Let BAUER’s stick team help you find the right stick for your game.
Your stick is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll use when playing hockey. The right stick connects you to the puck, and the right stick can help you progress as a player.
When it comes to choosing a new stick, there are a few things you’ll want to think about. We tapped into BAUER’s stick development team to get their tips for selecting your next stick.
But before we dive in, here are a few questions to consider:
- How many times per week do you play?
- What is your current stick?
- What do you like and dislike about your current stick?
- What would you like to achieve with your new stick?
JUMP TO SECTION
Step 1: Find Your Stick Family
- Recreational Sticks
- Competitive Level Sticks
- Performance Level Sticks
- Elite Level Sticks
- Pro Level Sticks
Step 3: Dial In Your Performance
The Anatomy of a Hockey Stick
Right or Left?
If you hold your stick with your right hand at the bottom, you use a right stick.
If you hold your stick with your left hand at the bottom, you use a left stick.
Kick Point
The kick point is where the greatest flex in the stick is located, which influences how the stick shoots.
- Low-kick: the kick point is closer to the blade of the stick. Low-kick sticks are designed for players who want to get the puck off the blade as fast as possible.
- Mid-kick: the kick point is closer to the middle of the stick. Mid-kick sticks are designed for maximum speed and power on your shots.
Shaft Shape
The hockey stick shaft is basically the interface between your hand and your stick. Hockey shaft shapes influence how your stick feels and handles. Here are a few examples:
- 5-sided: contours your hand for easier stickhandling. This shape helps connect your glove to your stick for smooth, easy movements.
- Round: this shape allows you to move and transition your hands for quick stickhandling.
- Hybrid: provides the best of both worlds, for a comfortable grip and smooth stickhandling.
Blade Curves
Blade curves influence how you handle and shoot the puck.
- Mid curves are in the middle of the blade, which is ideal for cradling the puck when stickhandling and generating puck spin when shooting. P92 is an example of a mid-curve blade pattern.
- Toe curves have most of their curve at the very end of the blade. This is ideal for pulling the puck toward you as you release a shot. P28 is an example of a toe-curve blade pattern.
Flex
Sticks are available with different flex points. Finding the right flex point for your playing style is one of the best ways you can dial in your performance. Generally, newer players will want to start out with a stiffer stick, eventually progressing to something more flexible.
STEP 1: FIND YOUR STICK FAMILY
All BAUER sticks can be used in any situation on the ice. You can take snap shots, wrist shots, slap shots, backhands, stick-handle, toe drag, one-touch passes, or back-hand sauces with both Vapor and Nexus stick families. That said, there are three ways to think about which stick family is right for you: where you release the puck, your hand position, and how you want your stick to feel.
1. Where Do You Release the Puck?
In front of your body: choose Vapor
If you typically release the puck in front of your body, Vapor sticks will be a good fit for you because there is minimal time to load the puck. The low kick keeps the energy in the lower part of the stick and maximizes your shot power.
In line with your stance: choose Nexus
If you take more shots where you load the puck within your stance, Nexus will be a good fit for you because you are leaning into the shaft with more force. This allows the mid-kick to act like a bow and arrow loading and releasing energy.
2. What is Your Hand Position?
If you shoot with your hands close together: choose Vapor
If you shoot with your hands close together (for example, if your bottom hand is placed above the namebar), you aren’t leaning into your stick, making Vapor a great choice.
If you shoot with your hands are spaced further apart: choose Nexus
If you place your lower hand in the mid-part of the shaft, you are leaning more into your stick, making Nexus a great stick for you.
3. How Do You Want Your Stick to Feel?
If you want to pick a family based on overall playability, you want to know how the stick will react and feel in game situations. Here’s how we’ve designed our stick families:
VAPOR
SHOP VAPOR STICKSVapor sticks are designed for quickness. These sticks get the puck on and off the blade as fast as possible so you can make plays before your opponents have time to react.
- The round shaft shape allows you to move and transition your hands for quick stick-handling.
- The low-kick is going to create instant energy when loading the stick for a quick release on shots and passes.
- The stiff blade core makes the puck snap off the blade instantly.
Players who use Vapor sticks include Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Nick Suzuki.
NEXUS
SHOP NEXUS STICKSNexus sticks are designed for control. These sticks make shooting, passing, and stickhandling easier–so you can be in control in any situation.
- The 5 sided shaft shape contours your hand, helping connect your glove to your stick for smooth, easy movements.
- The mid-kick point stores energy while loading the stick to release the puck like a slingshot.
- The blade core is made with dampening materials to help keep the puck close to the blade in any situation.
Players who use Nexus sticks include David Pastrnak and Cale Makar.
INNOVATION SERIES
Our Innovation Series sticks are designed for elite and pro-level players who want to experience something entirely different. Each year, BAUER releases a stick that pushes the boundaries of stick design and technology.
PROTO-R
SHOP PROTO-RThis limited edition mid-kick stick was designed for players looking for deceptive playmaking.
