The Flex of a Hockey Stick

I got psyched a while back when I ran across a replay of Eric Fehr’s second goal in the 2011 Winter Classic. I mean, I immediately thought to myself, I just have to eventually show my CoachChic.com friends that one!

Actually, not much can be seen in the first few views of that goal. However, the very last part of the following video — or the very last slow-motion replay — shows exactly what I’d like you to see. From the side view, we can see Fehr’s stick bending — like big-time. But, please take a look for yourself before I get further into this subject…

Now, let me tell you the significance of the flex in a player’s hockey stick… In so doing, I’d like you to first consider holding a 2″ x 4″ board, and then using it to propel a hockey puck with lots of force. Not possible you say? Well, part of the problem might be that the board would be kinda heavy, and it would be pretty difficult to wrist it through a really quick sweeping motion. (And, that in itself should suggest the need for lightness when we select a hockey stick.)

Yet another problem we’d encounter with the board is that it has no flex. Ah, yes, the flex… If you can envision Fehr’s shot again — or take a look at the picture below, note the way he leaned on his stick, causing it to bend considerably. In a way, he’s “loading” the stick, and he’s going to ultimately gain almost a slingshot effect as the stick uncoils and sends the puck towards its target. And, it’s that uncoiling of a stick that really gives a shot its force. (Fehr’s shot in the video is a wrister, or sweepshot. However, the flexing of the shaft and its later uncoiling is what really helps make a slapshot so forceful.)

Then, as it so happened, I was going back and forth with a few hockey friends on social media the other night, and we were discussing the aforementioned stick flex. One good friend asked me for stick selection advice as it would pertain to his 7-year old daughter. So, confined to a max number of characters with each of my comments (on Twitter), I briefly explained that his little girl should test a bunch of sticks in the local pro shop. I also mentioned that a lot of kids pick sticks based solely on how they look. So, my friend would have to be smarter than that, urging his daughter to find a stick that is small enough for her little hands, and whippy enough for her to flex as she shoots. Then, I reminded him of one more important consideration, in that a stick loses its flexibility as it is shortened. In other words, take this into account if you find a good stick but you know it’s going to have to be cut after the purchase.