Become a FISCHER Hockey Retailer
Stick Care, Flex Cutting & Taping Guide
Get the absolute maximum performance, longevity, and tactile puck response from your Fischer composite and wood hockey sticks with proper cutting, preparation, and maintenance.
1. Cutting Your Stick & Flex Calculations
When you cut a composite hockey stick, the shorter lever arm increases the shaft's stiffness. It is vital to take this into account so you don't unintentionally make your stick too stiff to load properly.
The Golden Rule of Cutting:
Every 1 inch (2.5 cm) cut from the top of the shaft increases effective flex by approximately +3 to +5 flex points.
| Base Stick Flex | Cut 1" (Effective) | Cut 2" (Effective) | Cut 3" (Effective) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 Flex (Senior) | ~78 Flex | ~82 Flex | ~86 Flex |
| 85 Flex (Senior) | ~89 Flex | ~93 Flex | ~98 Flex |
| 65 Flex (Intermediate) | ~68 Flex | ~72 Flex | ~76 Flex |
| 45 Flex (Junior) | ~48 Flex | ~52 Flex | ~56 Flex |
Step-by-Step Cutting Instructions:
- Measure on Skates: Stand on skates on a flat surface. A standard stick length reaches between your chin and nose. Place a pencil mark at the desired cut height.
- Use a Fine-Tooth Hacksaw: Wrap painter's tape around the mark to prevent composite splintering. Use a 24-32 TPI (teeth per inch) hacksaw blade or composite cutter.
- Cut Squarely: Support the shaft on a workbench and cut slowly and evenly across.
- Sand the Edges: Lightly file or sand the inner and outer rim to remove burrs before re-inserting the butt end cap or wooden plug.
2. Blade Taping & Waxing Best Practices
- Heel to Toe vs. Toe to Heel: Taping from heel to toe creates overlapping seams that face backward, helping the puck roll smoothly off the blade on releases with maximum spin.
- Covering the Toe: For players using modern toe-drag curves (like the Fischer P28 or P92), taping fully over the toe and trimming the excess with scissors protects against blade splitting and gives grip on toe drags.
- Apply Hockey Stick Wax: Lightly coat the taped blade with hockey wax to repel snow and ice buildup, keeping the blade lightweight and tactile throughout the third period.
3. Storage & Temperature Care
- Avoid Extreme Car Trunk Heat/Cold: Never leave composite sticks inside a hot vehicle trunk during summer (resin weakening) or sub-zero overnight freezes (composite brittleness). Store sticks at room temperature.
- Inspect After Blocked Shots: Check for deep surface gouges or cracks along the hosel and blade edge after heavy shot blocks or skate impacts. Fischer’s Cap Technology encapsulates the composite to prevent micro-fractures, but major impacts should be inspected prior to games.