Taping Sticks

        First of all, you're all probably wondering why I'm even doing a post on taping sticks. It's easy, right? If you've had a lot of practice -- then yes. But if you wanted to learn more about it or see what else is out there then this post is perfect for you. I'll explain certain aspects as to not only the tape job but also about extra things such as wax and how you tape the knob. Everything you do to your stick is about preference, so here are some ideas that will help you.

The Blade:

    Most players like to tape their sticks all the way from the heel to the toe. Others prefer taping the last half or two-thirds of the the blade towards the toe. This makes the release of the puck from the heel to toe quicker. All in all, tape is there to keep the moisture off of your stick for better stickhandling.

                                

Before you tape your stick completely, it's a good idea to put a small strip of tape on the bottom of your blade and onto the toe (you can see this in the first picture). This helps protect the blade and it makes the tape job stronger. This is important because this is the part of your stick that touches the ice the most.

    If you're wondering how to tape the blade all the way to the toe, here's how:

1. Tape your stick all the way to the toe, leaving extra on the outside of the blade.

2. Get scissors and carefully cut around the toe, cutting off all extra tape.

3. Press down the edge of the toe to make sure the tape is secure and sticking together properly.

Easy as that!

    If you're looking for another way to avoid moisture on your stick, then wax or other substances similar can be handy. Using these types of materials are very common. The most common types of wax I see players using are Mr. Zogg's Sex Wax Hockey Stick Wax and Top Shelf Stick Wax.

   

Another option is rubber gripping tape or a spray. I've never actually seen anyone use the spray, so I would assume that wax is the better choice. I have, on the other hand seen rubber gripping tape and it seems to work really well. It is slightly more expensive though, so you may want to consider that before experimenting with it.

The Knob:

     Now, as I said before, taping a hockey stick is all about preference. Some players like big knobs, and some none at all. I would suggest having one because it helps when poke checking or even picking up your stick. If you want a better grip, you can use rubber gripping tape and/or a spiral of tape. If you twist the tape into a small rope and wrap it 3 or 4 times in a diagonal fashion a couple inches apart and then tape over it, you make a pretty nice handgrip. Here's an example:

                  

Having a handgrip is really useful when shooting or stickhandling. It's important to figure out what works for you and gives you the best grip.

The Shaft (Optional):

       Taping the shaft is not very common. The reason that a player might want to tape it is for better grip for shooting, but it is not normally needed. It's not recommended because it usually does very little for a player. You can always try it out, but as I said earlier, taping a hockey stick is all about preference.

       Hope that this helped with any questions you had on taping a stick! Any questions please e-mail me or comment.