Table of Contents:
How To Tape A Hockey Stick?
The process of taping your stick before an event can be a precise and reverent procedure used by ice hockey players. While every player will have their method, understanding the fundamentals of wrapping the blade and grip correctly will help you get the best performance and feel from your stick.
Why Tape?
- It guards the blade against being damaged.
- It “softens” the blade to help it accept a pass with ease.
- Its tackiness helps in better puck control.
Some Important Don’ts Before We Start Taping Our Twig:
- Don’t apply clear, duct, postal tape, or another type of tape that’s not friction grip, cloth tape to protect your sticks. We’d prefer not to mention this, however…
- Unless you wish to look like a full duster, do not wrap the entire shaft with the hockey tape.
- Don’t have any inconsistent spacing between your blades unless you’re going for the Pastrnak appearance.
- Do not apply tape to an old tape job your blade unless you are comfortable with the stick being weighed down by many layers of Ice or the tape is waterlogged.
Selecting the color of tape for your stick
To ensure the highest results from the hockey stick you have, follow these specific guidelines when you tape your stick. However, first, you’ll need the appropriate equipment.
Therefore, you need to purchase two hockey tape rolls – two for the handle and one to cover the blade. Please select one that matches the color of your hockey stick, and then use it as the handle.
Most hockey players choose black hockey tape as their blade, which means opponents will have a more challenging time viewing the puck when it’s within your reach.
Certain people will select an appropriate tape color for the handle that matches their gloves, as hockey tape colors are reported for rubbing off. It is also advisable to have scissors on the hand.
You may need these ones:
1. RX3 Hockey Stick
2. White Hockey Tape
3. Mylec USA 6 Pack Tape
4. Hockey Tape Loaded Accessory Bag
How to Tape a Hockey Stick?
Like tying skates, there’s no “correct” way to tape the hockey stick. If your tape is like Patrick Sharp’s, David Pastrnak’s, or anything in between, it ultimately boils down to the style and method that is most effective for you.
When you purchase a hockey skate, you’ll need to ensure it’s the right length before taping. When skating, sticks should rest in between the chin of your nose, based on what you prefer.
The first thing to do is you’ll require a full roll 1.5-inch and 1-in Renfrew Hockey Tape (white or black, based on your preference) and stick wax, and a pair of scissors in case you need them.
Three major segments make up a hockey stick that can be taped, including the shaft, handle, and blade. Each section is crucial to be aware of the tips below. Make use of cloth tape. Avoid using sock tape or any tape with rough surfaces.
Cloth tape can give you control over your puck and stick while in action. Another suggestion is to make your work as precise as you can. Be patient, make sure you’re getting the same spacing between each wrap, and make sure there aren’t any gaps or bumps.
How to Tape a Hockey Stick Handle or Butt End?
How to tape the top of a hockey stick? Taping the top of your stick is crucial since this is where nearly all control over your stick will originate. It’s going to have an immediate impact on your shooting or passing, stickhandling, and other things.
However, there are numerous variations, and it can take time to determine the one you prefer. Some players prefer a large knob on top with lots of tape around it; others prefer a smaller knob. In contrast, others prefer the “candy cane” grip, others prefer a hockey stick grip such as those with the Buttendz Twirl 88 grip, and others prefer a different design.
The most popular design is a basic mid-sized knob. It is best to begin with the highest point of your stick and wrap the tape over the top until it is the size you want. Cut the tape as the hockey stick knob is the size you want. Most players end when the pinky is comfortably wrapped around the knob while using gloves.
Beginning at the bottom of the knob, you’ll tie the piece of tape to the stick and move downwards diagonally until you reach the desired length. The typical lengths of tape handle range between 4 to 10 inches. Once you’ve got your desired length, make one more horizontal run at the bottom and overlap some, and finally cut it.
It is common for players to wrap grip tape around the handle in this stage. This gives it an additional texture and helps keep your palms in good condition with gloves.
How to Wrap a Hockey Stick or Taping the Shaft
Since certain sticks have grip but others do not, A different option for gaining control and grip is to tap to the shaft. When talking about tapering the shaft, one name that is thought of is Phil Kessel. This follows the standard Candy Cane technique.
Start with a 1-inch piece of tape just below the buttend, and wrap the stick using 1.5 up to two inches the space between wraps. Keep going down the stick until you have reached the length you want; end it the same way you did the grip on the top.
This technique isn’t widely used since most players would prefer to release the bottom hand whenever they need to on the Ice.
How to Tape a Hockey Stick Blade?
How to tape the toe of a hockey stick? Finally, we get to that blade which is often the most crucial element they use their stick. Like the grip on sticks, you can find numerous variants in the process of tapering to the shaft on the sticks. The most frequently inquired about the issue is whether the tape work should be done toe-to heel or heel-to-toe.
Some suggest the heel-to-toe technique, even though it reduces their shot speed, creates an additional spin on the puck, which causes it to be more challenging for goalies to manage—wrapping your blade toe-to-heel thought to decrease the amount of time required for the puck to leave your blade when shooting.
First, you have to choose the color of tape you’d like to use. The most commonly used shades are white and black.
Although this might not appear as if it plays a huge impact, there’s more to it than you might believe. The use of black tape on the blade can hinder goalies from finding the puck while shooting.
However, the downside is it can make it more difficult for players to follow the puck while stickhandling. A black puck against an unpainted blade could be hard to spot. However, the opposite can be said on white tape.
While it’s less complicated for goalies to follow the puck when there’s white tape covering your blade, it’s simpler for the stickhandlers to locate the puck by using their peripheral vision due to the stark contrast that the black puck against the white blade.
