I've been using would need to be cut about 7 inches which would make it about 50 inches long because the lie is about 6.5. 50 inch long stick for me, who is 6'1, seems just about right.

I grabbed a stick out of my closet and measured using Howie's magic system. I'm 6-1 and should be using a 46" stick according to that. Skating with a stick that short results in a hunched stride, not an efficient one. I do have a stick that is 3-4 inches shorter than my preferred stick length and it is great for puckhandling and fighting along the boards. Unfortunately my shots and passes are nowhere near as good with it so it doesn't get used very often.

I don't stickhandle much, I tend to carry the puck on my forehand in a position that allows me to pass or shoot immediately. It allows me to hold the puck wide when (rarely) driving to the net, reach 50/50 pucks more easily, break up passes and adds a lot of velocity to my shots.

Should everyone use a long stick? Hell no. But everyone should experiment on their own and make their own decision.

[Jarick 5]

I think his system would work a lot better if using 4 lie sticks. And of course, if I cup the puck slightly when skating, that accounts for a lot of lie variation right there.

[Flames#60 0]

well, i think you will have to try that on your own. i play my stick very long, as a defenseman it helpes me a lot. i cut my sticks at the eyebrows (without skates)

[TBLfan 25]

Should everyone use a long stick? Hell no. But everyone should experiment on their own and make their own decision.

Exactly.

With my sticks, I adjust every stick for lie. I use it and then adjust based on how they play. The longest stick is 60" and the shortest is about 56.5" that puts my sticks from clavicle to about mid throat level depending on lie. I actually have one that isn't cut correctly for me, it's a S17 Iginla that is cut for flex instead of lie... makes the stick remotely usable for me.

[in da crease 0]

Two - The longer your stick is, the more apt you are to skate in a more up-right stance. It may be more comfortable but it is less efficient. From the players I coach and the players I watch around the local rinks, 90% of them stand up too tall when they skate. Ironically, most of that 90% have sticks that are too long. If you are trying to improve your skating or are new to skating (like in the last 10 years), then you will sacrifice your skating with a longer stick.

Depends on the lie of the stick.

To deterimine your proper lie, you have to hold a stick the way you would hold it on the ice. Which means you are picking your stick length first (by where you put your top hand), then picking your lie based on your stick length and skating style. Following me? So Lie is determined by stick length and skating style... which is why I never brought it up. You stick length is not determined by your lie.

Which none of these guys talking about how you should cut your stick takes in account. If I went by this guy's way to measure where to cut, the stick I've been using would need to be cut about 7 inches which would make it about 50 inches long because the lie is about 6.5. 50 inch long stick for me, who is 6'1, seems just about right.

I don't recall actually telling anybody where they should cut their stick or offering any methodology to determine the right length. I was, however, offering my opinion, based on the original question. Which was a beginner hockey player asking for pro's and cons of a longer stick. I simply stated longer sticks put the puck further away from your body (regardless of the lie of your stick) and typically allows a player to stand up taller when skating, which isn't exactly desireable if your looking to be a better hockey player or still playing competitively. And that you may get more out of your shot, but that there are trade offs that may not be worth sacrificing for the 2 or 3 scoring chances you get in a game. I also mentioned where I cut my stick. No Methodology. Just pro's and con's, which is what he asked for.

Alot of it has to do with your skating style. The players I work with are competitive players trying to get to Tier 1 or Junior programs. I'm not big on adjusting their stick height to match their skating style if in fact their skating style is off. I'm much more inclined to work to change their skating style, adjusting it to be more efficient and more powerful. That gets them to the next level. Not a longer stick.

Beer leaguer's have different objectives and goals. Which is why my stick has grown 4 inches.

[TBLfan 25]

I don't recall mentioning you in my post. I was still referring to the jackass that we were linked to.

