| Hockey sticks come in different sizes, | | | | |
| compositions, and materials. Choosing the | | | | Lie |
| best combination is vital to staying | | | | |
| comfortable throughout the game without | | | | The lie is the angle between the shaft and |
| sacrificing performance. Here are some of | | | | the blade. This is measured with the numbers |
| important factors to consider when buying a | | | | 4 to 8; the smaller the lie number, the wider |
| hockey stick: | | | | the angle. Use a lower lie stick if you |
| | | | prefer to skate close to the ground with the |
| Size | | | | puck in front. |
| | | | |
| Hockey sticks come in junior and senior | | | | Materials |
| sizes. Junior hockey sticks are about 46 to | | | | |
| 54 inches long, while senior hockey sticks | | | | Wood. Wooden hockey sticks are usually stiff |
| measure 56 to 62 inches. The slanted end | | | | and heavy, so they are best for strong |
| usually extends 10 to 15 centimeters from the | | | | players. They also tend to break more easily. |
| shaft. Generally, shorter sticks offer better | | | | |
| control, but longer ones make more powerful | | | | Fiberglass. These hockey sticks have a wooden |
| hits. | | | | core with a fiberglass coating, making them a |
| | | | lot heavier than other composites. They are |
| Stiffness | | | | the cheapest but least durable, making them |
| | | | ideal for practice but not for actual games. |
| The shaft also has different flex or | | | | |
| stiffness levels, classified as medium, stiff | | | | Aluminum. Aluminum sticks have an aluminum |
| and extra stiff. Forward players usually | | | | shaft with replaceable blades. They are |
| prefer more flexible shafts, while defensemen | | | | lighter than fiberglass and wood but heavier |
| can play better with stiff shafts. If you're | | | | than Kevlar and titanium. They are ideal for |
| a beginner, start with a medium shaft and | | | | those with various blade preferences. |
| move to stiffer ones as you get better. | | | | |