White Tape vs Black Tape

[SCOMPL 14]

I'm interested in all angles of the white tape vs black tape argument. Please tell me what and why you prefer what you do.

The reason I ask is that my teammate just told me that whatever is added to make black tape (oil, dye, tar?) actually accelerates the destruction of your glove palms, and damages the surface of the stick. I found a similar post in a somewhat related thread.

I've also read that black tape helps conceal the puck and makes it harder for the goaltender to pick up the puck coming off your stick. Can any goaltenders attest to this?

[bunnyman666 445]

I'm an old schooler, and we used black tape from mites to squirts. But then when I got to peewee and bantam, white tape was the rage. White tape was the new cool. Not knowing why, bunches of us switched to white tape. I remember vaguely goalies almost always used white tape, especially on the butt end because the knob on a goalie's stick can look like a puck.

I don't remember black tape tearing up palms, but then again- most palms were real, hard to break in leather back in my day. But I just never went back to black tape after white tape was around. But back in my day, black tape was friction tape and white tape was athletic trainer's tape. I don't remember specialised hockey tape when I was playing in my youth. You didn't have to wax the old black tape, I do remember.

No doubt black tape hides the puck a little from the goalie. I don't know why I prefer white tape to black tape. I suppose ideally you would tape the blade with black and the shaft with white. But heck- some people have gone nuts with colour.

[jimmy 194]

I'm a goalie, black tape does not hide the puck one bit, we can see the puck just fine.

[bunnyman666 445]

I'm a goalie, black tape does not hide the puck one bit, we can see the puck just fine.

Most goalies see when I have the puck, whether it was taped with black or white tape! But a mannequin dressed in goalie gear could stop me these days!!!!

[Sliwka 0]

Always white on the grip. Back in the 90's, dad tole me that black was bad for gloves and I always have done it. Don't know if it is changed, but I am not willing to find out.

Nearly always white on the blade. I leave the toe and heel clear. Again, dad said because I was a D-man I should have white. Now it is just habit.

[thejackal 46]

One thing Ive been wondering - so black puck may or may not hide the puck, but about about white tape on a white stick on the downswing of a slap shot? is it harder to see the release point of the shot for goalies?

[Souldriver 64]

Black cloth (not friction, not grip) for my butt ends grip. It discolors my glove palm but that's grey turning black so I don't care but it hasn't eaten through the palm any faster than anything else. My friend uses the same tape in white and it eats through his palms so it's really more of a play style thing imho.

For the blade I use black friction tape with wax semi heavy on the top and bottom edges so the tape doesn't tear so easily from faceoffs and slashes. I then wax real light on the faces of the blade.

Never been a white tape guy especially bc there isn't a white friction tape available that I know of. But I don't think either tape color hides the puck or conceals your stick movement.

[shotty 7]

The reason I ask is that my teammate just told me that whatever is added to make black tape (oil, dye, tar?) actually accelerates the destruction of your glove palms, and damages the surface of the stick. I found a similar post in a somewhat related thread.

friction accelerates destruction. all tapes are dyed.

[strosedefence34 175]

normal cloth white for both since I was a kid and it was only because thats how my favorite player taped his stick. Now its just habit.

[mojo122 535]

No advantage for using one over the other. Comes down to preference. The adhesives in the tape do a number on palms. I have had great success in counteracting that by using baby powder on the taped handles.

[SCOMPL 14]

But back in my day, black tape was friction tape and white tape was athletic trainer's tape.

I wonder if this is where today's myth that 'a component of black tape destroys your palms' comes from. I haven't used friction tape in nearly 20 years, but I remember it having a heavy, tarry feel.

[bunnyman666 445]

I wonder if this is where today's myth that 'a component of black tape destroys your palms' comes from. I haven't used friction tape in nearly 20 years, but I remember it having a heavy, tarry feel.

I would say that friction tape is probably what destroyed palms.

[SirJW 207]

I use black and powder on my handles b4 every game. My palms are in fine shape after a year of use in my WinnWell gloves. I spray my gloves and the rest of my gear w/ an alcohol - water mix and set them in front of a fan overnight. Your PH and the palm material also has a bit to do w the wear and tear on gloves.

[sjs0433 15]

Honest truth here is I use both and generally pick which looks better on the stick. No real preference. My all dark Reebok stick has white tape while my bright green combat stick has black tape. Purely cosmetic here. I haven't noticed a difference.

[Souldriver 64]

I've been liking that NHL teams are getting grip and cloth tape for their grips in team colors. it looks real good for the Avs and a bunch of other teams with not so primary colors.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Generally white tape on white sticks and black tape on black sticks. If I use white tape, I run a puck along the top of the blade so I can see it better. I actually like using white tape because I can tell how "active" I was in a game based on how dirty the white tape is. For a newbie, this can vary greatly.

For the grip it's simple - always a knob and spiral grip made of black cloth tape, with black stretch wrap over it. I've tried white there, but it gets disgustingly filthy from being on the wet floor while sitting on the bench, so I stick to black.

[sickwilly 37]

White on both ends for me. For me, white tape holds up longer on the blade and seems easier on the palms. I don't mind using black cloth on blades if that's what's available.

[Souldriver 64]

My knobs very similar to yours opt riems. I use black cloth all the way through. I go around a couple of times to create a knob that's about as thick as the tape will be when I twist it to make my spiral grip. I then take a bunch of the tape and twist it and make the spiral grip and I go pretty far down with it (think zetterberg) as it helps with faceoffs. I then cover it all back up to the top and make the top knob to a thickness I want. I do this all with one me.hth of tape, I do not cut it ever or stop it for any reason. I've never had problems with the tape coming off, tearing, or anything else. One tape job lasts me the life of the stick and the knob gets harder and more condensed with use which I like as I use it for leverage with my pinky.

[beerleaguecaptain 999]

I used to use white tape because I thought I would see then puck on the blade better - yes, I suck and I do have to look down!

Then I went to black tape trying to hide the puck from goalies. Then I realized the reason I couldn't score has absolutely nothing to do with my tape!!

Recently I tried to go back to white tape as a change of pace - I hated it. I had trouble "finding" the blade on the ice. Kinda weird.

[gxc999 7]

White tape up top and on the blade. To me, any other color is a waste. Not using white up top kills your palms and on the blade so you can track your release. Side note, use coban on top of the white tape on the handle.

[SCOMPL 14]

White tape up top and on the blade. To me, any other color is a waste. Not using white up top kills your palms and on the blade so you can track your release. Side note, use coban on top of the white tape on the handle.

Why do you say "Not using white up top kills your palms..."?

[Larry54 243]

I use white tape on the blade because I figure it will be easier to see the puck with my peripheral vision while I'm handling it, and I don't need to see the blade to know where it is. I can't say for sure whether it helps or not but that's my story. And I just use the same white tape for the handle.

[SirJW 207]

Also like black cuz it never looks nasty.

[Larry54 243]

Also like black cuz it never looks nasty.

I don't really care how the handle tape looks. It's not a fashion show.

[LoneStar77 25]

I've gone back & forth on the blade, even tried a wrap of white followed by a wrap of black on the blade. I'm back on the strip on the bottom, around the toe, & covering the top for some extra protection on those high wear areas & then I completely cover that with a wrap of white from heel to toe, add puck marks to smooth it all out, & finally top it off with some wax melted in with a heat gun.

For my handle, I'm a big fan of the Tacki-Mak ribbed, wrap grip in white - easy on the palms & stays grippy (plus it matches what I did with my tape anyway).