Short version: stand in your shoes with no skates on, and the stick should reach somewhere between your chin and your nose. Put the skates on and it should sit about at your chin. Shorter helps stickhandling, longer helps poke checks, and your flex should run around half your body weight.
Alright, beer league warriors, let’s talk about the most important weapon in your hockey arsenal—the stick. Your hockey stick is like your trusty drinking buddy. Get the wrong one, and the night (or game) just won’t feel right. But pick the perfect stick, and you’ll be slinging saucer passes and almost scoring goals in no time. Let’s break this down in the language we all speak—beer and chirps.
1. Stick Length: The Goldilocks Rule
You don’t want a stick that’s too long (awkward to handle) or too short (you’ll look like you borrowed it from a Peewee). Here’s the deal:
- Without Skates: Stand up straight like you’re trying to impress your Tinder date. The stick should hit somewhere between your chin and nose.
- With Skates: Same deal, but now it should line up with your chin.
Pro Tip:
Shorter sticks are great if you like dangling like you’re in the NHL (even though you’re not). Longer sticks are better if your main move is the ol’ poke check because skating back on defense is hard.
2. Stick Flex: How Much Bend You Need
Flex is basically how much the stick bends when you take a shot. If you’re thinking, “I don’t shoot much,” then grab whatever feels cool. If you’re taking clappers at warm-ups like it’s the Stanley Cup Final, read on.
- Rule of Thumb: Your flex should be about half your body weight. So if you’ve been hitting the beer fridge a little too hard and weigh 200 lbs, go for a 100 flex stick.
- Forwards: A lower flex (like 70-85) will make your wristers snap like a cold can of beer on a hot day.
- Defensemen: Higher flex (85-100) = more power for those bombs from the point that never hit the net.
Bonus Beer Math:
Every inch you cut off the stick makes it stiffer. So if you’re 5’8” and trimming down a pro’s stick, your 85 flex is now more like 95. Good luck bending that thing.
3. Material: Composite vs. Wood
Ah, the age-old debate. Composite sticks are light and fancy, while wood sticks are old-school and dirt cheap.
- Composite: Great for flexing on the bench about your gear. Plus, they make your shots look harder (even if they’re not).
- Wood: Perfect for that “I play for fun” vibe. Bonus: if you break one, you’re only out a six-pack’s worth of cash.
4. Blade Curves: The Secret Sauce
Blade curves are like pizza toppings—there’s no wrong choice, but everyone’s got a favorite. If you want the brand-by-brand breakdown, we put together a full blade curve chart and cheat sheet.
- Mid Curve: The versatile option. Perfect for beer leaguers who say, “I can play forward or D.”
- Heel Curve: Good for defensemen who live for big slappers that hit shin pads.
- Toe Curve: Great for snipers. Or, you know, people who think they’re snipers.
Pro Tip:
Don’t overthink it. Just pick one and learn to use it. The puck doesn’t care what curve you have when it’s in the net.
5. Stick Lie: Not Just About Your Beer Stories
The “lie” is how the stick blade sits on the ice. If it’s off, you’re either digging holes in the ice or just catching air.
- Low Lie (5): For the grinders who play hunched over like they’re constantly tying their skates.
- High Lie (7): Perfect if you’re upright and coasting between shifts.
6. Lefty or Righty: Don’t Overthink It
If you don’t already know which hand you shoot with, just grab a stick and go with whatever feels right. If your beer league buddies start chirping, tell them it’s “ambidextrous versatility.”
7. Budget: The Real MVP
Listen, you don’t need a $300 stick to sauce passes in beer league. Get what fits your wallet and won’t make you cry when it snaps on your first shift.
- Entry-Level: Great for people who only show up when there’s free beer after the game.
- Mid-Range: Solid for those of us who play regularly but also have a mortgage.
- High-End: If you’re rocking one of these in beer league, congrats on your tax return.
8. Try It Out
If you’re buying in-store, give it a good waggle. Maybe practice your celly in the aisle. Can’t do that online, but hey, you can always blame the stick if you don’t like it.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my hockey stick be?
Standing in your shoes with no skates on, the top of the stick should land between your chin and your nose. In skates, it should sit right around your chin. Shorter than that and you lose reach on poke checks. Longer and the puck feels like it is out in another postal code every time you try to stickhandle.
What flex should I use?
Start at roughly half your body weight, so a 200 lb player lands near a 100 flex. Forwards who live on wrist shots usually go lower, around 70 to 85, so the stick loads up quickly. Defensemen firing from the point usually sit at 85 to 100 for more power. Adjust from there on feel, not on what your buddy uses.
How much should I cut off my hockey stick?
Only cut what you need to hit that chin height in skates, because every inch you take off makes the stick stiffer. Trim a pro stock stick down for a shorter player and an 85 flex starts behaving more like a 95. Cut a little, skate on it, then cut again. You cannot glue the inches back on.
What lie do I need on my stick?
Lie is how flat the blade sits on the ice when you are in your normal stance. A low lie, around a 5, suits grinders who skate hunched over with the puck out in front. A high lie, around a 7, suits taller, more upright skaters. If the toe or the heel of your blade keeps lifting off the ice, your lie is wrong.
Do I need an expensive stick for beer league?
No. An entry-level or mid-range stick saucers a pass exactly as well as a $300 twig on a Tuesday night. Composite is lighter and snappier, wood is cheap and hurts a lot less when it snaps in half. Spend your money on getting the length, flex and curve right rather than on the paint job.
At the end of the day, the best stick is the one that feels right. And remember, no matter how much research you do, it won’t stop you from fanning on an open net in the last two minutes of the game. Cheers to that, eh? 🍻
We can’t help you pick a stick, but we can keep your team from looking like a pickup game. While you’re here, take a look at how our custom jerseys work, or get the team kitted out before the season starts.
