How To Tape A Hockey Stick

If you’re new to hockey, no doubt you want to do things right. Figuring out how to tape your hockey stick can be a bit of a sticky situation. If you’re a seasoned player, you know two things when it comes to taping your hockey stick. Fresh tape enhances your performance; and you want tacky tape, not a tacky tape job.

Ultimately, there are no rules when it comes to how to tape a hockey stick. It’s a personal preference thing. Taping your hockey stick is a personal alchemy that’s part comfort, part style, and part performance.

But there are basics — for instance, how often should you tape your hockey stick? — that we’re here to teach you. Even goalies. Everything we’re sharing also applies to goalie sticks.

How Often Should You Tape Your Hockey Stick?

The short answer is it depends.

If you handle the puck a lot, you’re probably going to want a fresh layer of tape before every game. If you’re a dangler, definitely. If you tend to snap off a bunch of wristers, yep. Defensemen and goalies are probably going to be able to get away with taping less frequently.

Just remember, whether you like the “broken in” look of tape that is less than pristine or showroom-new perfection (again, personal preference), remember that fresh tape will protect your blade from wear and tear.

Taping Your Hockey Stick Blade

We know we’ve leaned into the preference thing, but when it comes to how to tape your hockey stick blade, there is a

right way and a wrong way. You want to tape from heel to toe.

Taping from your blade’s heel to its toe will keep the puck on your stick a fraction of a second longer and increase the spin on your shots. Standing with the bottom of the blade flat against the ice, note the point at which the heel is clear of the playing surface — that’s where you start taping. Overlap the first layer to secure the loose end, then continuously wrap toward the toe, consistently overlapping a little less than half of the previous course. Stop as you started, where the bottom of the blade curves off the playing surface. No gaps between laps and smoothed edges will ensure a smoother release.

Taping the Top & Butt End of Your Stick

This part of a tape job is all about feel. Too much grip leaves some players feeling like their hands are slow. Too little leaves others feeling disconnected. The top section doesn’t need as much tape as the blade because it generally stays clear of the friction and moisture of the ice. If you’re unsure of how to tape the top of your hockey stick, test a few variations game to game and see which style you most like playing with.

While they come in a wide range of sizes, there’s no special trick to how to put a butt end on your hockey stick. Built up of several laps of tape, the butt end (or knob) size depends on personal preference. Whatever size you prefer, a proper butt end should help everything from hanging onto your stick while poke checking to anchoring the fulcrum that is your top hand for max power on a slap shot. The size of your hands as well as the profile of your gloves will help determine how big to make the butt end.

How to Tape Ribs on Your Grip

No tip sheet about how to tape your stick would be complete without a few words about ribs. This “candy cane” look basically creates finger stalls between rolled ridges of tape to give extra grip and consistent positioning for your top hand.

While it looks difficult to create, it’s easier than it looks and requires only one extra piece of tape. Make your knob first. Then take a good foot of tape and twist it into a noodle shape. Starting at the butt, wrap it with a gloved finger width between courses. Cover the ribs with a layer of regular tape and you’re all set.

Go Out and Play!

Now that you know how to wrap your hockey stick, it’s time to get out and test your new tape job. Here at ProStockHockey.com, we’re proud to be your go-to source for information and equipment. We even offer youth hockey sticks and hockey tape at some of the best prices in the industry!