opinion on command grip for hockey sticks - is it worth it?
952977
OK, here's an old pro tip for ya . At the top end of you stick place a hockey lace and then wrap the hockey lace around the stick to desired Length.  Once you have done that get some hockey tape and then wrap the tape over the lace. Squeeze the tape tight over the lace. You can also have the sticky part on the outside as well.  The lace will protrude through the tape and give you a nice grip. Ive been doing it for years.  Once  it wears you can do it again. However barring that you don't break your stick with your blistering slap shot you just continue to wrap tape as needed.\nIt will work beautifully ,trust me. Impossible for someone to knock your stick loose.\nGood luck.
21523
I really like the head radical flexpoint (the one aggasi uses).  That thing can push through any ball no matter how fast it is going.  It has a really clean hit to it.
798392
i ve taken a lot of penalty kix for my HS team.... all you have to do is never look at the goalie... and put your head down but you have to know and never change your mind to where you are placing the ball.... i mean never change your mind.... dont get nervous... dont try anything fancy.. start at the the corner where the arc ends.... as you start sort of hop and skip and three steps before you kick slow down just a little and then speed up and kick the ball. i ve made all of my PKs that way and my team really trusts me on PKs. i usually use outside of my right foot... it goes to the corner and hits the bar sometimes but it goes in.
20900
There really is no "effective shot". Too many factors involved. I could have a super fast slapshot and it could get blocked before reaching the net. I mean people are saying wrister, slapshot, snapshot... but what about a redirection? Talk about what a goalie has less a chance of reacting too. If you want to be silly about it a shot at an open goal is the most effective!
680394
Get the book "Stick Control" by George Lawrence Stone.  It's boring, dull, heavy, serious, will give you a headache...and you'll be the baddest ass mofo with both hands!  It's the bible of snare work for getting both hands going.
617530
Back in the day, hockey sticks were made from Rock Elm.  This wood was preferred because it was so strong yet light.  Since the Dutch Elm disease outbreak in the early 90's wiped out most of the supply, manufactures changed to White Ash (same thing most baseball bats are made of).  It's not as strong, but it's about 1/5 of the cost.\n\nIt's pretty rare to find a wood stick nowadays - sometimes wood blades, but not a wood stick.  They make the sticks in a very similar way to baseball bats.  The manufactures find a very straight grain in a piece of wood, cut to the desired length, and cut out a notch (hole) for the blade.  A wood, wood/fiberglass, or carbon composite blade is then inserted in the notch.  It's pretty rare to find a one-piece wood.  These were extremely expensive to make, and if you snapped your blade,  the whole stick had to be junked.  Two-piece designs allow you to snap the blades all you want and still re-use the same stick over and over.\n\nHowever there isn't much to a one-piece wood stick.  The manufactures took a larger diameter tree and cut with the grain and across the widest part of the tree for the blade.  This process would yield about 2 one-piece sticks for every 6' of wood.  Not too efficient.
277196
well, it should be around 50-70 dollars, i bought my whole stick for 65 dollars, i want to get a new one with cooler colors though!!! i also play jv.
932396
i remember my first time buying a composite sticks and right from we got on the ice i received a pass and my stick broke right away then i went back to my wooden stick which is much better and cheaper then the composite sticks. I'm sick of seeing it in the NHL your team is on the power play or the game is in the dieing moments and your defenceman shoots the puck but it goes nowhere cause his stick broke then the other team gets a breakaway or the game is over i hate  the composite sticks.\n\nChief>>>>my composite stick was worth $160.00 not cheap, and they suck, players in the NHL don't really like them cause they break way to easy but they love them cause they are super light.
712278
Lots of good suggestions made so far. Skating with weights is a great one..it really helps you feel lighter and quicker. All leg excerises are good, speed starts with your burst and you need leg strength to have burst. \n  To improve stick handling the biggest trick is to get a shorter stick. Most players who struggle with stick handling often have too long a stick. If you cut your stick now with skates on to your nose try cutting it to your chin. If you use a shorter stick it may also help with some speed as it will get you a little lower in your skating position.\n  Last there is NO substitute for practice! Listen to the best players around you and the pro's and the common theme you will hear is how hard they work at their game. Dont go through the motions when practicing...keep your focus and practice like it is the end of the game and you need a goal. And practice specific skills during each practice, dont hop around doing a little of this-a little of that.\n Good luck...and remember skate with your head up!
