Tape & Wax Your Hockey Stick
How to Tape and Wax Your Hockey Stick
The easiest and most effective thing you can do to prolong the life of your hockey stick blades is to tape and wax them very well. Proper taping and waxing not only extends your stick's lifespan but also improves puck control and shot performance.
What Does Tape Do?
Since you naturally lose grip on the puck if your blades are wet, taping the blade of your stick prevents moisture from building up on the blade and keeps the puck from sliding off. Tape creates a textured surface that enhances puck control and protects the blade from premature wear.
Always Tape the Bottom of the Blade
Step-by-Step Taping Instructions:
- Prepare the blade: Make sure the edge of the blade is smooth before applying the tape
- Cut a strip: Cut a strip of cloth tape to cover the bottom of the hockey stick blade and around the toe 180 degrees
- Center the tape: Make sure the tape is centered along the edge of the blade itself
- Choose your direction: Decide whether you prefer to tape from toe-to-heel (more resistance) or heel-to-toe (less resistance). There's no right or wrong way
- Wind the tape: Wind the tape around the blade, overlapping layers by about half the width of the tape as you go
- Trim excess: Once you tape the entire toe area, use scissors to trim excess tape
Why tape the bottom? This will greatly prevent the premature breakdown of the blades caused by moisture and board battles.
Finishing touch: Once your hockey stick blade has been taped, take a puck and rub it along the tape area in the heel-to-toe direction. This will create a smooth surface for the newly attached tape and will also bind it well with the blade.
Waxing the Stick Blade
Waxing the stick blade is a popular method used to preserve tape and enhance performance.
How to Apply Wax:
Apply a thin layer of stick wax to the blade area which you have just taped and the bottom of the blade (the part that comes in contact with the ice). The layer of wax makes the bottom of the blade slick and also provides a watertight layer of protection to keep the tape from unraveling due to moisture.
Benefits of Waxing:
- Extends tape life: Wax increases the life of the tape and ultimately your stick by preventing water from settling on the tape
- Reduces friction: Helps while you take shots by reducing friction between the ice and your stick blade while striking the puck
- Improves puck feel: Provides "softness" when handling the puck. A player with good hands can feel the subtle cushioning the wax provides
- Moisture protection: Creates a watertight barrier against ice and water
Proper Storage for Maximum Stick Life
Whenever possible after use, try to store your stick at moderate temperatures to allow it to effectively dry out. If a wet stick is stored at freezing temperatures, this will only shorten its lifespan and cause your stick to prematurely crack and separate at stress points at the blade bottom from a repeated freezing and thawing process.
Protect Your Investment
FUTUR HOCKEY sticks are built with premium TORAY carbon fiber for exceptional durability, but proper care through taping and waxing will maximize your stick's performance and lifespan. Take a few minutes before each game to properly prepare your blade—your stick will thank you.