Stick Length vs Stickhandling

[mcne0101 16]

Its personal preference.

A lot of pro's use shorter sticks because its easier to protect the puck with their body and most of the game is played on the wall in the pro's. What they use versus what you should use in beer leagues is irrelevant.

Use what is comfortable for you....Forsberg used a super short stick and stick-handled just fine....Jason Spezza and Cody Hodgson use ridiculously long sticks and they seem to stick-handle just fine as well.

Tinker with it, i would suggest cutting your stick to even with your lower lip when you're not on skates then adding or subtracting from there based on feel.

[z1ggy 81]

Mine is just past my chin, and that's what I feel comfortable with right now. I used a stick once that was a hair below my chin and it felt a bit weird. I'm sure I could adjust, but I just didn't quite like it as much.

[kingofnooyork 30]

I'm like 6'2" and i've always found it more comfortable to have a small extension in my sticks. I usually add about 1.5" to each one. I've tried the regular lengths and it's true the stick handling is much better. The only thing i feel like it's harder to get the shaft to flex on shots. I'm wondering if i went down slightly in lie would it make a difference. I'm curious to hear what the majority of shorter stick users have as a lie?

I noticed the Kovalchuk Warrior curve is a 4 lie wondering if it makes a difference for shooting.

[z1ggy 81]

Warrior lie of 4, is every other manf.'s lie of 5.

[Chadd 916]

Warrior lie of 4, is every other manf.'s lie of 5.

Not true, I really wish people would stop repeating misinformation.

[flip12 717]

Is it just me or does it seem like the stick length preference of a lot of players these days, including the best puckhandlers, is quite a bit longer than it was at the end of the wood era / dawn of the graphite? I see hardly anyone these days using sticks cut to their collar bone like Bure, Fedorov, Kovalev, Forsberg, etc. did. I've been wondering if it's an adjustment made for sticks getting lighter.

[z1ggy 81]

@chadd

So it's a true 4?

I switched from a Crosby of 5.5 to a Warrior Gionta (Warrior Lie of 4) and there was barely a difference when I lined my blades up.

[mcne0101 16]

Is it just me or does it seem like the stick length preference of a lot of players these days, including the best puckhandlers, is quite a bit longer than it was at the end of the wood era / dawn of the graphite? I see hardly anyone these days using sticks cut to their collar bone like Bure, Fedorov, Kovalev, Forsberg, etc. did. I've been wondering if it's an adjustment made for sticks getting lighter.

Its tough to say, I know Crosby uses a shorter stick and after speaking with Crosby Duchene cut his stick and inch or two and it worked out well for him. It just comes down to preference and a lot of times preference is shaped by what has worked for you growing up.

If there was a 'best' lie, curve, and/or stick length it would be what everyone uses.

[flip12 717]

Crosby's a bit old school. He was late to adopt the fused stick, and didn't he still use wood blades for his first year or two in the NHL?

But you're right, I should be more specific and say, what I'm thinking of is the average stick length. Hemsky is another guy with good hands and a short stick. It does all come down to preference, it just seems that the mode preference now is for a stick that's longer than the mode preference when the pieces were heavier.

[smcgreg 81]

I'm like 6'2" and i've always found it more comfortable to have a small extension in my sticks. I usually add about 1.5" to each one. I've tried the regular lengths and it's true the stick handling is much better. The only thing i feel like it's harder to get the shaft to flex on shots. I'm wondering if i went down slightly in lie would it make a difference. I'm curious to hear what the majority of shorter stick users have as a lie?

I noticed the Kovalchuk Warrior curve is a 4 lie wondering if it makes a difference for shooting.

Whew, I would think a Kovalchuk lie 4 would be tough for you. I'm 5'10" and got away from the Warrior lie 4s (Kovalchuk and Zetterberg) because they were too low for me. Of course, everything is personal preference, but it just seems like that would be very low for someone of your height. Also, the Kovalchuk doesn't have much rocker, so, it's not like a Lie 4 can be used at different heights.

That being said, since you put extensions on your sticks and like that, maybe it would work for you. Only one way to find out ;)

[flip12 717]

I'm 6'2.5" and I can't use anything higher than an E4 with a stick length anywhere near normal. I find a lot of taller guys like low lies, especially if they have good knee bend. I would go for 4.5 - 4.0 on Easton's scale if I could find it. Base has it, so I may try that.

[kingofnooyork 30]

I use a Bauer 6 lie now and it requires me to pull the puck closer in to shoot. I always thought lower lie allows you to shoot with the puck further away from your body.

[kingofnooyork 30]

I'm 6'2.5" and I can't use anything higher than an E4 with a stick length anywhere near normal. I find a lot of taller guys like low lies, especially if they have good knee bend. I would go for 4.5 - 4.0 on Easton's scale if I could find it. Base has it, so I may try that.

I've always used 5.5 or 6. I'm curious to try the kovalchuk warrior pattern. Think i might go to hockey giant today after work and see how it feels.

[colins 246]

There's no 'correct' answer to this question. You'll find people just as passionate on both sides of the debate. And both sides can just justified with very great examples on both ends of the extreme (ie: Gretzky, Crosby, Datsyuk).

There are several strong points on both sides. Pick your poison.

Short Stick

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- Better in tight spaces. Can handle puck better close to your body. This shouldn't need to be debated, try handling a puck in your skates when your top hand forces you elbow above your body with a long stick - you are at a distinct disadvantage to someone with a shorter stick who can keep their whole body and arms lower for better leverage on the puck.

