Hockey stick length question

[alex3 0]

My new stick reaches the tip of my nose in sneakers and I feel a bit awkward using it. I feel like I have a bit of a dead zone if the puck gets too close to my body. My old stick is a good 4 or 5" shorter. I feel very comfortable using the old stick but I need to be careful during slapshots to not whiff the puck completely because I might grip the stick too low.

I've played with the new stick twice and I'm getting a bit more used to it. As a defenseman, I am wondering if I should try to get used to the longer stick so that I have more reach with the puck. On the other hand, I don't feel "natural" with this stick length. So my question is how do most players find that "sweet spot" with their sticks? Do you cut a bit each time until it feels just right? Or should I adapt to the stick so that it helps my position?

Thanks for the help!

[Speedz98 15]

I think you answered your own question. You should really go with what feels natural. Like you said, you also have the option of cutting little by little until you find what works for you.

If you use a certain stick length or spec just because it appears "good and proper" for your position then you're limiting yourself to some other pre-decided expectation. Gotta do what feels right for you.

[Hockeydog 8]

Agree with cutting it down bit by bit. As stick length and lie work hand in hand, I always consider how much blade is on the ice as well as how comfortable I am with the length. I recently got some new Warrior sticks that are 63" uncut. I played with one uncut the first night, and tried choaking down a bit on the handle to see where I liked it. It can be kinda hard to play while choaking up too much on a stick but for just skating around with the puck and shooting it was a good indicator. What I did was skate crossovers around the circles with a puck, took some in close roof shots on net, and a few slappers/ wrist shots. Personally I find skating crossovers with a puck easier with a longer stick, so whatever the shortest length was that I felt comfortable skating x-overs with the puck was about the right length for me. Too long and I can't roof close shots well, and too short I wiff on slappers. Find your own tests to pick the best length.

[english15x 3]

Cuthockeysticks.com

This site has some good info on it. I'm not saying I believe or follow it. I cut my stick short though.

[Chadd 916]

4-5" is a huge jump to make. No matter what you do, some aspect of your game will be compromised. Stickhandling, especially in tight is always easier with a shorter stick while poke checks and loading your stick on a shot are easier with a longer stick. From the sounds of things your old stick was too short, as you should be able to shoot without having to worry about missing the puck. I would try splitting the difference between the length of your old stick and your new one and give it a couple games to see how that feels. At that point you will have to decide which aspects of your game are the most important to you and which ones you are willing to give up a little. Are slap shots and poke checks more important than being able to get a stick on pucks in your feet? Only you will know what feels best for you.

[Souldriver 64]

Like chadd said split the length and start out a little longer, you can always cut more off. A 6fg d man on my team uses a 102 flex totalone that he cut down shorter than my stick, probe around the 52" mark. That's short for a d man that tall but it works for him so fudge it! He says he likes the reduced torque and stiffer feel when it's that short too, even on slappers. I think he should look into prostocks but he is happy as is.

[Stewie 721]

you will also want to look at things like stick lie as well. its all part of the complex equation of right size

[Hockeydog 8]

Watch the Blackhawks - Red Wings series if you want to see some long sticks in action. Datsuk and Hossa have been known to use some longer than normal for an NHL'r sticks and they are no slouches with the puck !

[flip12 722]

I noted Hossa as using a short stick, with his hands really close together when puck handling so it looked like he was about to golf it. I remember thinking that while watching him back with the Thrashers, but I remember reading he can vary his stick length quite a bit during the season. From the looks of it, he isn't using a particularly long stick right now.

I think of Erik Karlsson as a good puck handler who uses a long stick, Hemsky too.

[hunt3rsean 44]

From watching Hossa with Chicago and reading a few articles it sounds like he cuts about 3-different lengths. I believe he tends to use a longer length stick. He does stick handle and shoot with both hands very high, but he's also a big individual. Not sure if I'd use him as an example on how to long to cut your stick. I've read a few player interviews that give some surprise that Hossa can handle/shoot the puck so well with such an odd length stick.

[HockeyJB 0]

I have a question. I am 5 foot 5 inches and am about to get a new stick in a couple days. I was wondering what height I should cut it. I have researched other high level hockey players( Rocco Grimaldi & Nathan Gerbe) and have found that they use long sticks. Grimaldi's is up to his nose on skates and Gerbe's is actually taller than he is. Any advice for stick length?

[hyster110 3]

I noted Hossa as using a short stick, with his hands really close together when puck handling so it looked like he was about to golf it. I remember thinking that while watching him back with the Thrashers, but I remember reading he can vary his stick length quite a bit during the season. From the looks of it, he isn't using a particularly long stick right now.

I think of Erik Karlsson as a good puck handler who uses a long stick, Hemsky too.

hemsky uses a ridiculously short stick, hence why he doesn't really have a shot

as for stick length, as a dman i use a stick that is up to my bottom lip on skates, i find that gives me enough control with a wicked shot

just my two cents

[HockeyStop 7]

I have a question. I am 5 foot 5 inches and am about to get a new stick in a couple days. I was wondering what height I should cut it. Any advice for stick length?

read above...do what feels best. the standard starting point is to stand barefoot and cut the stick at your nose...in other words u want it about at your chin give or take a bit to preference when in skates

[Chadd 916]

read above...do what feels best. the standard starting point is to stand barefoot and cut the stick at your nose...in other words u want it about at your chin give or take a bit to preference when in skates

I would suggest no longer than to your chin on skates. Much longer than that and you will likely be way too upright when skating.

[flip12 722]

hemsky uses a ridiculously short stick, hence why he doesn't really have a shot

as for stick length, as a dman i use a stick that is up to my bottom lip on skates, i find that gives me enough control with a wicked shot

just my two cents

Yeah, you're right. I was fooled by the same high hands stick handling. I was wrong about Hossa too. He does have a long stick at least some of the time...I'll just go over here and shut my trap for a while...