After deciding on the color tape you’d like to work with, you’re now able to begin taping the blade. Whatever end of the blade you choose to begin from, you can move until you reach the opposite side. It is crucial to ensure that you are consistent in your spacing every time you wrap
You will get the consistency you’re looking for in your shots and passes by doing this. Once you have decided on the point of departure, wrap the tape horizontally along the edge, and overlap each previous wrap by less than halfway. You can cut the tape and then overlap the previous wrap when you reach the length you want.
In general, you will not need to stretch the tape to the shaft; however, it is up to personal preference. After you have completed the process, you can rub your fingers over the tape’s surface in the direction the tape faces to ensure that the tape is secure and smooth.
Stick wax can be added to the freshly taped blade, too. There are many kinds of stick wax available; however, you need to ensure that it clearly states stick wax, not general wax.
Stick wax offers you more control over the puck in your blade, assists in wicking off water and Ice, and improves the lifespan of the tape job.
Grab the wax and run it horizontally across the blade’s front. Repeat this procedure 2-4 times on the back of the blade well. Another option to use wax is friction tape, which comes with an adhesive coating on the two sides.
Following these three steps, you’re now all set to play with your new tape and get some fantastic shots!
The process of taped-on hockey sticks to play roller hockey is slightly different. Players usually place precut pieces of tape in a horizontal direction from the heel to the hockey stick toe.
If you choose to utilize stick taping as a traditional method, the tape will create resistance when it comes into contact with tiles or concrete.
How to Remove Hockey Stick Tape?
At time, the entire taping process had to be repeated. Also, your frequency of performing it is down to your personal preferences. Some players will tape their blades before every game, while others perform it just every few months.
The general rule is that if any substantial part of your blade is visible because of the tape being damaged by skates, it is best to tap it over again. Another sign that you may need to retape is when the tape at the blade’s bottom has worn down to the point where you can discern the edge of the blade.
When you remove the tape is bound to, there will be some tape residue left to remain across the blade. If you encounter this problem, There are two standard ways to remove it. First, you need an empty bucket to fill up with warm water. Then, you can pour an amount of dishwashing soap into the bucket.
Allow the stick that has the soap residue to sit for about a minute. Remove it, and then gently rub the residue off using the help of a cloth and scrubber. Another popular method is to warm the residue with a blow dryer to scrape it away.
If you don’t want to scrape the residue, it is possible to use the blow-drying method to wipe it off using the help of a cloth coated with natural oil or rubbing alcohol. [1]
Alternatives to tape and accessories
Premade Grips and Knobs:
Suppose taping the bottom on your hockey stick seems more like a choice than a pleasurable experience, and you’re looking for unbeatable durability and consistency. In that case, several companies offer grips for hockey sticks that are molded. They come in a wide range of colors and styles.
They also can be reused, so you can change your grip to a brand new stick when you break the twig you’re currently using. The grips initially are more expensive than a standard tape, but the long-lasting nature of the rubber grips makes them worthwhile in the end.
There is a loss of some personalization when you stop the manual taping method. Those fans of the ritual of tapping a new twig are likely to be dissatisfied by the slow process of sliding it onto rubber grips. However, the pragmatic player who prefers consistency and feels over customizing and ritual will give it a go and will never go back.
Additionally, there’s the benefit of an elegantly designed knob every time that some obsessive gamers who must re-do their tape job a few times before they can get it right will appreciate.
Premade Blade Decals
As with rubber grips, pre-made blade decals provide an excellent consistency and are long-lasting. They’ll usually help cushion the puck more than tape jobs that are standard and probably last longer than the stick you’re using. They often have raised patterns that create more friction and add more to the puck’s spin for more steady shots.
For those who want to stay clear of the substantial cushioning of that blade, tape provides BASE’s Shark Skin blade texture will give the same puck rotation on untapped areas of your blade, while also providing better sensation through close contact to the blade’s surface.
Blade decals aren’t very common, and those who find tapping their sticks to be an effort can appreciate the option to apply a decal one time and never tap their blades for the rest of their lives.
The decals cover only the blade’s surface and leave the underside unprotected, which can affect the durability, but is beneficial for those who prefer lesser friction while sticking or shooting.
Wooden and Composite Extensions:
If the stick you’ve chosen to cut is way too shorter or the typical length of your shaft isn’t sufficient for you, the wooden or composite shaft extensions let you extend the shaft on your stick.
Of course, the BASE offers extended shafts that can reach 6,” which should not be a problem for anyone who is a BASE customized stick user.
The most affordable and popular extensions are the solid wood plugs that can provide an additional dampened feeling in the top hand and help make the stick feel lighter and more blade-light.
Some players may cut their sticks shorter than they need and include a wooden plug at the end as they prefer the feeling or prefer to reduce the size of the plug to a different shaft shape.
To make sure your stick is as light as you can while you extend it with a hollow extension, it can be bought straight from the BASE and incorporated into any stick.
Other Tape Alternatives
Like most things, the only limit of stick customization is only your imagination, which means that nearly anything is possible to substitute or add to the tape you put on your stick. Many players add wax to their stick’s blade to increase puck grip and protect their tape from wear and moisture.
Certain players, including Wayne Gretzky – will add baby powder to their handle or blade of the stick to lessen friction and stickiness. There are also some unconventional options, like electrical shrink tubing made of rubber
It can be put over the top of a cloth tape job the knob of your stick and then shrank using a heat gun to make the tape waterproof, offering extra durability, color choices, and even waterproofing. It is, however, slicker than grip cloth tape.
Conclusion [How To Tape A Hockey Stick]
We hope that this article will help you on “How To Tape A Hockey Stick“! If you’ve never before taped a stick, do not expect the first time to be flawless, but be aware the next few hours of working on it, you’ll be professional!
Read More: