| There has been a lot of discussion regarding the pros | | | | players. After you have been playing hockey for a |
| and cons of wood versus composite hockey sticks in | | | | while you will be better able to judge the qualities of |
| the NHL that last couple of years. The fact of the | | | | hockey sticks and how they match your style of play. |
| matter is that wood hockey sticks are almost extinct | | | | That is a good point to investigate whether or not a |
| in the NHL. But what about for the recreational player? | | | | composite hockey stick makes sense for you. |
| Wood hockey sticks are a very viable, and sometimes | | | | For a beginning player a wood stick is a great first |
| preferred, option. We are going to cover the pros and | | | | hockey stick. In your early years playing hockey, the |
| cons of each stick. | | | | advantages of a composite hockey stick over a |
| The advantages of the newer composite sticks are | | | | wood one might be beyond your ability to take |
| many. The sticks are lighter, they are more consistent | | | | advantage of. The one exception to this is the lighter |
| from stick to stick and they have been engineered to | | | | weight of the composite sticks. Beyond that price is |
| provide player with a quicker shot. The quicker shot | | | | often the factor that most influences a wood versus |
| comes from the lower kick points in composite sticks. | | | | composite purchasing decision. The key thing to figure |
| The kick point is the play on the hockey shaft where | | | | out is if the benefits of a composite stick are worth |
| the stick bends when your stick the puck. With wood | | | | the extra cost to you. |
| shafts the bend tends to be where you place your | | | | After making your selection you still need to choose |
| lower hand. This causes a larger and slower loading | | | | the blade pattern to match your preferences and |
| and release cycle. Low kick point composite sticks | | | | whether you shoot right or left handed. Your stick will |
| place the bend point at the bottom of the shaft near | | | | need to be long enough to come up to your chin area |
| the blade. This provides a shorter loading and release | | | | when you are standing in skates and hold the stick |
| cycle and the net result is a quicker shot. | | | | vertically with one end on the ice in front of you. |
| If you have played hockey before chances are good | | | | Hockey sticks also have a flex to their shafts just like |
| that you started with a wood hockey stick and that is | | | | golf clubs do. You will need a flex that woks for your |
| still a good choice for today's beginning hockey players. | | | | skill, style on overall body weight and strength. |
| Wood hockey sticks are significantly less expensive | | | | In the end it all comes to personal choice. You need to |
| than composite hockey sticks and this certainly helps | | | | try out a large variety of sticks to find the one that is |
| the budget when you are just getting started and have | | | | best suited to your skills and your budget. As your skills |
| to gear up with all of the equipment required to play | | | | and experience improve over time you "perfect" |
| hockey. Another advantage of wood sticks is that | | | | hockey stick will evolve as well. |
| they impart a better feel for the puck for beginning | | | | |