Have you ever had a hockey stick that for some reason just felt right? Gave you harder shots, better accuracy, and increased control which made you attack the game with a new type of confidence?
If you haven’t yet you will, but inevitably that stick will meet its demise and your search to replace it will be underway. This is where people often get frustrated, when the make or curve is no longer available or the NHL player associated with the pattern is retired, etc. Or in Ovechkin's case, the player switched brands and curve.
For an even more in-depth look at each of our blade patterns, click HERE.
Here is a little something that the HockeyStickMan put together to help you understand the different types of patterns on the market:
| Options | Description | By Brand | Specifications |
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Most popular pattern in the game of hockey. For puck control, quick release, and firing shots. Start with this pattern. |
Bauer: (P92) Matthews CCM: (P29/P90) Crosby Warrior: (W03) Backstrom TRUE: (TC2) Marner Easton: (E3) Hall / Sakic |
Curve - Big Mid Lie - 5.5 - 6 Depth - 12mm 1/2" Face - Open Toe - Round |
 
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Prototypical mid-blade pattern. Once the second most popular, seeing less of this curve. For stick handling, wrist shots, and quick release. |
Bauer: (P88) Kane/ Lindros CCM: (P80/P88) Ovechkin or (P40) Mackinnon (Square Toe) Warrior: (W88) Gaudreau TRUE: (MC) Easton: (E36) Mid Blade / Iginla |
Curve - Mid Lie - 5.5 - 6 Depth - 9/16th Face - slightly open Toe - Round or Square |
 
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The most modest amount of curve. Allows for more blade on the ice. For handling the puck, and shooting forehand and back. |
Bauer: (PM9) Larkin CCM: (P14) Duchene Warrior: (W01) Scheifele Easton: (E4) Cammalleri / Zetterberg |
Curve - Mid-Heel Lie - 4.5 - 5 Depth - 9mm 3/8 " Face - Closed Toe - Round |
 
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Most popular heel curve. Has a rounded toe and open face. For shooting off the heel, heavy shots, going top shelf, and for deflections. |
Bauer: (P91A) Staal TRUE: (HC) Easton: (E6) Parise / Drury |
Curve - Heel Toe - Round |
  
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Harder to find pattern. Similar to blade 1 with a square toe. For quick release, shooting accuracy, and for digging in corners. |
Bauer: (P12 Custom) CCM: (P45) Tavares and Datsyuk |
Curve - Mid Lie - 5 - 6 Depth - 12mm / 1/2" Face - closed Toe - Square |
  
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Fastest growing pattern in hockey. Most popular next to Blade 1. Sometimes considered the elite players curve. For keeping the puck on the toe, quick release, extreme precision and accuracy. |
Bauer: (P28) Eichel CCM: (P28) McDavid Warrior: (W28) Gallagher TRUE: TC4 |
Curve - Toe Lie - 5 - 6 Depth - 12mm/1/2" Face - Open Toe - Round |
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An old favorite and very hard to find (Lidstrom). Built for shooting off the heel, for slapshots, and pinpoint passes.
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Bauer: (P02) Kesler CCM: custom Warrior: (W02) Lidstrom / Jovanovski Easton: (E5) Getzlaf / Lidstrom |
Curve - Heel Lie - 5.5 - 6 Depth - 12mm/1/2" Face - Open Toe - Square |
  
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A heel curve with a rounded toe and no wedge. A starter blade for heel curve, easy transition from mid. For rising shots and saucer passes.
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Easton: Custom Bauer: (P106) Richards / Gagne CCM: P50 (Gagne) Warrior: Custom |
Curve - Heel Lie - 5.5 - 6 Depth - 12mm/1/2" Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Small blade with a mid-toe curve and a fairly open face. Blade 9 also features a fairly square toe. |
Bauer: (P14) Toews CCM: (P49) Warrior: (W14) Chara |
Curve - Toe Lie - 5.5 - 6 Face - Open Toe - Partially square |
  
