How to Tape Hockey Sticks
You tape your hockey stick to protect the blade from wear, help the puck not slide off the blade and create more grip along the stick. Taping is one of the fundamental hockey skills that can help your game.
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Instructions
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Purchase hockey tape. Tape comes in nearly every color of the rainbow. Many players choose to tape their sticks with the team colors, while others stick to white tape. It doesn't matter what color you use.
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Hold your hockey stick so the blade is closest to you. Begin taping at either the toe of the blade or closer to the shaft. Where you begin depends largely on personal preference.
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Wrap the tape around the blade so the tape overlaps itself and there are no bubbles or creases and the tape is smooth. When you have covered the blade as much as you want, rip or cut the tape and smooth down the end.
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Turn the hockey stick over so the stick end is closest to you. Hockey sticks do not come with much grip, so it is important to add something to the end. This is especially helpful for a defenseman when poke checking, because you're less likely to lose your stick if you have a good grip end.
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Unroll the tape about 6 inches and begin twisting the tape on itself. Basically, you're making a string of tape you can then wrap around the stick to create a bigger grip. Continue unrolling and twisting the tape until you have created a long enough piece to wrap the end of the stick 2 times. Wrap the string of tape around the end of the stick twice, making sure that you keep the 2vcoils as close to one another as possible.
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Complete the second tape coil around the end of the stick and begin to bring the tape coil down diagonally around the stick. Leave 1 to 2 inches between each tape rotation. You want to create a grip, not bulk up the entire length of the stick.
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Twist the tape on itself as you wrap the tape around the stick. This will create 1 continuous piece of grip down the shaft of the stick.
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Rip the twisted tape from the tape roll when you feel you have enough grip coiled around the stick. Where you end the tape coil is up to your personal preference, some like more grip and others feel they only need a small portion.
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Go back to the end of the stick and begin taping the stick again, but this time leave the tape flat like you did when you taped the blade.
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Overlap the tape and continue to work your way down the stick. Pull the tape taut to keep it smooth against the stick. Make sure to cover the grip area you created so the sticky tape coils are covered. When you feel your grip area is sufficiently taped, rip the tape and smooth down the end.
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Tips & Warnings
If you play ice hockey, apply stick wax to the blade after taping to help seal out moisture.
Talk to other players, friends and coaches to learn more about taping your stick and experiment with different styles and length of grip. Taping your stick effectively can improve your game, so continue to figure out what you like and do not like so your stick works best for you.
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Comments
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Chris Smalley
Dec 27, 2008
Taping the blade of your stick helps you control the puck, both in passing and in shooting. Good habits here will convert into a better game on the ice. Some hockey coaches recommend a lighter color or white tape on the blade so that your team-mates can see your stick easier. They say the lighter color makes it easier to pass the puck to you. The bad side of this is the goalie can see where the puck is on your stick when you shoot and 'read' your shot. But, if you have a hard, effective shot, it doesn't matter how much the goalie can read. Also, using stick wax is great as it keeps the tape from getting wet, and it preserves your tape. That means you'll go thru less tape (and re-tape it less) if you use it! Oh, and be careful if you do it at home. It's very sticky and it will mark up the carpet if you're not careful. :) -
Chris Smalley
Dec 27, 2008
Taping the blade of your stick helps you control the puck, both in passing and in shooting. Good habits here will convert into a better game on the ice. Some hockey coaches recommend a lighter color or white tape on the blade so that your team-mates can see your stick easier. They say the lighter color makes it easier to pass the puck to you. The bad side of this is the goalie can see where the puck is on your stick when you shoot and 'read' your shot. But, if you have a hard, effective shot, it doesn't matter how much the goalie can read. Also, using stick wax is great as it keeps the tape from getting wet, and it preserves your tape. That means you'll go thru less tape (and re-tape it less) if you use it! Oh, and be careful if you do it at home. It's very sticky and it will mark up the carpet if you're not careful. :)
