How to Tape a Hockey Stick Blade

The easiest and most effective thing you can do to prolong the life of your hockey sticks is to tape and wax them very well. But you should avoid duct tape and electrical tape. It’s well worth your time and effort to find friction tape designed specifically for this purpose. Applying this tape using the methods described below will help make your stick more effective and can extend its life for hundreds of games.

Things You'll Need

  • Hockey stick
  • Friction tape
  • Snap wax
  • Hockey puck
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Instructions

    • 1

      Go to your local sporting goods store or hockey supply store for friction tape and Snap Wax. These products are specially designed for use with hockey equipment and aren’t available at all stores.

    • 2

      Open the package of friction tape and note that both sides are sticky, but that one side is sticker than the other. The stickier side is the side that you will apply directly to the stick blade. Smooth the loose end of the stickiest side onto the blade near the elbow, which is where the blade bends into the handle. Then start winding the tape around the blade towards the blade’s end, overlapping layers by about half the width of the tape as you go.

    • 3

      Stop winding the tape when you get to within two inches of the end of the blade. Tear the tape off and smooth the loose end down onto the blade.

    • 4

      Rub a hockey puck along the seams of your taped surface to smooth out and flatten the tape. You may need to apply substantial pressure with the puck as you smooth out the tape on the blade’s edge.

    • 5

      Use your fingers to apply a thin layer of Snap Wax to the bottom of the blade. In this instance, the bottom of the blade is the thin ridge that comes directly into contact with the ice when you take a shot. The layer of wax will not only make the bottom of the blade slick, it will also provide a watertight layer of protection to keep the tape from unraveling due to moisture.