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Shallow mid curve with a moderately open face and a rounded toe. Blade 10 is essentially just a milder version of Blade 1, which is very similar but with a slightly deeper mid-section and moderately more open toe. |
CCM: (P19) Nugent-Hopkins
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Curve - Shallow Mid Lie - 5 - 6 Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Deep pocket and big toe hook, but a fairly straight and thin heel. Like most toe curves, Blade 6 is usually a safe bet for a comparable curve. If it’s the deep pocket you’re after, Blade 13 builds on this with an even deeper pocket. |
CCM: (P46) Bergeron |
Curve - Deep Mid Lie - 5 - 6 Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Moderate mid curve that finishes with a very open toe hook. Blade 12 was created as a hybrid between Blade 1 and Blade 6, and is very reminiscent of both. |
(P90T) Pro Benn |
Curve - Mid Toe Lie - 5.5 - 6 Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Blade 13 is a very deep mid curve with a long blade and a fairly open face. Blade 1 has a similar overall shape, but is not nearly as deep and is slightly more open.
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Warrior: (W71) Pacioretty / Larkin |
Curve - Deep Mid Lie - 5-6 Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Big mid-toe curve with super open, almost dish-like face. Being such an extreme curve, there is not much in the way of retail equivalencies. |
Bauer: (P08) CCM: Crazy Ovi Sherwood: (P77) Coffey (Similar) Warrior: (W11) TRUE: (TC3) Easton: (E38) |
Curve - Toe Lie - 5.5 - 6 Face - Open Toe - Round |
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Moderate mid curve with a toe kink and fairly closed faced toe. Blade 15 was created as a variant of Blade 2 with a toe kink, so many players will find the transition between the two to be fairly straightforward. |
CCM: (P30) Parise / Panarin |
Curve - Toe Lie - 5 - 6 (Dual Lie) Face - Open Toe - Round |
Quick Notes:
- Not sure? - The old Sakic (Blade 1) is now by far the most popular pattern on the market.
- Safe buy - Nothing to crazy, prototypical curve, the (Blade 2) is probably best.
- Small curve - You'll want the (Blade 3), also comes with the lowest lie.
- What's new - The Pro Benn (Blade 12) curve is a strong option as a hybrid between the Blade 1 and Blade 6. It is gaining a lot of popularity around the league
- Looking for a challenge - The McDavid/Eichel (Blade 6) has taken the pro leagues by storm and it is trickling down through the amateur ranks. If you're looking for a bit of a new challenge, this is an option.
- Custom - Don't like any of these choices? We have a wide selection of custom curves from pros around the world HERE.
- Endangered - The Lidstrom / Getzlaf (Blade 7) - to our older population, if we have one, buy it quickly! We are doing our best to keep this one alive with our Pro Blackout line - check out our best selling sticks HERE.
- Endangered - Sorry Coffee lovers - the closest you'll find now a days is the Blade 14 and it is hard to come by. We are keeping the P77 curve alive as well in our Value Blackout line - check them out HERE.
- Extinction - Straight - sorry old timer, maybe try a local museum?
Now that you know the type of stick you want, why not buy from us?
Check out our entire selection
Any questions about the curves? I will get back to you right away!
17 comments
Hey HSMan! :) Thank you for all the info and shared knowledge! Best answers to all comments I’ve seen so far, thus as an ex AA level hockey who had to stop for more than 10 years due to injury and life I think you might be the competent person to ask.
As I am coming back, i find the industry with changed standards, thus could you please elaborate on how the curve pattern affects one’s shot’s power and accuracy?
For example while playing i used a CCM 252 supra with i think a traditional Lindors/P88 curve, and found it deadly accurate. Now using the bauer mid-toe P92 im in a bit of trouble, i.e. it my left-handed shot seems to go a bit more to the right than the P88, shooting off the toe isn’t as instinctive and flat as it used to be and so on :)
Thanks again and Cheers!
Any idea what the current match is for the old Bauer Pavel Bure curve is?
What current blade pattern is comparable to the old Sherwood LeClair PP10. I believe it was a 4.5 lie.