- Boron material is strategically placed throughout the stick to reduce weight and help supercharge every shot and release. And weighing just 345 grams (variance of +/- 10g), PROTO-R is the lightest BAUER mid-kick stick in the game.
- The extra stiff blade core brings you added recoil and extra pop with every touch of the puck.
- The Monocomp 1-Piece Construction helps optimize the energy in each shot to become a force in the game.
TWITCH
This limited edition low-kick stick was designed for players looking to be reactive.
- The revolutionary new taper design begins closer to your bottom hand to load shots sooner and recoil faster, resulting in a more efficient energy transfer and reactive release when compared to XE Taper.
- The rounded shaft shape allows for a more natural grip in the palm of your hand.
- The True One-Piece Construction is engineered to streamline energy flow from your hands to the blade. This stick construction is designed to help you experience a release that’s unmistakably BAUER.
- The advanced blade construction combines stiff, ultra-light foam and carbon bridges to bring more pop to your shot.
Players who use innovation series sticks include Charlie McAvoy and Cole Caufield.
STEP 2: FIND YOUR STICK
Once you’ve chosen which family of sticks best match your playing and shooting style, it’s time to find the model of stick that matches your level of play. The right stick for you will have the right amount of flex and features that allow you to progress as a player and get better control over the puck.
Recreational Sticks
New hockey players
Designed for players who play 1-3 days per week in a casual and fun environment. These players are usually playing in introductory hockey leagues or playing hockey with friends on outdoor rinks & ponds. These sticks are made to help you feel comfortable shooting and passing.
| STICK | BEST FOR | KICK POINT | FLEX | SHAFT SHAPE | BLADE CURVE |
| Vapor Junior Series | Junior hockey players looking to build confidence | Low-kick | 30 | Round | P92 P28Y |
| Junior Performance Series | Junior hockey players looking to improve skills and build confidence | Mid-kick | 20 30 40 |
5-sided |
P28 |
| BAUER X Series Stick | New and recreational players looking to gain an extra edge | Mid-kick | 40 60 80 |
Round | P92 |
Competitive Level Sticks
New hockey players
Designed for players who play 2-4 days a week primarily through team practices and competitive games. Competitive level sticks are made with materials like foam reinforced with carbon that help to reduce weight. These sticks allow you to build your shooting, passing, and stickhandling skills.
| STICK | BEST FOR | KICK POINT | FLEX | SHAFT SHAPE | BLADE CURVE |
| X3 | Performance-level players looking to build confidence to make quick plays in any situation |
Low-kick | SENIOR 87 77 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 50 |
Round | P28 P92 P88 |
Performance Level Sticks
Intermediate & developing hockey players
Designed for players who play 4-6 days a week primarily through team practices and games. These sticks are made with fiberglass and carbon that allow the puck to snap quickly off the blade.
| STICK | BEST FOR | KICK POINT | FLEX | SHAFT SHAPE | BLADE CURVE |
| X4 | Performance-level players looking to take the next step in their games | Low-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 50 |
Round | P28 P92 P88 |
| E40 | Performance-level players looking to make plays | Mid-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 |
5-sided |
P92 |
Elite Level Sticks
Elite hockey players
Designed for players who play 6-7 days a week through a combination of team practices and games. These sticks are made with higher levels of carbon to reduce weight.
| STICK | BEST FOR | KICK POINT | FLEX | SHAFT SHAPE | BLADE CURVE |
| X5 Pro | Performance-level players looking to take the next step in their games | Low-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 |
Round | P28 P92 P88 |
| E5 Pro | Performance-level players looking to improve control and consistency | Mid-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 50 40 |
5-sided |
P92 |
Pro Level Sticks
Pro-level & pro-aspiring players
Designed for players who play 7-days a week through a combination of team practices, team games and individual skill sessions with personal coaches. These sticks are made with materials like boron (which is exclusive to BAUER sticks) and advanced carbon layers to reduce weight and improve durability.
| STICK | BEST FOR | KICK POINT | FLEX | SHAFT SHAPE | BLADE CURVE |
| HYPERLITE 2 | Elite and pro-level players looking for quickness | Low-kick |
SENIOR 87 77 70 65S INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 50 40 30 YOUTH 20 |
Round | P92M P28 P92 P88 P90TM |
| Nexus Tracer | Elite and pro-level players looking for ultimate control | Mid-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 65 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 30 40 50 |
5-sided |
P92 |
|
Innovation stick: PROTO-R |
Elite and pro-level players looking for deceptive playmaking | Mid-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 50 40 |
Hybrid | P92 P90TM P88 P28 |
|
Innovation stick: TWITCH |
Elite and pro-level players looking to be reactive | Low-kick | SENIOR 87 77 70 65 INTERMEDIATE 65 55 JUNIOR 65 55 |
Round | P92 P90TM P88 P28 |
STEP 3: DIAL IN YOUR PERFORMANCE
Now that you’ve chosen a stick, it’s time to dial in your performance by selecting the right flex, stick height and blade curve.
