Stick Lie
By
Greg Siller - Pro Learning Systems
Hey Greg! What is stick lie and how do I know which stick/blade is right
for me. Thanks, Anthony.
Tony, stick lie is a measurement of the angle between the blade and the
shaft of your stick. Typical lies range from 4 to 7 for shooters and around 30
for goaltenders. The figure below shows an exaggerated example of a stick with
a 4 lie (right stick) and a 7 lie (left stick). As you should see, the right
stick is more angled (smaller lie) while the left stick is less angled (bigger
lie). The lie affects your passing and shooting in terms of your top hand
placement--relative to your upper body--and how much you lean forward; both
important factors in your game.
Knowing whether your stick or blade is right for you is both a matter of
personal preference and how your wear out your blade. As the advertisement for Christian™
hockey sticks below shows, the middle stick lie is preferred because, during a
pass or shot, the entire blade of the stick is in contact with the playing
surface. The stick on the left demonstrates a lie that is too big for you (you
will notice too much heel being worn off your stick blade). If this stick is a
7 lie, then you will need to move to a 6, 5, or 4 lie to get it right for you.
The stick on the right demonstrates a lie that is too small for you (too much
toe being worn off your stick blade). If this stick is a 4 lie, then you will
need to move to a 5, 6, or 7 lie to get it right for you.
I think that this information should help you choose the stick that is best for
you. That's no lie!
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Email your questions to me at Siller@ProLearning.com.