How to tape a stick / Goalie

How to tape a goalie stick.

A goalie stick takes more shots than any other piece of gear. Tape the whole blade and the lower part of the paddle, where pucks hit hardest, and build a big knob: it makes the stick easier to grab off the ice and harder to lose from the blocker glove.

Time
About 15 minutes
You need
One roll of white cloth hockey tape (2.5 cm or 3.8 cm), Stick wax (optional)
Tools
Scissors or a utility knife, A clean, dry cloth
Step 1 of taping a goalie stick: Strip and clean the blade and paddle.

Blade · Step 1 of 9

Drag the stick to turn it 360°.

  1. Blade

    Strip and clean the blade and paddle

    Remove the old tape from the blade and the lower paddle, clean off the adhesive and dry the stick.

    Step 1: Strip and clean the blade and paddle.

  2. Blade

    Anchor at the heel

    Start where the blade meets the paddle. Lay the first pass straight around to lock the end down.

    Step 2: Anchor at the heel.

  3. Blade

    Wrap the blade to the toe

    Spiral toward the toe, overlapping each pass by about a third. A goalie blade is longer and taller than a player's, so expect to use a good part of the roll.

    Tip: Wider 3.8 cm tape covers a goalie blade in fewer passes.

    Step 3: Wrap the blade to the toe.

  4. Blade

    Finish and trim the blade

    Run the tape past the toe, tear it, then trim the bottom edge and the toe clean. Press all the edges down.

    Step 4: Finish and trim the blade.

  5. Blade

    Tape the lower paddle

    Start a new run at the heel and wrap up the paddle, overlapping as you go. Cover the lower part, where low shots and rebounds hit hardest.

    Tip: Many goalies match their tape colour to their pads and blocker.

    Step 5: Tape the lower paddle.

  6. Handle

    Start at the top of the shaft

    Turn to the top of the stick. Begin the knob right at the end, with the first wrap hanging slightly over the edge.

    Step 6: Start at the top of the shaft.

  7. Handle

    Build a big knob

    Wrap over the same spot again and again until the knob is noticeably thicker than the shaft. Goalies go much bigger than skaters.

    Tip: A big knob means you can scoop the stick off the ice with your blocker and it will not slide out of your glove.

    Step 7: Build a big knob.

  8. Handle

    Wrap down the shaft

    Continue the tape down the shaft below the knob so your blocker hand has grip wherever it sits.

    Step 8: Wrap down the shaft.

  9. Handle

    Seal the end

    Fold the overhang over the butt end, finish on the underside, and test it: drop the stick and pick it up with your blocker on.

    Step 9: Seal the end.

Other positions

How to tape a forward's stick How to tape a defenceman's stick Design your own in the Tape Lab