How to Make Your Hockey Sticks More Curved at Home

Many hockey sticks have straight blades, but curving them is fairly easy and can help your game.

A curved hockey stick blade is popular not because it helps with shooting, although it can aid in lifting and stabilizing the puck, but because it increases puck control. The curve helps create a spot on the blade that the puck is likely to settle into, which leads to more consistent passes and shots. The curve also helps a player to maintain control of the puck while skating, going around other players or stealing the puck from another player.

Things You'll Need

• Heat gun
• Gloves
• String
• Tape measure
• Stick tape

Instructions

1. Heat the blade of the hockey stick with a heat gun. Move the heat gun uniformly and continuously over the blade to heat it evenly. Take care not to scorch or burn the blade. When you can touch the blade but not hold it for more than a few seconds, it should be hot enough to start forming.

2. Put on a thick pair of gloves and begin forming the blade by holding it firmly at the heel -- where it meets the stick handle -- and applying pressure at the toe in the direction you want the blade to curve. Reheat the blade with the heat gun as it cools. It may be necessary to reheat and form the blade a number of times to get it to the curve that you desire.

3. Apply a twisting pressure to the blade, after you have reached the general back-to-front curvature that you want, in order to add loft to the blade, if desired. Loft allows for the puck to be lifted from the ice more easily.

4. Check the curve of the blade for legality by tying a string to the stick at the heel and stretching it over the toe. With the string tight, use a tape measure to ensure that the curve doesn't exceed 3/4 inch at any point.

5. Allow the blade to cool fully, verify that the curve is as you want it, and tape the blade. This will protect it, help maintain its shape and assist in "gripping" the puck better for puck handling.

Tips & Warnings

• There are various blade curvers that can be bought to curve a hockey stick blade. These are particularly beneficial to produce the same curve over and over again.

• Do not be too aggressive in forming the blade. It takes a bit of time and patience. if you apply too much pressure too fast you will crack the blade.

• A curved blade helps with puck handling, but remember that the more the blade is curved, the less control you will have when using the backside.

References

• Howtohockey.com: Guide to the Hockey Stick Curve

Resources

• Phoenix Coyotes Care: How to Choose the Right Hockey Stick Blade