The stick is the most important piece of equipment used to play the sport of ice hockey. It's the way players control the puck, either passing it to other players or attempting to shoot it past the goaltender for a goal. Many players wrap tape around both the end of the stick and on the blade for better control of the puck, but each player has individual preferences for doing so.
Significance
Taping a hockey stick is important for a few reasons. First, taping the end of the shaft creates a knob or a wrapped grip that gives you better control of the stick itself. Second, taping the blade end makes it more resistant to impact and improves your control of the puck for passing and shooting.
Function
When considering how to tape your hockey stick, the quality and function of the tape is important. Although many kinds of tape can be used, the most common is friction-style tape that comes in a variety of strip sizes and colors and is available in hardware stores or local hockey shop. Black tape is most common, with white the second most popular.
Effects
In selecting a quality friction-style tape, the thicker it is, the better it will absorb water while still providing effective friction between the stick blade and the puck's textured edge. Reducing water between the two surfaces will improve contact with the puck, imparting more spin and producing faster and stronger passes and shots. On the grip end, the friction and sticky quality of the tape allows you to hold the stick in gloved hands with better control and extends to better control of the puck. The amount of tape and type of grip is dependent upon your style of play and personal preference.
Considerations
The amount of tape applied to the blade is also a personal preference. When beginning to tape the blade, first apply a strip along the bottom edge to provide an extra layer of protection. The most common place to start taping the blade is from the heel end where it attaches to the shaft, wrapping around the blade from bottom to top until reaching the toe end, approximately 1 inch from the tip. Wrapping the entire blade provides the most protection and maximizes the surface area available for contact with the puck.
Expert Insight
Because there are personal preferences and considerations involved in taping a hockey stick, experiment to find the ideal setup for your own stick. In addition to tape, there are other products you can apply to your blade to improve puck control. Follow examples from some of the sport's best players by watching online hockey videos and read product articles to learn about these more advanced techniques and products to apply to your stick.
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