[chippa13 1844]

To deterimine your proper lie, you have to hold a stick the way you would hold it on the ice. Which means you are picking your stick length first (by where you put your top hand), then picking your lie based on your stick length and skating style. Following me? So Lie is determined by stick length and skating style... which is why I never brought it up. You stick length is not determined by your lie.

It is when you're dealing with retail and are testing out different blade patterns.

[TBLfan 25]

So you mean that we can't order custom sticks with the ideal lie for our predetermined stick length based on height, not accounting for any other factors? ...and I was just about to order a 4.5 lie Easton SE16 Drury, darn.

[Jarick 5]

I didn't think the Meeker guy was a jackass at all, he was pretty interesting. It's fun to hear how hockey was taught long ago. I know I've heard about stick handling with both hands in front of you before as well as being taught backward crossovers with the side-to-side maneuver (both from YouTube if you search for Howie Meeker). And I am interested in the shorter stick's effect on my passing, since I tend to sail them up in the air more than I'd like (possibly from having my top hand up in the air and not being able to come across the body as much as I'd like).

But I've only been playing a few years now, so it's interesting to hear those things. For someone who's played their whole life and played to a high level, telling them how long their stick should be would be ridiculous.

We had a good discussion here about the stick length, and that got me from above my nose on skates to my mouth on skates, and eventually down to my chin on skates.

[TBLfan 25]

Your arms can extend in front of you with a longer stick too. You aren't forced to have the butt of the stick behind your back.

[Chadd 916]

Your arms can extend in front of you with a longer stick too. You aren't forced to have the butt of the stick behind your back.

Well sure, but that wouldn't help him convince people to use his method. You put kids (or adults) in a camp or skills session into a shorter stick and their hands improve immediately and dramatically. It's a shortcut for those that don't like to practice.

[lee92 2]

I have no set standard for cutting my sticks. It's all relative to how the blade lies on the ground. Before I cut my sticks, I put my skates on in the house, and hold the stick in my hands in the most comfortable grip, then I see where I need to cut it for that to happen. It's all about how comfortable the stick feels in my hands. With this method, some curves/sticks get cut shorter than others, but they all feel the same way when I'm on skates. I also tried that old farts method on cutting sticks, and to get the proper elbow bend, I'd have to cut my sticks so that they're at about nipple height when on skates, which isn't going to happen...ever.

[IniNew 53]

I really don't like this whole shorter stick causes deeper stance argument. If proper skating technique isn't taught then having a shorter stick is not going to fix anything. All it will do will insure the heel of the blade wont be on the ice.

[gxc999 7]

Your arms can extend in front of you with a longer stick too. You aren't forced to have the butt of the stick behind your back.

Well sure, but that wouldn't help him convince people to use his method. You put kids (or adults) in a camp or skills session into a shorter stick and their hands improve immediately and dramatically. It's a shortcut for those that don't like to practice.

Ding, ding! You hit the nail right on the head. I started out using a longer stick, so it was never an issue for me, and I feel really weird using a stick much below my chin on skates. However, I have used some shorter sticks in the past, even 4-6 inches shorter, and my differences skating wise was minimal, if any. Claiming a short stick drastically improves skating is old school, dogmatic nonsense....

[K9 Unit 1]

I have no set standard for cutting my sticks. It's all relative to how the blade lies on the ground. Before I cut my sticks, I put my skates on in the house, and hold the stick in my hands in the most comfortable grip, then I see where I need to cut it for that to happen. It's all about how comfortable the stick feels in my hands. With this method, some curves/sticks get cut shorter than others, but they all feel the same way when I'm on skates. I also tried that old farts method on cutting sticks, and to get the proper elbow bend, I'd have to cut my sticks so that they're at about nipple height when on skates, which isn't going to happen...ever.

ye...that goes to me and i think most people...my stick length is determined by the lie of the stick i'm using...but i know my optimal lie is 6, i guess it again goes down to PP and really it won't affect your play THAT much

[metalwinger13 1]

i just use what feels comfortable.. ive never cut a stick down but the common retail length seems to do me fine. I think its more how you learn to use the stick. some guys like cleary use one thats really really short.

