Coach Jeremy
Latest posts by Coach Jeremy (see all)
- Try These Shooting Drills with The Extreme Passing Kit - April 24, 2014
- Stickhandling Drills with the Dangler - March 5, 2014
- 5 Shooting Drills With the Extreme Passer Pro - January 26, 2014
When it comes to purchasing a hockey stick there are four three factors that you should consider, the flex, the curve of the blade, and the price. Also make sure the length of the stick is appropriate for you, you can cut it after purchasing but this does effect the flex. If you are shopping for a stick I recommend the clearance section at Hockey Monkey, you can usually find some good deals, but make sure you know what you are looking for first!
Choosing the right Flex for your Hockey Stick
The flex of a hockey stick is very important. The right amount of flex can help improve the power and accuracy of every shot in hockey. Alternatively, too much or too little flex can negatively impact power and accuracy. This guide will help you find the right flex for your hockey stick.
Hockey Stick Flex Chart
Younger players do not have to worry as much about flex because they are still
learning the fundamentals of shooting. If you are still learning how to shoot properly, as a young player, you will not be ready to utilize the flex. Here is a chart that shows the usual flex values in hockey sticks:
- Youth = 40 flex
- Junior = 50 flex
- Mid or Intermediate flex = 60-75 flex
- Regular flex = 85 flex
- Stiff flex = 100 flex
- Extra stiff = 110 flex
What is flex in hockey sticks?
Flex is a measure used in the making of hockey sticks to test how much a shaft will bend. The number used is the amount of weight needed to bend the shaft one inch. This is important to know, because in order to flex a 100 flex shaft by one inch, you will need to be able to apply 100 pounds of force.
How To Choose the Right Shaft
When it comes to selecting a hockey stick, there are three options for shafts: junior, intermediate, and senior. The difference between the shaft selection is the diameter, length and flex. Junior shafts have the smallest diameter and are also the shortest, while the senior sticks have the thickest shaft (bigger diameter) and are the longest. Junior shafts are generally for young players, while intermediate shafts are made for youth and adults, and senior stick are typically used by players 14 years of age and up. The flex also varies depending on the shaft type. See our hockey stick flex chart above for more information.
Do not let your age be the only factor in determining your shaft type. Some younger players may be strong enough, and have the proper technique to use a senior shaft, while some older players who are small in stature may benefit more from an intermediate shaft. It is not as simple as some may think. To help you choose the right shaft and flex we have developed a flex guide. Read our section below for more information.
How to choose the right flex
A general rule, as a starting point, is to pick a flex that is half your body weight. If you weigh 180 pounds then start at 90 flex. From that point if you think an adjustment in flex is needed, you can use the following guidelines to calculate a better flex for you:
- +5 flex if you are strong and know how to shoot well.
- +5 flex if you take a lot of slapshots.
- – 5 flex if you are not that strong or if your form is not strong.
- – 5 flex if you like to take a lot of snap-shots and wrist-shots
Lets say you weigh 180 pounds, you are strong, and take a lot of slapshots. Your starting flex is 90, plus an adjustment of adding 10 gets you to a 100 flex stick. Remember that flex is also personal preference, but we find this formula to be quite accurate among most hockey players.
Does Cutting A Hockey Stick Affect Flex?
Yes it does, most sticks available today have a guide printed on them that will indicate how much flex your stick will have depending on how much you cut it. As a general rule every 2 inches you cut off will increase the flex by 10. An 85 flex stick cut down 2 inches will now be a 95 flex hockey stick.
If you need to cut down a senior stick quite a bit then consider using an intermediate hockey stick. This will give you the appropriate flex and stick height that you need.