898638
I had a friend who went to play on a team for the first time. Things he had to work on was speed and stability with skating. Body checking, Stick handling and passing.\nHis shots where hard (though sometimes off target).\n\nI don't know what your strengths and weaknesses are nor your past experiences on the ice or playing floor hockey, street hockey or shinny hockey. So it's tough to say, but using my friend's skills as a guide, I would suggest to work on your agility on the ice, your stick handling and your passing & shooting.
1153939
Warrior make good performance lacrosse sticks, but they break rather easily (well the heads snap easily to be precise). I use them and love them, but they do require alot of replacement.\n\nBrine and STX are the two most respected lacrosse manufactures, and have a wide range from cheap beginner sticks to elite and expensive sticks. And they make heads that last many seasons.\n\nAs to where to buy them, well that depends on where you live and how many you need. If you need to buy alot in bulk then you could go to one of their websites and contact them. Otherwise call around to the sports retailers in your area.
653171
Sorry, but that's just the nature of the beast.  If you're taking slappers a lot, you going to break sticks a lot.  If you refuse to use a one piece carbon outside, then try a second-hand stick.  In my town we have several "Play It Again Sports" and a couple "Second Skate".  Something like this is probably your best bet.  You'll find plenty of mid-grade sticks - mostly wood, some aluminum, a few carbon.  The PIAS by my house gets about 3-5 one-piece sticks per month.  They generally go for about 60% of their original price.\n\nBut I think your biggest challenge with a used stick is finding one with a Shanahan blade.  There aren't too many players out there that like the "S" shaped curve and high lie.  Maybe stick with an aluminum shaft and replace the Shanahan blades when you need to.\n\nIf all else fails, Easton makes an entry level one-piece called "Easton One".  The intermediate runs about $75.  If you like getting your stuff online, try http://www.icewarehouse.com/  They always seem to have decent prices.
351529
There's no rule.  Whichever hand that you feel benefits you the most.  Since your not wearing the glove gor style points, your decision  to use it is because you think it helps you or, that it eliminates a problem (ie - blisters).
580591
I was out of town with my girls team and was in net.  Someone shot the puck and I made an awesome save.  I covered it and waited for the whistle.  Finally it blew and I stood up.  I left the puck on the ice because I was in an unusual position.  So the ref came over and picked it up.  I was just standing there with my arm on the top of the net when I slip.  My skate just slips on the ice.  I was standing there are cool and show-offy and I slip.  The ref (young, and very cute) saw it and starting laughing.  I did too, but not before blushing.\n\nI know it may not sound very funny, but at the time it was.
1060457
I practice doing stickhandleing, wristing shots, slapping and snapping shots, and deking. I practice stickhandleing without looking at the puck to develop how to make more acurate passing and have more puck control. Get a mirror and put it in the end of a hall way stand back and look at the mirror and stickhandle away looking at the mirror. After you master this take the mirror away. Practice your stickhandleing around people in tight areas by putting 2 pucks in the drive way a little bit apart and stick handle in a figure 8 between them. Then put them closer together... For wrist shots practice your aiming without looking at the puck and also stickhandleing up to the goal and deking and then wristing a shot...repeat with snap shots and slap shots... Work out also. I lift weights and do situps. Go to hockey camps that do off ice training. Have fun doing this stuff!
227384
I just got a new stick for christmas. I used to have wooden Koho Jagr stick that wa sliek 25 bucks which has lasted me 3 winters. I now just got a Composit Easton stick. i believe it was 80 bucks. Best stick i have ever used!
234323
that is true.  if you dont like that then get a responase trigger kit.  it uses excess co2 to power the trigger and gets faster than the egrip.  plus it is cheaper