Your choice of hockey stick is personal. We get it—hockey is a personal game. You need the perfect stick to elevate your game to the next level. Whether you prefer a composite or wood stick, or if you're in the market for a new shaft or blade, Pure Hockey has what you're looking for.
Which Hockey Stick Is Right for Me?
When choosing a new hockey stick, base your selection on performance and affordability. The stick that provides the feel you like and the best performance that fits your budget is the best ice hockey stick for you.
The main differences between entry and elite-level offerings are in construction materials and design technologies. Entry-level composite sticks use more fiberglass and other inferior materials, while elite sticks use much more carbon fiber and include advanced features like special shaft and taper designs to provide superior performance.
If you are new to the sport and play infrequently—a couple times a month or less—you may be happy with an entry-level composite stick that features solid performance and feel. The other option is a wood stick, though just about every wood stick weighs more and provides fewer performance features than a composite stick. However, wood sticks are remarkably inexpensive, compared with even the cheapest composite stick. So if budget is an issue, or if you want the additional weight for training purposes or puck feel, wood may be for you.
If you're a new adult player who expects to play once a week or more, it makes sense to shop for a performance-level composite stick with some top features to help you score more goals and maximize your performance.
Moderately experienced players should take a look at both performance-level and elite-level sticks. Consider the performance features that would benefit you most, and see what models fall within your budget.
Advanced or pro-level players already know they need the best hockey stick they can get their hands on. At this level, what matters most is finding the stick with the specs and design that suit your position and style of play.
Check out our Stick Finder Tool for customized recommendations about the best ice hockey stick for you.
What to Look for in a Hockey Stick
If you're new to hockey, or you're a parent shopping for your child’s first hockey stick, the number of choices and options might be a little overwhelming. A quick look will reveal a number of brands, including Bauer, CCM, and Warrior - each offering a variety of composite and wood hockey sticks at various price points.
Shopping with a little basic knowledge about hockey sticks should simplify the selection process.
Manufacturers build most of their best technologies and design ideas into their top-shelf offerings. These might be various composite construction materials or stick-taper designs. Composite sticks are designed with a "kick point." A kick point refers to where the stick bends when force is applied and how much potential energy is created when loading your shot. There are three kinds of kick points:
- Low Kick
- Mid Kick
- High Kick
A stick with a low kick point is designed to flex at the bottom of the shaft, features a very quick shot release, and doesn't generate as much raw shot power as other stick designs. Generally speaking, this stick is best for players (usually forwards) who value quick wrist shots over powerful slap shots.
A mid-kick point stick flexes in the center of the shaft. Mid-kick sticks generate an incredible amount of potential energy that, when released, accounts for blistering, high-velocity slap shots. Mid-kick sticks are for any player looking for a balance of both power and quickness, and the ability to take shots from anywhere on the ice.
High-kick sticks flex at the upper portion of the shaft and are built to deliver maximum shot power due to the amount of energy required to load them. These sticks are formulated for players who need to take hard shots from distance.