Answer: How Should A Beginner Hold A Hockey Stick

To begin here, the poll dealing with “How Should A Beginner Hold A Hockey Stick” is the only one so far to arrive at the answers I’d expected or hoped for. Yes, I suspect that most players ultimately hold their dominant hand at the top of their sticks, they steer the stick’s motions with that top hand, and they very frequently hold a hockey stick in the same way they do a push-broom or shovel.

The one thing I want to adamantly pronounce right now, is that none of those things are a matter of science, and none are carved in stone. My guess is that there are even quite a few players in the Hockey Hall of Fame who would answer just the opposite to one, two or all three of those questions. (I know a few of my hockey friends are going to say there’s some science behind this process, but this might be the one time I’d like to leave well enough alone.)

Okay, so that said, I think the most important thing we can do is ease a beginner into using a stick, and to help him or her to be very comfortable with that initial transition.

And that’s why I like to kinda keep the parent (or other grownups) out of the equation. And that’s also why I always recommend that the kids be given a stick plus a puck or ball or a ball of paper to whack around without any coaching what so ever. I mean, let the little one go, and just stand back and observe what the youngster does naturally. If possible, I’d do this for a few weeks back home with an old stick, or use the paper ball if the decision has to be arrived at in the local pro shop.

Is a flat blade stick an early answer to indecision? Hmmmmmmmm… It could be, although I wouldn’t stay with one for long, mainly because those types are usually like hunks of wood with hardly any real feel to them.

Will a youngster change his or her mind after a short time on the ice? I’m betting not, or suggesting that it isn’t likely if he or she made the decision as I’ve outlined above.

Anyway, all things taken into account, this is probably one of the easiest polls I’ve had to deal with so far. (Phew!)