How Long Should My Hockey Stick Be?

Published by Stick Fit Hockey

Start with a comfortable chin-area reference on skates, then check posture, blade contact, and puck control. A height reference is only a starting check: your usable length should let you handle and shoot without forcing an awkward stance.

Start with a clearly defined reference

Bauer's sizing guidance uses approximately nose height in shoes or between the chin and bottom lip on skates. Use these as initial references, not a rule that every player must follow. Be explicit about whether you are wearing skates when comparing advice.

For an upright fit check, stand normally on skates, keep the shaft upright in front of you, and rest the blade toe on the floor. This is a quick fit reference, not the way the blade sits during play. Do not confuse it with a manufacturer's advertised shaft measurement.

Check the stick in your hockey stance

Now bend your knees into a comfortable skating stance and hold the stick where you normally control the puck. Look at how the blade meets the surface and how comfortably your hands move in front of you. A stick that reaches the expected point on your face can still feel awkward in this position.

Try a puck close to your feet, slightly farther ahead, and to either side. Do you straighten up to keep the blade down, or reach so far that you lose balance? Can you change direction without the butt end interfering with your body? These observations tell you more than the height reference alone.

Blade lie and rocker also affect contact, so an unusual gap does not prove the shaft is the wrong length. The curve guide explains these separate dimensions. Ask a coach or fitter to watch your stance if several adjustments seem plausible.

Weigh reach against close control

Your position does not settle the choice. A defenseman still needs comfortable close control, and a forward still needs reach. Compare the tasks you actually perform rather than choosing an extreme based on a label.

Changing length can also change loading feel. Keep that separate from the reach comparison: if both length and flex change at once, note that you are evaluating a whole setup rather than isolating one variable.

Before making a permanent cut

1. Put on skates for the fit check and confirm the current stick is undamaged.
2. Use the same upright reference each time, then return to your normal playing stance.
3. Check comfortable hand movement and blade contact in several puck positions.
4. When possible, try a suitable borrowed stick at the proposed length before altering yours.
5. Record the final length with its measuring convention so you can reproduce it later.

Do not cut a large amount simply because one chart suggests it. Review cutting and extending effects and the manufacturer's instructions before making a change. A shop can help with the alteration once you have chosen a practical target.

Find a stick offered near your length

If you are a shorter adult, compare intermediate options with softer senior models. If you are taller and need low flex, check the offered length and any compatible extension before ordering. Product categories describe ranges, not who is allowed to use a stick.

Our intermediate-versus-senior comparison explains the buying tradeoffs. The assessment considers size and current-stick feedback to suggest candidates, but it cannot see your stance or measure the stick in your hands.

Choose the length that supports repeatable movement, then confirm the flex and blade suit that length. Keeping a simple record of a setup you like makes your next purchase much less of a guessing exercise.