Common Shaft Geometries
Here’s a breakdown of the most common shaft shapes you’ll find in modern sticks:
1. Square Shaft
- Cross-Section: Straight sidewalls with mildly rounded sharp 90° corners.
- Feel: Classic, firm, and stable grip. Players can struggle with wrist mobility. (Wrist mobility affects the players ability to apply pressure on the stick in difficult or more extreme stick angles)
- Used For: Players who like structure and feedback. (Feedback refers to how easily you can feel the alignment of the stick)
- Common in: Defensemen who take slapshots and need a solid grip.
Example Stick: Bauer Supreme Mach
→ View on Pure Hockey
2. Rounded Shaft
- Cross-Section: Gently rounded corners and curved sidewalls.
- Feel: Comfortable and fluid grip; easy on the hands. Less feedback and rotational stability.
- Used For: Quick movement, stickhandling.
Example Stick: TRUE Hzrdus PX, Bauer Vapor Series, Ccm Jetspeed Series
→ View on Pure Hockey
3. Hybrid Shaft
- Cross-Section: A mix of square walls with slightly rounded corners.
- Feel: Balanced and adaptable.
- Used For: All-position players who want both control and mobility.
Example Stick: Warrior Alpha LX Pro, Bauer Nexus Line up until Geo
→ View on Pure Hockey
4. Ergonomic or “E” Geometry
- Cross-Section: Designed to fit the natural grip of the player’s hand with variable shaping throughout the shaft.
- Feel: Contoured for quick energy transfer. Very little feedback.
- Used For: Quick-release shooters like forwards and snipers.
Example Stick: CCM Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro
→ View on Pure Hockey
📊 NHL Shaft Geometry Usage (Estimates)
While preferences vary, here are rough breakdowns of what pros use:
| Geometry Type | Usage Estimate | Common Users |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | ~45% | Play makers |
| Square | ~25% | Defensive Players |
| Ergonomic | ~15% | Quick Release Shooters |
| Rounded | ~10% | Shooters |
| Experimental | Less than 5% |
🏁 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right shaft geometry isn’t just about comfort—it’s about optimizing your game. Whether you need precision, power, or speed, there’s a shape built to support you.
That being said, some of the new shaft geometries hitting the market are complete gimmicks. While flashy new designs may promise innovation, you’ll notice that most professional players still stick with hybrid or traditional square shafts. Even when it appears they’re using the latest stick, that’s often not the case.
Many NHL players use what’s called a “skinned stick”—an older or preferred model wrapped with the graphics of a newer release. This is done mainly for marketing. One of the most common base sticks in the NHL is the Bauer Nexus 2N XL, a pro-only variant of the 2N that maintains the hybrid shaft shape while using lighter construction materials.
If you ever buy a pro stock stick, look near the blade curve. You’ll often find the actual model name printed discreetly, revealing the truth beneath the branding.
Which shaft shape do you use? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for next week’s breakdown on blade patterns and what curve fits your game
Leave a Reply