Flex
Finding your perfect flex is the number one way to maximize your performance. If you’ve chosen the right stick for your style of play, the best curve for how you handle and shoot the puck, but with the wrong flex, you will make the game difficult for yourself.
The general rule of thumb is to take your weight in pounds and divide it by two.
Once you have this baseline flex (we will use the 140 pound, 70 flex player for this example) – you will want to think about two things: your skill level and your stick height.
How Your Skill Level Influences Your Flex
If you are a performance or an elite level player still working through your mechanics, a stick on the higher end of the stiffness scale based on your weight might be the right choice. If you don’t fully load the stick each time you shoot, a stiffer stick will actually create a quicker release. Catching and giving hard passes can be easier with a stiffer stick until you learn to have full control over the puck.
If you’re looking to build your skills, BAUER’s training products can help you improve your stickhandling, passing and shooting.
How Your Stick Height Influences Flex
Once you have decided on your flex, you’ll want to consider your stick height, as cutting your stick down or adding an extension will influence your flex. Here are a few rules of thumb:
- Cutting your stick down: For every 1” that you cut your stick down, the flex adjusts by 3. For example, if you take a 70 flex stick and cut it 1”, that stick is now going to play like a 73 flex. If you need to cut your stick down a lot, you might want to consider buying down a flex. A 70 flex stick cut down 3” is going to feel close to an 80 flex. Buying a 65 flex might be a better option.
- Adding an extension: 1” longer will be equivalent to 3 flex points, meaning that a 70 flex would feel like a 67.
Blade Patterns
The curve of your stick blade affects your ability to handle the puck and to shoot. You’ll typically see these blade curves when you shop for a catalogue stick online or in stores:
P88
Versatility
This classic mid-curve blade is a great versatile, all-around choice. It will help you excel in puck control, stick handling, hard wrist shots, and quick releases.
P92
Versatility
This blade curve is versatile because it allows you to accomplish most game actions from any part of the blade, like shooting, passing, and stick handling. The face of the pattern is very consistent so you can throw a saucier pass from the heel or the toe.
P28
Built to shoot
With a toe that’s built to shoot and a heel that’s built for control, the P28 blade curve is a precise tool. If you like controlling the puck on the toe of your stick, P28 is a great choice for you.
P90TM
Best of both worlds
If you have been using the P92 and like its consistency, the P90TM is a great curve to transition to. This rockered curve will give you a bit more toe on your toe shots.
Don’t See Your Curve?
MyBAUER offers plenty more blade curves (and customization options) to build a stick to your specifications.
Unsure?
If you’re unsure about blade patterns, check out this blog post.
Custom Sticks
With MyBAUER, you can build your perfect stick to your unique specs. We have three options, based on how much you want to customize – and when you need your stick.
CHOOSE YOUR CUSTOM STICK
MyBAUER QuickTurn
Customize your stick to match your team, get a custom namebar and the ability to get some additional patterns & flexes not offered in stores. With QuickTurn, you can choose:
- Blade Pattern: 5 options
- Flex: 9 options
- Color: 6 options
- Personalized Name & Number
Plus, this option is delivered in as little as 5 days!
Custom
Ordering a Custom stick allows you to take one of our top price point sticks and add customized features to enhance your performance, including:
- Blade Pattern: 19 options
- Flex: 13 options
- Color: 12 options
- Grip: 8 options
- Personalized Name & Number
- Additional lengths available
Pro Custom
With Pro Custom, you have the opportunity to truly customize your stick like an NHL player – where you can mix and match family technologies to meet every situation on the ice the exact way you want it, such as:
- Blade Pattern: 19 options
- Flex: 12 options
- Color: 12 options
- Grip: 8 options
- Kickpoint: 3 options
- Shaft Shape: 3 options
- Blade Core: 6 options
- Choose VAPOR or NEXUS graphic
- Personalized Name & Number
- Additional lengths available
FAQs
How long will my stick last?
Certain factors can make it easier to break down your stick faster, including:
-
Playing more frequently
-
Using the wrong size stick
-
Using a lower quality stick
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Not replacing your stick when it shows wear and tear
How can I get help finding the right hockey stick for me?
You can reach out to our virtual Bauer Fit Experts, who can help you by phone or email.
Does position influence stick height?
Yes. Defensive players may want a longer stick to help make plays on players in 1on1 battles. Offensive players may want a slightly shorter stick to help with in tight playmaking where the puck needs to be positioned closer to the body.
How much should I spend on a hockey stick?
We have created different sticks at different price points designed for your level of play. Generally speaking, the more you go up in price, the more advanced technologies are used in your stick. Once you have decided what family of stick you want to use, you can decide how much you want to spend on your stick. At BAUER, we have been able to bring great technologies into our lower price points, so you get a lot of value.
What is the trend with stick flex?
As stick technology has evolved, so has how players get fit for flex. With advancements in carbon fiber and the reduction in stick weight, it is now easier to load and release the puck and people are using more flexible sticks.
What are some tips for cutting my stick down?
Take out the end plug and then put it back in. This can help if the cut isn’t straight. Then add tape to hold the plug in place.
