Sticks

Handle

Make sure it is comfortable and fits your hand. A handle that is too big or has sharp edges may cause injury or stop you from developing skills. While holding a stick look at the angle the blade exits your palm. A stick that points slightly forward will help with speed and maneuverability (e.g. forwards). A stick that exits at right angles will be better for tackling and passing (e.g. backs).

Front edge

The front edge is the part of the stick that passes the puck so it is very important. It should be slightly curved with a bevel and texture that helps “lift” the puck. The longer and thicker the front edge the higher and longer the pass, but this makes it slow. A short stick will enable a very fast snap pass but it will not travel quite as far. Look for a good balance of length and thickness.

Back edge

The back edge is used for moving the puck around your body and making tackles. The bigger the “hook” the better the tackle but big hooks lock the puck to the stick and make skills very hard. Forwards may want a smoother shallower hook to help with puck control, where as backs might prefer a deeper hook for stronger tackles.