roaddogg02316
Registered User
- Feb 23, 2004
- 859
- 0
Whats the proper length for a stick? I had heard it was either up to your nose or chin when on skates?
This length guide might help. here is a picture as well
This is how the stick would look on skates and from my experience this is what would be referred to as long, short and normal in length
I use something just under the average and, in my experience, most people refer to my stick as quite long. People tend to tell me that within an inch or so of the chin, in either direction, is normal.
I know it's personal preference but I still think a ton of people who use longer sticks would GREATLY benefit from a shorter stick, but most will never try it. They're in their comfort zone and that's their preference but it pains me to see guys during games/pickups who are using a stick that's probably 6 inches, or more, too long for them.
I use a stick that's an inch or so below my chin on skates and it's still probably and inch or two too long. My stickhandling improved immensely after cutting just 2" off my stick. I'm 5' 10" and my stick is 56".
My opinion: Start at the chin in skates and try lengths from there to find what you like. If you're using wood sticks you'll obviously have to start long and go to short, but that's a fairly inexpensive experiment to sacrifice a cheap woody. You can always add butt end extensions to composites if you cut it down too far.
Just a personal note: If I made that long/avg/short chart I'd go with Long at the nose, Average at the Chin and short maybe at the collarbone. Forehead would be Insanely Long.
your going to get a lot of different responses on this....im 5'11'' and play forward and why stick is about a inch under my chin on skates...have tried even a inch longer and it feels weird to me.
i have gathered that its a comfort thing more than anything but i would say the "proper" length would depend on the lie of the stick and the players heigth
I know it's personal preference but I still think a ton of people who use longer sticks would GREATLY benefit from a shorter stick, but most will never try it.
I get back pains if it's anywhere lower than my chin. When I buy a stick I generally stand on my tip toes and buy one that reaches my chin.
To the OP, it varies depending on position. For D, you typically want a longer stick since you'll be doing less maneuvering and more reaching to defend and swipe at pucks. Forwards tend to use shorter sticks to maneuver around D and pull the puck in close to prevent getting it taken away.
Datsyuk uses a long stick at times.
Datsyuk uses a long stick at times. Around his nose, and he has some of the best hands in the NHL. Shorter stick does not automatically equal better stickhandling. It's personal preference and people can play well with all lengths. I believe Datsyuk's prostock is about a lie 5 to 5.5 as well. So it's not like its long because it's a super low lie.
That is an issue with your skating. You should be bending your knee and not your back to get lower to the ice.
Watch Alex Ovechkin skate, he almost looks like he is sitting in a chair mid-stride. He keeps his weight under his legs and keeps his center of gravity low.
This will help you change directions quicker, it will allow you to skate faster, it will allow you to play the puck easier.