How to Tape the Blade of an Ice Hockey Stick

With some hockey experience, a favorite preference or method for taping the blade of your hockey stick will be learned. This article will simply show the beginner or moderately experienced hockey player the most basic way to tape the blade of your hockey stick. In fact, I would argue that this method is probably the most popular among all hockey players (youth to pro!). Grab your stick and roll of tape and let's get to work!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hockey stick
• Hockey tape (preferably black tape)

1. 
    

   You'll only need your hockey stick and a roll of hockey tape. Start first by applying the end of the tape to the back upper portion of the toe of the hockey blade. Given many years of experience I believe taping from the toe to heel provides the least amount of resistance for the puck traveling off the blade during a shot, reduces the wear and tear on the tape, and does not "curl" the tape when the puck constantly travels against the grain of the tape.

2. 
    

   Continue to wrap the tape under the bottom of the blade and over to the front. For the first pass I like to overlap the first layer of tape on the back. This reduces the opportunity for the tape to fray and keeps the tape intact on the blade.

3. 
    

   The tape should now be laid on the blade overlapping half of the last layer. This will create the smoothest surface for the puck to release off of the hockey blade while shooting. In addition, it will reduce the "chatter" of the puck on the blade during handling and shooting. While taping, occasionally take the time to firmly press the tape to the blade to ensure that tape is firmly attached to the stick.

4. 
    
   Taped Blade of Hockey Stick

   This fashion of taping the blade of the hockey stick should be continued until you reach the heel of the stick. I prefer to terminate the tape on the back side of the stick since it usually receives less action than the front, therefore reducing the chances of the tape pulling loose. Finally, make sure that the tape is rubbed thoroughly to gain the best contact with the stick. Congratulations - you did it!

Tips & Warnings

• A high quality cloth hockey tape should be used in all cases since it provides the most durability to withstand the demand of the game and the required friction to snap off a good shot!
• Although, there are hockey tape patterns and colors to fill an entire warehouse, I believe black to be the best since it best camouflages the black puck on your stick. Sometimes that split second makes all the difference!

Resources

• Hockey tape

[jcoolcash11]

on 10/1/2009 Great instructions! Super article, thanks