How to tape a hockey stick

Start at the heel and wrap toward the toe, overlapping each wrap a little (guides range from 1/4 inch to about half the tape's width), stop an inch or two short of the toe, tear the tape at the top edge of the blade, then smooth it and wax it if you like.^1,2,3,4 On the handle, build a knob at the top big enough that your pinky wraps around it in gloves, then spiral the tape a few inches down the shaft.^1,3

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How to tape the blade

Start at the heel and work toward the toe so the tape lies flat and smooth on the ice; anchor with one full wrap on the top edge of the heel.^1,2
Direction is personal preference: heel-to-toe or toe-to-heel both work; start at one end and proceed to the other.^3,4,7
Heel-to-toe is the most commonly used direction, especially by professional players.⁶
Heel-to-toe may add spin that is harder for goalies to control but slightly reduces shot speed; toe-to-heel slightly shortens the time the puck takes to leave the blade.³
Hold the stick blade-front-up in the non-dominant hand, attach the tape at the back of the blade, wrap over the top and down the front, keeping tension on the roll.²
Overlap each wrap: about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) per Source for Sports; a little less than halfway per HockeyMonkey; about halfway per Canadian Tire; slight overlap per Ice Warehouse.^1,2,3,4
Stop about 1 to 2 inches from the toe (Ice Warehouse) or when about 2 inches (5 cm) of blade remains (Source for Sports); GoalieMonkey covers up to the toe.^1,2,7
Tear the tape at the top of the blade, not the bottom, so the tail cannot peel or flap on the ice if it gets wet.^2,4
Smooth the tape down with your hand, the side of the tape roll, or a puck (GoalieMonkey: a squeegee or credit card), rubbing in the direction the tape faces.^2,3,4,7
Optional wax: use stick wax, about 4-6 horizontal passes across the front of the blade, then 2-4 times on the back; it adds tackiness and repels water and snow.^1,3
Wax the bottom and sides of the tape to keep snow from building up and help the blade slide on the ice.⁶

How to make a knob

Wrap the tape several times around the very top of the shaft to build the knob.^1,2,7
Size it so your pinky wraps comfortably around the stick while wearing gloves.^1,3
Keep it small for skaters: big enough to stop the top hand sliding off, not so large it interferes with the glove or catches on the jersey.²
OMHA: make the knob thick enough that it cannot fit through a helmet's wire cage.⁶
Goalies need a much larger knob than players; GoalieMonkey builds a flared knob and wraps extra tape around its base.^2,7

How to tape the handle

Starting just below the knob, spiral the tape diagonally down the handle with slight overlap (Source for Sports: about 1/4 inch; Canadian Tire: about halfway).^1,2,3,4
Handle length: typically 4 to 10 inches (HockeyMonkey), 3 to 5 inches (Ice Warehouse), 4 to 6 inches (Canadian Tire), or about 1 1/2 glove lengths (Source for Sports).^1,2,3,4
Finish with one horizontal, overlapping lap at the bottom, cut the tape, and press the loose end onto the shaft.^1,3
Candy-cane ridge: twist about 3 ft (91 cm) of tape into a rope, coil it loosely from the end point up to the knob, then wrap back down over it with overlap. Adds grip but makes sliding the hand harder.²
Candy-cane on the shaft: with 1-inch tape, start just below the butt end, leaving 1.5 to 2 inches between wraps; uncommon because it limits sliding the bottom hand. Popular with younger players on the handle.³
Optional: add one layer of stretch grip tape over the knob and handle for comfort and glove-palm protection.^1,3

Which tape to use

Tape	What it is for
Cloth hockey tape	Standard for blade and handle; also used on butt end and socks. Comes in 1-inch and 1.5-inch widths; most players use 1-inch, goalies often 1.5-inch.^1,3,5
Grip (friction) tape	Softer, cushioned tape for the butt end/handle; helps preserve glove palms.^1,5
Friction tape on the blade	Alternative to wax on the blade.³
Clear / shin guard / sock tape	Used to hold socks over shin guards only; never on the blade or handle.^2,3,5
Colored and patterned cloth tape	For customization on blade, butt end or socks; Source for Sports suggests beginners may use patterned tape and the butt end is a good spot for patterns.^2,5
Black and white cloth tape	Traditional colors at the pro level; knob and blade can differ.^1,6

White or black tape, and how often to retape

White blade tape shows the puck clearly in peripheral vision and helps players learn puck handling.^1,2,3
Black blade tape may make the puck harder for goalies to pick up and is often used by more skilled players; HockeyMonkey notes it can also make the puck harder for you to track.^2,3,6
White knob tape leaves fewer marks on glove palms than black (black dye wears gloves).^2,6
Retape when wear shows, especially on the blade bottom or when a skate cut exposes the blade; some players retape every game, others every few months.^2,3
New players may need to retape every few games; elite players may need it during a game; keep several rolls in the bag.²
Goalies: reapply tape every few games or practices and inspect after each use.⁷
Goalies always use white tape on the blade so they can see the puck (Source for Sports); goalies often use 1.5-inch cloth tape for the larger blade.^1,2
Avoid sock tape or any tape with a non-grippy surface on the stick.³

Where the guides disagree

Blade overlap: Source for Sports about 1/4 inch; HockeyMonkey a little less than halfway; Canadian Tire about halfway.
Where to stop on the blade: Ice Warehouse 1-2 inches from the toe; Source for Sports about 2 inches; GoalieMonkey up to the toe.
Handle tape length: HockeyMonkey 4-10 inches; Ice Warehouse 3-5 inches; Canadian Tire 4-6 inches; Source for Sports about 1 1/2 glove lengths.
Black blade tape: Source for Sports and OMHA frame it as hiding the puck from goalies; HockeyMonkey adds that it can also make the puck harder for the player to track.

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