Answer To Your Question On...

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.

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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.

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I think that this information should help you choose the stick that is best for you. That's no lie!

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