Proper Hockey Stick Length
Based mostly on comfort and personal preference, the proper hockey stick length will be relative to the height of the player, their most common skating stance, and their position or style.
Hockey Stick Sizes
Off the rack, hockey stick sizes are categorized Adult, Intermediate, Junior. These categories do not only apply to the length of the stick, but also the flexibility and circumference of the shaft, and the blade size. It is not beneficial to skill development to buy hockey stick size too big hoping to grow in to it.
Choose Correct Hockey Stick Length
Begin by selecting a stick that is made for the category you are in by age/body size. For players that are 11 years old or younger, the correct hockey stick length will probably be a Junior hockey stick size. Once you become too tall for a Junior stick, get an Intermediate one. A small, light player with smaller hands should not use an adult hockey stick size.
- The circumference will be too big for the grip;
- A lot will be cut off the shaft so its flex will be too stiff;
- The blade will be too big and awkward.
Special note about correct hockey stick length: If you buy too big and have to cut the shaft, you’ll make the stick stiffer. Read about hockey stick flex here.
Measuring Proper Hockey Stick Length
Generally speaking, to measure yourself for the proper hockey stick length in a store without skates on:
- Stand up straight with your feet flat on the ground.
- Rest the toe of the stick in front of your feet on the floor.
- Look straight ahead.
- Mark the butt end of the shaft at the tip of your nose. With skates on, this will come to your bottom lip or so.
The proper hockey stick length for stickhandlers may be shorter for puck control and hand quickness; and longer for defense for stick checking.
Length of Hockey Stick
The length of hockey stick you use should represent your style. Crouched over players will play with shorter sticks, and upright skaters will use longer ones. Stickhandlers will use shorter sticks unless they like to reach far to keep the puck away from attackers. Defense will want to have longer sticks so they can reach for pucks. Those are just general guidelines.
