FINDING THE RIGHT STICK LENGTH

Like most goalie equipment, finding the right stick length is NOT an "exact science." This is simply because there are different body anatomies and playing styles. However, it is important to choose a stick that allows us to perform our best (that is, allows proper placement of the stick on the ice).

Luckily THERE ARE SOME GOOD GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW that will provide the best possible starting point.

There are 2 ways to do this:

METHOD 1
The first method (pic 1) is to hold your blocker in the "correct" general position (pic 1). Notice that doing this causes the blade of the stick to be a considerable distance from the floor. Obviously, this tells you the stick is TOO SHORT (in this case we are using a "Youth" stick held by a "Senior" player).

METHOD 2
The second method (pic 2) is to hold the stick blade on the floor in the correct "stance" postion. In order to do this, we must place the blocker far too low, and the arm much too straight (notice that in pic 1, the goalie blocker is in "correct position" which means held just above the knee and with the arm in a "slightly" bent position).

BOTH METHODS WILL TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE CORRECT SIZE STICK. BOTH WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH "TOO SHORT" OR HOW MUCH "TOO TALL" THE STICK IS.
 

Below are several examples of using METHOD 1 and METHOD 2, to determine the correct stick length.

Below are several examples of using METHOD 1 and METHOD 2, to determine the correct stick length.

P.S It is NOT necessary to wear skates to determine the sizing of a goalie stick as long as you are wearing shoes. Most running shoes come very close to the height of a goalie skate anyway. Furthermore, because of so many variables involved, the small difference in goalie skate vs shoe will NOT make a difference in knowing which size stick is best for you.