Ice Hockey Sticks - Pros And Cons Of Composite Versus Wooden Hockey Sticks

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the pros and cons of wood versus composite hockey sticks in the NHL that last couple of years. The fact of the matter is that wood hockey sticks are almost extinct in the NHL. But what about for the recreational player? Wood hockey sticks are a very viable, and sometimes preferred, option. We are going to cover the pros and cons of each stick.

Composite sticks have become a very popular choice in the last few years because there is a lot to like about composite hockey sticks. The two primary advantages are that 1) they can provide they player with a more accurate and faster shot, and 2) they weigh significantly less that wood sticks. The weight advantage allows the player to be more active with their stick when stick checking an opponent. The more accurate and faster shots come from the way that the composite sticks are engineered to bend at a lower point on the shaft than wood sticks. This lower bending point allows the stick to load up and recoil faster than a wood stick. With les deflection of the stick the shots are easier to control and put on target.

If you have played hockey before chances are good that you started with a wood hockey stick and that is still a good choice for today's beginning hockey players. Wood hockey sticks are significantly less expensive than composite hockey sticks and this certainly helps the budget when you are just getting started and have to gear up with all of the equipment required to play hockey. Another advantage of wood sticks is that they impart a better feel for the puck for beginning players. After you have been playing hockey for a while you will be better able to judge the qualities of hockey sticks and how they match your style of play. That is a good point to investigate whether or not a composite hockey stick makes sense for you.

The biggest deciding factor for many players comes down to cost. Wood sticks run $15 to $50 for an excellent high end wood stick. Most composite sticks run $100 to almost $300. You have to ask yourself if there is enough of a difference in the performance between a wood stick and a composite stick to make it worth the extra money. If you are a fairly new player then it is unlikely that a composite stick will significantly improve your performance and many folks believe that you are better off learning with a wood stick due to the increase feel of a wood stick.

Once you chose between a wood hockey stick or a composite there are a couple of other key elements that go into getting you the perfect stick. The first is stick length. You hockey stick should come up to your chin when you are in skates and the stick is held vertically in front of you with the blade on the ice. Depending on how tall you are you will want one of 4 standard sticks sizes (youth, junior, intermediate and senior). You will need to cut one of these sticks down to the right size for you. Next is the blade of the stick. You will need to get a right or left handed blade based upon how you shoot and a curve that matched your style of play. The last element you need to determine is the flex of the stick. You don't want a flex that is too stiff or too limp because it wil be hard to handle the puck at either extreme.

In the end it all comes to personal choice. You need to try out a large variety of sticks to find the one that is best suited to your skills and your budget. As your skills and experience improve over time you "perfect" hockey stick will evolve as well.