- Encourages a better skating stride. This one maybe can be debated, but a lot of 'old school' guys from Howie Meeker to modern day Alan Andrews buy into this philsophy. Take your kid to an Andrews hockey camp in PEI and on day one your fancy new composite stick gets cut down below his chin - and it's no good to complain about it.

- Probably better for giving and receiving passes, for most common scenarios. Exception here is obviously a longer stick allows you to reach off-target passes better than a shorter stick would if they are simply out of your reach.

Long Stick

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- Better for shooting. Both wrist shots and slapshots can benefit from a long flex due to increased leverage/flex on the shaft. It's no co-incidence Zedano Chara has the strongest slapshot in the NHL - I don't think he's phsyically the strongest player in the league, but he's certainly got the best combo of strength + stick length.

- Better for one on one vs. the goalie. The extra reach provided by a long stick is a big advantage when you're one on one (breakaway, penalty shot). Watch Wojtek Wolski (http://youtu.be/7OmbtXqEwPs) before coming back to debate this point.

- May (I think this is highly debateble, but I've seen this argument recently) encourage a more upright skating stance to reduce the amount you bend over, therefore reducing your chances of getting a concussion. This I don't necessarily agree with - your knee bend and even your core/trunk bend with a shorter stick doesn't mean you have to play with your head down - your head swivels independant of your core. But I've heard this argument from hockey people who've played at high levels and suffered concussions themselves, and are now encouraging their kids and others to use a longer stick for this reason.

Me? I've experimented with longer and shorter... my comfort zone leans towards the slightly longer side of the debate, but ultimately the "nose in socks, chin on skates" length is never a bad option to steer away from specializing to one extreme or the other. I think ultimately you have to detemine what kind of player you are and what your natural strengths are, and then pick they style that compliments this natural tendancy the best. That won't be the same answer for all players.

Colin

[AFrozenPond 1]

I caught the replay of the old outdoor game between Buffalo and Pittsburgh yesterday. Regis was interviewing Sid during the intermission and I was surprised at just how short Crosby's stick was. It was at collar bone level, maybe even a hair shorter than that (from what I remember). But to bang the drum again, yes, it's all preference.

Correction...it was the Pitt/Washington outdoor game, at the close of the 1st period.

[JSK81 400]

That's a horrible angle to see the stick lenght. To me it looks like his stick could very well be up to his chin.

[Larry54 243]

This may have been posted here at some time but here it is anyway.

http://www.cuthockeysticks.com/

[AFrozenPond 1]

That's a horrible angle to see the stick lenght. To me it looks like his stick could very well be up to his chin.

I see/understand your point, good call. Combine it with the pictures and "In The Room" stuff Iv'e seen, seems he plays with a shorter stick.

[markush 12]

That's a horrible angle to see the stick lenght. To me it looks like his stick could very well be up to his chin.

Watch the whole video - there are various angles to See that's it about colar bone height.

[mcne0101 16]

I remember going to an Avs game back in the day and being surprised at how ridiculously short Forsberg's stick was. It was like freakishly short, he would hold one hand on the knob and like one hand on the blade while he was skating to and from the boards in-between whistles.

[kingofnooyork 30]

Short sticks also directly influence your lateral agility. When you make a sharp turn with the puck on your backhand you can get lower with a shorter stick = tighter/faster turn.

I recently took about and 1 3/4 off mine and although my back is still getting used to the adjustment it does have an impact on puck control.

[215BroadStBullies610 435]

Short sticks also directly influence your lateral agility. When you make a sharp turn with the puck on your backhand you can get lower with a shorter stick = tighter/faster turn.

I recently took about and 1 3/4 off mine and although my back is still getting used to the adjustment it does have an impact on puck control.

How does lateral movement and turning on your backhand relate? I don't know if shorter sticks automatically mean faster and/or tight turns.

Anywho, I've also gone back between longer and shorter sticks. I like a longer stick just because I tend have my hands further apart when I stick handle and shoot (see P.K.'s pic on the first page).

[Neo5370 132]

I remember going to an Avs game back in the day and being surprised at how ridiculously short Forsberg's stick was. It was like freakishly short, he would hold one hand on the knob and like one hand on the blade while he was skating to and from the boards in-between whistles.

Same with Phil Housley and Craig Janney.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/defenseman-phil-housley-of-the-new-jersey-devils-looks-on-news-photo/349893

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/craig-janney-of-the-tampa-bay-lightning-in-action-during-a-news-photo/341797

To beat a dead horse, it boils down to personal preference. You've got guys like Kovalev who excel at puck handling with a toothpick and guys like Datsyuk who also excel but with a freaking fishing pole. No one is "right."

EDIT: Joe Juneau too. To put this picture into perspective he's listed at 6 ft. Original Ultra Lite's were 48 inches w/o an end plug and there was about 6-8 (?) inches of blank space at the top-hand end before the Easton font starts. Assuming that's a standard issue shaft, and Joe's got average sized hands he probably chopped a good 3-4 inches off that shaft. http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/center-joe-juneau-of-the-washington-capitals-moves-down-the-news-photo/224224

[Amiroo39 121]

That's a horrible angle to see the stick lenght. To me it looks like his stick could very well be up to his chin.

No, its around his collarbone. Here it is in relevant terms, he used one of the shortest (if not the shortest stick) on the pens. Short stick, high lie.

And with regards to this famously famous and always posted site of (cuthockeysticks.com) rule of thumb: Arm straight by side, Blade flat on the ice:

[Chadd 916]

And you should notice that not a single one of those blades lies flat on the ice as that website suggests. Doing so would cut a couple additional inches off each of those sticks.