Should you choose a wooden or composite hockey stick?
There has been a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of wooden versus composite hockey sticks in the NHL over the past few years. The fact is, wooden hockey sticks are almost extinct in the NHL. But what about the recreational gamer? Wooden hockey sticks are a very viable and sometimes preferred option. We are going to cover the pros and cons of each bar.
The advantages of the new composite sticks are many. The clubs are lighter, are more consistent from club to club and have been designed to provide the player with a faster shot. The fastest shot comes from the lower kick points on compound clubs. The kick spot is the game on the hockey stick where the stick bends when you hit the puck. With wooden shafts, the curve tends to be where the bottom hand places. This results in a longer and slower charge and release cycle. Low kick point composite sticks place the flex point on the underside of the shaft close to the blade. This provides a shorter charge and release cycle and the net result is a faster firing.
If you’ve played hockey before, chances are good that you started with a wooden hockey stick and it’s still a good choice for beginning hockey players today. Wooden hockey sticks are significantly less expensive than composite hockey sticks and this certainly helps the budget when you are just starting out and have to prepare with all the necessary equipment to play hockey. Another advantage of wooden clubs is that they impart a better feel to the puck to beginning players. After you have played hockey for a while, you will be able to better judge the qualities of hockey sticks and how they suit your style of play. That’s a good point to research if a composite hockey stick makes sense to you.
For a beginning player, a wooden stick makes a great first hockey stick. In your early years playing hockey, the advantages of a composite hockey stick over a wooden one may be beyond your ability to take advantage of. The only exception to this is the lighter weight of the composite rods. Beyond that price is often the most influencing factor in the lumber versus composite purchasing decision. The key to finding out is whether the benefits of a composite bar are worth the additional cost to you.
After making your selection, you still need to choose the blade pattern that matches your preferences and whether you shoot with your right or left hand. Your pole should be long enough to reach your chin area when standing on skates and hold the pole vertically with one end on the ice in front of you. Hockey sticks also have a flex in their shafts just like golf clubs. You will need a pushup that suits your ability, style over overall body weight, and strength.
In the end, it is all about a personal choice. You should try a wide variety of clubs to find the one that best suits your skills and budget. As your skills and experience improve over time, your “perfect” hockey stick will evolve as well.
