Short D-Men stick length

[60PlusWinger 82]

I was wondering where you are all at and or where some shorter pro defenseman are at with their stick length. One would assume that longer is the ticket but you can only have so much as a shorter guy before it turns into a burden. I'm 5'9 for example and as a forward I cut my sticks 1 inch. I know it's preference but what seems to be the norm ish for a shorter (sub 6 foot 2 way defenseman)? 

[kyleo29 58]

I know subban uses a comical long stick but as a short guy, im 5 8, i like a really short stick. When I'm on skates i like It a little above the collarbone. More mobility in any position is a good thing

[jazz4all 9]

Im 5'8. At first i used to cut my stick around my upper lip for poke checking but it really severed my puck control. So now i cut it at collar bone level. Much better that way. 

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Toby Enstrom is maybe 5'10'' and uses one of the longer sticks I've seen.

[shooter27 117]

Most NHL D use the longest stick they feel comfortable with, especially the younger ones.  As you move us levels, many coaches will ask you to try to go longer if you use a short stick. Particularly in juniors and college. 

 

Im 6'3" and for a period used an extremely short stick as a D (probably clavicle height on skates).  A D1 coach that was recruiting me suggested I try going longer by adding 1/2" at a time and getting adjusted to the new length before adding more. I tried it, but what really helped me go longer was transitioning to a lower lie. 

[GloriousLeader 31]

^ what he said.

I started with fairly short stick with higher lie - low neck high (no skates) with Bauer lie 6. But have been playing on lip high with Bauer 5/Easton 4 lie for couple of years now... wouldn't call it really "long" though

[vinprun71 61]

Agreed, if you can drop the lie a bit, you can take advantage of a longer stick. It works wonders.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Also Toby is one of the few that actually chokes down on his stick when receiving passes instead of using his feet or trying to get an awkward stick onto it.

[Chadd 916]

With the butt end on the ice, the toe of my stick is just under my chin. It's the most comfortable length for me when I play defense.

[MrData 93]

Cutting down my sticks has helped me with stickhandling, passing, and shooting. I still adjust for different lies by cutting my sticks to different lengths (longer for a lower lie), but all my sticks are a lot shorter than they used to be. It's all about getting the right amount of blade on the ice so you can be comfortable with all the important stick work. Sure, I might have lost a few inches for poke checks, but I've improved my poke checking through better gap control, which is the real key.

[GQRDY 24]

I have to cut mine down about 2cm but they come to the tip of my nose when on skates , I've just marked on a wall in my house so I can cut them the same length :)

I don't seem to have any problem stickhandling, shooting or passing.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 134]

5'7", I still cut them to my collarbone on skates.

[psulion22 402]

I'm 5'9" and cut barely anything.  I use a low lie to compensate.  The reality is that stick length is an equalizer on defense and increases margin of error.  Cutting to increase blade contact or stick skills is probably less desirable than lowering lie and maintaining stick length.  If you cut, you sacrifice length for skills.  If you lower lie you aren't sacrificing one for the other.

[titan1234 5]

I don't match the OP's profile, but as an even more vertically-challenged skater (think < Gerbe), and flip-flopping between being a cumulative 1-way F or D (1/2 speed fwd and 1/2 speed back), I need all the reach I can get, so I go with up to my nose in skates.  Since I am useless at both, maybe I should experiment and cut one of my older sticks down.