[Jarick 5]

I took my chopped down wood stick to the range and played around (cut probably 3" shorter than normal, so well below my chin), and my slapshot was better than ever. Wrist shot was kind of off since I couldn't really lean into the shots as much as just fling them toward the target, but the really whippy intermediate stick still got some velocity. Unfortunately, this stick has always been so whippy in the blade that it torques wide open on any shot so it was all over the place, but I'll try a backup stick cut down 1.5" on the ice and see how it goes.

Always fun to try new things in the off-season.

[Jarick 5]

Another fun old school hockey tip:

Bobby Hull Contest

It took a total of about 10 minutes to snap the photos Jim S. requested and Bobby was already giving Mikena (9) a lesson on holding her stick. "Put your hands more in front of you honey" he requested. When she became confused he grabbed her stick and demonstrated. "Dad, you need to by her a stick with more lie" he told me. "See how her stick blade is not laying flat to the ice?" he asked. "She needs to be fitted with a stick with better lie."

I told Bobby that she only started skating in December of last year and that the sticks we have for our rink are ones that really aren't fitted for anyone. "That is alright" he said. "Price doesn't matter just being fitted for her upright stance is" he continued.

Lie or length, the old school guys seem to like the stick blade flat on the ice.

[Chadd 916]

Lie or length, the old school guys seem to like the stick blade flat on the ice.

I've often said that's the most important thing.

[TBLfan 25]

It's very important but with the size of the rockers on todays patterns, you really have to use it to see what lie the stick plays like for you. I have some sticks with big rockers that are cut shorter than I thought I would need to cut them at because of the way they play.

[Chadd 916]

I'm not a fan of the huge rockers, the blades I use are all pretty flat on the bottom.

[jgiant 0]

I had posted this w/in a different topic w/ little response so I am re-posting it here since this seems to be a hot topic.

I have a question about lie/stick length that is confusing me.

Personal preference aside, often, you will read something along the lines,

"Players who like using a longer stick or like to handle the puck further out in front of him would benefit from a lower lie to keep the blade flat on the ice. Players who like to use a shorter stick and handle the puck close to the body would benefit from a stick with a higher number lie. Very often, forwards like to use a stick with a higher lie in order to quickly stickhandle and dance around defenders; On the other hand, a defenseman who likes to poke check may want a stick with a lower lie in order to take advantage of a longer stick."

That being said, Crosby, who is known for using a shorter stick, explained to Ron MacLean (CBC) that he uses a 4.5 lie?!

Again, personal preference aside, doesn't that go against the notion of the shorter stick/higher lie correlation?

Can someone explain/clarify?

[Chadd 916]

I had posted this w/in a different topic w/ little response so I am re-posting it here since this seems to be a hot topic.

I have a question about lie/stick length that is confusing me.

Personal preference aside, often, you will read something along the lines,

"Players who like using a longer stick or like to handle the puck further out in front of him would benefit from a lower lie to keep the blade flat on the ice. Players who like to use a shorter stick and handle the puck close to the body would benefit from a stick with a higher number lie. Very often, forwards like to use a stick with a higher lie in order to quickly stickhandle and dance around defenders; On the other hand, a defenseman who likes to poke check may want a stick with a lower lie in order to take advantage of a longer stick."

That being said, Crosby, who is known for using a shorter stick, explained to Ron MacLean (CBC) that he uses a 4.5 lie?!

Again, personal preference aside, doesn't that go against the notion of the shorter stick/higher lie correlation?

Can someone explain/clarify?

It all depends on where you carry your hands and how "short" is a "short" stick. Crosby is usually hunched over a good bit though and that helps push him into a lower lie stick.

[mack 44]

I like a higher lie; longer stick and fairly flat.