Types of Replacement Hockey Blades

The blade is the bottom of the hockey stick that you use to control and shoot the puck. Some hockey sticks are made so the blade can be replaced on the shaft, which is the long portion of the stick the player holds. The part where the blade and the shaft meet is called the taper because the blade is made to fit into the shaft. Hockey blades come in a variety of materials and styles. Once you select the correct blade material and style, you will want to test different blade curve patterns to find the most effective blade for your style of play.

  1. Wood Blades

    • The first blades produced for hockey sticks were made of ash; blades now are made of many types of woods. These woods are layered and laminated together for strength and flexibility. An additional fiberglass coating on the outside is used to further strengthen and protect the wood from water damage. These blades are used on both ice and roller hockey surfaces, but blades used for roller hockey are replaced more often because of friction.Blades made of wood are the heavy compare with blades made of other materials. They can come left-handed or right-handed and there are a variety of curve styles to choose from.

    Composite Blades

    • Composite hockey blades are used for their strength and because they are light weight. They often are made of Kevlar, carbon fiber, graphite and fiberglass. These blades have increased integrity because of their materials. Players can get their shots off faster and harder because of the light-weight nature of these blades. They are, however, much more expensive and hockey veterans may be thrown off by their lightness. Composite blades are completely water-resistant and can not be damaged by water. Like wood blades, composite blades come left-handed or right-handed and have a large number of curve shapes.

    Plastic Blades

    • Plastic blades are the least expensive blades available. They provide little strength but a lot of flexibility. In many cases, they are too flexible. Having to much flexibility in the blade can cause you to lose power when shooting or passing. They generally are used for floor hockey games during high school physical education classes. These blades are completely flat. At one time plastic blades were popular in floor hockey due to their friction resistance, but have declined in popularity as blades with a "real hockey feel" have surpassed them. Generally, these blades are used for introducing people to hockey and are not recommended for athletes playing competitively.

    Tapered Blades

    • Not to be confused with the taper of the blade, a tapered blade is a relatively new form of blade. By installing a tapered blade the shaft and blade together form a stick that seamlessly tapers down to the blade. These blades can be made of either wood or composite materials and come in the same variety of curves as the other materials. The reason for the taper is to provide the player with a lower "kick point" on his shot. A kick point is the place where the puck leaves the stick, and having it lower on the blade results in a faster shot while applying minimal body work.