Does cutting down a hockey stick change the flex?

DOES CUTTING DOWN A STICK OR ADDING AN EXTENSION CHANGE THE FLEX? The simple answer is yes, a shorter stick will feel stiffer and will perform more similarly to a stick with a higher flex number. A longer stick will feel softer and will perform more like a stick with a lower flex number.

How much does cutting a hockey stick change the flex?

More Questions About Hockey Stick Flex

Cutting a hockey stick down can affect how the stick feels and plays. Cutting a hockey stick down one inch will add around 3-5 flex.

Should I cut my hockey stick?

If the toe is up, the stick is too long. If the heel is off the ground, the stick is too short. If a stick is slightly too long, holding it with your arm straight down so that the blade is flat will leave the excess length extending beyond your top hand. That excess is the amount of handle that should be cut away.

What happens when you cut a hockey stick?

But many NHL players go much shorter, so the butt comes up just to the collarbone. (See “How to Size a Hockey Stick” for more on this topic.) Keep in mind that shortening or lengthening a hockey stick shaft will alter the flex profile somewhat. Obviously, the less you cut or add, the less you will feel this change.

Can you change the curve on a hockey stick?

Composite sticks

Composite hockey sticks can also be altered by heating the blade and some pros still do this to find the ideal custom curve and then send the specifications to the manufacturer. To do this you should heat the blade evenly from heel to toe for approximately a minute.

Why do hockey players tape their stick blades?

The reasons are obvious: Tape makes a stick easier to hold. Tape “softens” the blade, making it easier to corral a pass, lets the puck linger in your cagey control, or allows you to snap a precise wrister through the five-hole. Tape protects the blade, helping it survive the brunt of your cannonading slap shots.

Why do NHL players blowtorch their sticks?

Around an hour or two before a game, players assemble to heat their hockey sticks with a blowtorch. Brave Stick Hockey reports, "This enables [the players] to customize the blade's curve to their own personal liking."

Does stick flex matter?

The higher the flex, the harder it is to bend, and vice versa. Stick flex is crucial because it will determine how accurate and powerful a player's shot will be.

What flex should hockey stick be?

It's pretty simple… All Hockey Players should be using a stick with a Flex Rating that equals less than 50% of their body weight. Let's use logic… Most NHL Players weigh 190-220 lbs & use sticks that are 85-110 flex.

What Flex does Ovechkin use?

Stiff Competition

His teammate, playoffs MVP Alex Ovechkin, is one of the great goal scorers in NHL history and tips the scales at 239 pounds, yet uses an 80 flex.

What is hockey stick lie?

The lie of a hockey stick is indicated by a number on the shaft, usually ranging from 4 to 7. The higher the number, the more upright the lie — think puckhandlers, weaving through traffic to snap off wrist shots. The lower the number, the farther the puck is from your body — think slap shot-happy defensemen.

Do NHL players pay for their sticks?

NHL players do not pay for sticks. Their current team pays for the sticks. Even if certain players are sponsored by a brand, the team still has to buy the sticks from the brand. Some teams pay $300,000 a season to provide sticks for their players.

What is 85 flex hockey stick?

To refresh your memory: an 85 flex stick requires 85 pounds of force to bend the stick 1 inch with a full length stick. Seems simple enough, right? However, hockey is a game of preference so, just because you weigh 170 does not mean that you must use an 85 flex.

What flex stick do NHL players use?

With that all said, the majority of NHL players use a stick with flex in the 85-100 range. Forwards tend to use a lower flex. Some players with a notable low flex are Johnny Gaudreau with a 55 flex and Phil Kessel with a 65 flex.

What Flex does Phil Kessel use?

The most well-known version of this is with Phil Kessel who has a truly unique shot, and has been known to use a 65-flex. Some other players use a similarly low-flex and many of them are goal scorers known for their shooting as well.

What flex should a 11 year old use?

Youth = 20 to 30 flex (typically for ages 4 - 8, weight 40 to 60 lbs) Junior = 30 to 50 flex (typically for ages 7 - 13, weight 60 - 100 lbs) Intermediate = 50 to 70 flex (typically for ages 13 - 17, weight 110 to 150 lbs)

Does pure hockey cut sticks?

The Pure Hockey stick extension allows for 8 inches in addtional length that can be cut down for proper sizing.

What does p92 mean on a hockey stick?

The p92 has more rockered bottom, and the blade face is more open, meaning the toe has a slight twist that helps to elevate the puck. The reason the p92 is more popular now, is that it's better for shooting off the toe, specifically for snapshots.

How much curve can a hockey stick have?

By 1967, the NHL began to limit the amount of curve a stick blade could legally have. In the NHL today, the legal limit is 19 mm, or 3⁄4 of an inch. Much like the shaft's flex, a blade's shape is a very important characteristic of a stick's performance.

Do you tape a hockey stick from heel to toe?

You can tape from toe to heel or heel to toe. Heel to toe makes for easier trimming and leaves “seams” that face the heel. Start with the tape a half-inch or so from the top of the blade, on the back. Wind up and over the top of the blade, down the front side and up the back, and so on until you're done.

How do you bend a hockey stick?

Make sure that the blade is over 75 percent under the oven and wedged in there so that it won't move on you. Then start cranking up on the shaft, forming that jaw-dropping curve you've been dreaming about. Once you have the curve where you want it, hold it in place for approximately 60 seconds.

Why do hockey players eat mustard?

The mustard helps hockey players with cramps, Mark Letestu said. After Mark was caught sucking on a mustard packet in a 2019 Jets-Oilers game, the Alberta native explained his habit, saying the mustard gives him relief from muscle cramps. “Over the years, I've seen various guys do it on and off,” he said, per NHL.com.

Why do hockey players use smelling salts?

Taking a small whiff opens nasal passages, elevates heart rate, lifts blood pressure and increases brain activity. These effects are why ice hockey players think smelling salts will help with their performance out on the ice.