Much like skating style, training methods and equipment preferences how one tapes their stick is as unique as the person themselves. Being newbies, first we didn’t realize how often the dang stick would need re-taping, didn’t hear about stick wax until season two and I googled. A YouTube video or two later I felt like I had a fairly firm grasp on the process and got the kids sticks ready to go.
Then my now Bantam started working with Coach S. At the start he was so busy correcting her skating posture that stick work wasn’t high on the list. Her first skating coach used for a couple months on the recommendation of the rink was a former figure skater that was now, and for many years, the person to go to for private power skating lessons.
Much to Coach S’s chagrin it resulted in my daughter having a very figure skating-esque posture standing way to straight and lacking all hockey related bend in the knees. It resulted in a very funny t-shirt after he asked her at every single lesson “Are you a figure skater or a hockey player?” But in the meantime, it was a frustrating transition.
No Overlap
After he got the skating under control, or at least heading in the direction he wanted, then the stick taping timing and methodology was brought up. It was all wrong. I was taping with about a 1/3 overlap, but I wasn’t starting high enough, not getting the tip covered correctly, it was a mess.
He showed us how he wanted it done – no overlap.
Say what? How in the world is one expected to not overlap the stick tape on a curved surface? Clearly it was possible, since during his tutorials and his aptitude for taping this way, it was attainable. I still stared in wonder and horror at this method, but again, I’m not the expert that has played the game since age 4 and coached for years upon years.
Hitting the Pro Shop
I avoided even attempting this process for as long as possible by using the home rink skate shop who was used to this request of Coach S’s, but since I do everything else at the skate shop closer to home, the first time I walked in needing a stick cut for my mite and asked for my bantam’s stick to be re-taped at the same time, they looked at me like I grew a second head.
“No overlap? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am sure. That is what her coach wants.”
No, I am not sure, but on advice of counsel I am going to have it done his way. I don’t need a lecture on why you disagree because at the end of the day, my daughter or myself are going to be face to face with her coach and having to explain why it isn’t done “right”. It’s not a conversation I want to have under the hard glare that can strike fear into the heart of most humans. Coach S is a super nice guy, but that fades real damn fast when you don’t listen.
“That makes no sense, she would get better grip for a shot with the overlap.”
Yes, I Am Sure
“Okay, that is all well and good, but her coach wants it done this way.”
They continued to stare skeptically, but in the end did the no overlap taping. I have it done to my son’s stick too since he was about to start working with Coach S later that week. I assumed that what works for one was also going to be the routine for the other and I was looking to avoid the moment of being asked why I would think to do the other stick differently. Yeah, the glare is that bad.
I have nearly mastered the non-overlap method, still questioning the physics behind the straight tape over a curved surface concept.
How does your hockey player tape their stick?
