Development of Hockey Sticks

Introduction

Hockey sticks are arguably one of the most critical components in hockey equipment, a good stick can significantly bolster a player’s performance on ice, while a poorly-chosen hockey stick may hinder a player’s performance. For many hockey players, hockey sticks could be very confusing because of the sheer variety and the confusing numbers printed on the shaft. So, today I will explain the development of hockey sticks in simple words.

Material

In the earliest days of hockey, sticks were made of wood, which is not a very suitable material for hockey sticks as it is heavy and inefficient. Wooden sticks also do not have such complexities as modern sticks; they usually have the same flexibility and blade curvature.

As the study of material science becomes more popular, materials used in hockey sticks also improved and progressed. In the late 20th century, wooden sticks were replaced with sticks made of different alloys, such as titanium, aluminum, and graphite. The change in material also brought more varieties and a deeper understanding in the science behind hockey sticks. Hockey sticks began to utilize more elastic energy to help players achieve a stronger shot.

In the most recent decade or so, alloys were starting to be replaced by a more advanced material - carbonfibre. Compared to alloys, carbonfibre is significantly lighter and more efficient at transferring energy. Carbonfibre sticks also have more variety in flex and curve.

Flex

The flex of a hockey stick refers to its flexibility - usually shown on the shaft by a number - greater flex number means less flexibility, and vice versa. Stick flex is a very crucial component of modern hockey sticks, as carbonfibre is a material very good at transferring elastic energy to kinetic energy, and the optimal flex can result in significantly stronger shots. Most players believe that the optimal flex should equal roughly half of the player’s weight in lbs.

Curve

The curve of a hockey stick refers to the shape and curvature of the blade. Stick brands engineered different shapes of the blade, and the different designs are given designated names, for example, the most common curve for CCM hockey sticks is “P29”, which is a relatively medium curve. More “curvy” blades are good for lifting pucks, on the other hand, less “curvy” blades are easier to control.

Kick point

The kick point of a stick refers to the hand placement for the optimal flex of the stick. A high kick point means that the “fulcrum” of the “lever” is placed higher, so the bottom hand should be gripped lower to benefit the most from the elasticity of the stick. While a low kick point means that the bottom hand should be placed higher to retain the most energy upon puck release.

Grip

The grip of the stick refers to the surface friction of the stick. Unlike many of the other components of a stick, the grip design was already very common in the earlier days of hockey. Many players at the time polished their sticks using sandpaper or wax for less grip and easier hand movement, while other players applied tape to their sticks for more grip. Nowadays, the grip design of a stick is usually embedded during its manufacturing; engineers from the stick brands designed the most comfortable grip feel as the study of ergonomics becomes more prevalent.

Summary

Overall, through the development of hockey sticks, engineers are always pursuing the perfect balance between weight and flexibility to design the most optimal hockey stick. On ice, the different aspects are designed to aid the passing, shooting, and stick-handling, giving the player an edge over their opponents. On a larger scale, the development of the hockey stick is an example of the progress of material science and engineering. The most advanced stick differs significantly compared with the earliest wooden sticks as technology also progressed over the years.