Hockey Stick Buying Resources
- For more information about hockey sticks be sure to visit our Hockey Stick Buying Guide
- For information on the length of a stick read our Hockey Stick Length Guide
- For information on choosing a curve read our curve guide
- For discounts on hockey sticks visit the Clearance Section on Hockey Monkey
SPENCER
January 25, 2011 at 2:02 pm
you guys are not very bright cuz we all know that if you cut down a hockey stick it will affect the flex of the hockey stick nibbles
ANONYMOUS
January 25, 2011 at 9:48 pm
I am pretty sure we covered that under the header “Does cutting a hockey stick affect flex?” Maybe we should use bigger letters next time?
Also I’m not to sure what hockey stick nibbles are, care to inform?
CUNN
February 16, 2011 at 7:38 pm
fuck u spencer
HIGHBOOST4U
October 4, 2011 at 9:39 pm
RETARD!!
KZ5
January 30, 2011 at 6:26 pm
you guys are so helpfull ! thank you so much !
BOB
March 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm
hello i like hockey i enjoy playing hockey and beating my friend kyle in a race
FRED
March 21, 2011 at 7:20 pm
he sucks
JOONKOL
March 22, 2011 at 11:35 pm
First time, I have heard of the adjustment calculation. Good information. Keep it up!
HARRY
March 30, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Cutting senior sticks may very well go by your 2″=10 flex rule, however, with a intermediate it has been my experience that 1″=2 flex. Its probably a smaller differential yet for the Jr sticks. Clearly written on the TotalOne GripTac stick is a scale that agrees with my estimate of the intermediate shaft flex adjustments for cutting.
JEREMY
March 31, 2011 at 9:50 am
Good point, most sticks have a flex chart on shaft to help you determine what the flex will be after cutting, and senior shafts will be different then junior and intermediate.
RYAN
May 11, 2011 at 7:00 am
Hi Jeremy, great info as always.
Is there a correlation between higher flex, intermediate sticks and their durability?
Reason I ask is because I recently bought a AK27 (Intermediate, 55 flex) shaft.
I cut about 3 inches so the flex is probably around 70?
I loved the stick and flex. It improved accuracy and speed of my wrist/snap shots.
3 months later, the stick broke in a game. I don’t know how it broke. Maybe from faceoff or a whack. I don’t recall a high impact event breaking it.
In the 3 months, I have played a few games and pickup/open ice sessions.
I am not hard/rough on sticks and rarely take slappers.
I play center so do take faceoffs and stick checks.
So I don’t know if this is the nature of Int. high flex sticks.
I would like to get the same stick but am not weary of the durability.
I wonder if I get the 70 flex (still Int.) version it would last longer?
Thanks!
Ryan
ANONYMOUS
May 19, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Yes higher flex sticks tend to break easier. Also an intermediate would not be as durable as a senior shaft.
ANONYMOUS
May 19, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Yes higher flex sticks tend to break easier. Also an intermediate would not be as durable as a senior shaft.
RYAN HIGA
September 5, 2011 at 5:48 am
Say I had a 85 flex stick and I added a plug, to make it 2″ taller what would the flex become?
TRISTAN AYOUBI
September 29, 2011 at 5:06 am
For some reason the flex on my easton ST stick has seemed to increase. I haven’t cut it or anything, and i havn’t lost any weight. I flex my easton EQ30 that has 75 flex with no problem. Any help Would be amazing.
JAMIE
October 18, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Once again, another great article from you Jeremy. Thanks! I really like the weight/2 as a starting point, and the modifiers. I recently went to a lower flex stick and am having a hard time getting used to the extra flex. I thought “if Ovi does it…”, but I think I will move back into that weight/2 range.
JRBPOP
November 3, 2011 at 5:35 pm
thank you
BLAKE
June 16, 2015 at 12:44 am
Im 15 5’11” and 140 pounds i play wing and have a decent shot i currently use a bauer totalone nxg with 75 flex and about a 1.5-2″ extension in it is that flex good because i feel its a little stiff but my 67 flex apx 2 is too whippy
THEREALCMAN
November 29, 2015 at 4:49 am
Jeremy, I’m 4’8″, 80 lbs., I can’t find a low enough JUNIOR flex stick. Any suggestions?