Ice hockey sticks are generally taped in two areas. The first area is the blade of the stick and the second is the handle of the stick. The blade of the stick is taped to enhance a player's ability to control the puck as well as to protect the blade from moisture and wear and tear. The handle is taped to provide added friction for a player's top hand. That allows for improved control of the stick when handling the puck, as well as when using the stick for defensive purposes, such as poke-checking. How you tape your stick is based largely on personal preference, but it is good to be aware of the various options when trying to find what you like best.
Types of Tape
The two most common types of tape used for hockey sticks are friction tape and cloth tape. Friction tape is thicker and heavier, and includes an adhesive element on the tape that provides for a better grip. Friction tape is usually black, while cloth tape is typically black or white. Using black tape can help to conceal the puck when it is on the blade, and makes it more difficult for opposing goaltenders to recognize the puck. There is also a relatively new product available that provides an alternative to traditional hockey tape called blade tape. Rather than being wound around the blade as is done with a traditional roll of hockey tape, it is a one piece durable rubber material that is applied directly to each side of the blade.
More Than Just Tape
In addition to applying tape to the blade of the hockey stick, many players use additional other material to gain improved protection of the blade as well as improved puck handling. The most common addition to the tape on the blade of the stick is wax. Wax can be applied to the entire surface of the blade, which will provide increased adhesion and control of the puck, or just to the bottom of the blade where damage is most common. Another substance that can be used on hockey stick blades is baby powder. It also works as a moisture repellent, and was used by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, who felt it kept slush from accumulating on his blade.
Find a Handle
There are options for taping the handle of the hockey stick. Most players will put some form of a "butt end," or knob, at the end of the shaft to keep the top hand from coming off of the stick as well as making it easier to pick up the stick if it is dropped. The size of the butt end is up to the player, but it is more common for defensemen to have a larger butt end, making it easier for them to keep hold of the stick when poke-checking opponents who are carrying the puck. Players can also gain added control of the handle by creating spiral grooves along the top 6 to 10 inches of the shaft. This is done by taking 12 inches of hockey tape and "twirling" it into a tight rope-like formation and then wrapping that rope diagonally down the handle. It is then covered with cloth tape to a thickness of the player's liking.
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