What should my stick flex be

Alexander Ovechkin is pounds and uses a 79 flex stick, which is probably a big reason for his one-timer. Sidney Crosby uses a flex stick, higher than you may imagine for a skilled player. Patrick Kane uses an unusually stiff stick for his size at Defenders almost universally use higher flex sticks.

Zdeno Chara, at and pounds, uses a flex stick regularly, twice as stiff as Ovechkin. Dustin Byfuglien and Shea Weber use flex sticks, but Weber increases this to flex for the hardest shot competitions. We take for granted the consistency that the composite sticks provide. The stick flex is accurate and you can buy the same stick at different times and know how they will perform.

Wooden sticks were a different story. Wooden sticks also had flex ratings, but instead of these being engineered into the stick as it was being made, they were assigned based on how the stick would flex after the stick was made.

The kick point of wooden sticks where the primary bend and transfer of energy occurs was much higher on wooden sticks. They would tend to flex in the center and whip from there, whereas composite sticks kick closer to the blade.

More power is delivered the lower the kick point is. Below that are junior sticks, where 55 flex is usually the highest. It is acceptable to flex the stick by holding one hand on top and the other in the center.

See how hard it is to get that one inch of deflection and find the stick that seems right. A small bend will give you enough idea.

Lastly, keep in mind which type of player you are. Is your game better with power or placement? 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 does not mean that you must use an 85 flex. You may find that the 85 is too stiff for you, and there is nothing wrong with using a 75 flex stick. When choosing a stick, before you even leave the store you can estimate what the right flex for you might be.

Give your potential stick a good flex, press down on the shaft with your normal hand position. The staff will probably yell at you if you press too hard. You should be able to flex it inches comfortably. The Truth about Hockey Stick Flex. Joey Walsh. Facebook Twitter Email. Older Post. Newer Post. Logan Dockendorf November 14, Joey Walsh October 19, Leave a comment Name. Newsletter Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases, and more!

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