Here is the basic terminology about the hockey stick blade:
The heel of a hockey stick refers to the bottom of the stick at the back of the blade below where the blade and the shaft meet.
The toe of a hockey stick refers to the end of the blade away from the shaft. Toes generally come in two shapes: round and square.
The Lie of a blade describes the angle of the blade in reference to the shaft. A lie value of 5 corresponds to a 135° angle, and each additional lie value corresponds to a 2° smaller angle. With the bottom of the blade flat on the ice, a higher lie value causes the shaft to stand up straighter. Typical values range from 5 to 7; most sticks now are near 5.5. Players usually seek a lie that will put the blade flat on the ice while they are in their normal skating stance. A lower lie is best for skaters who lean forward closer to the ice or use a longer stick. Higher lies keep the puck closer to the body and are preferred by more upright skaters.
Here is how to tell if your lie is correct…Check the tape on the blade of one of your used sticks. If most of the wear is on the heel, choose a lower lie. If most of the wear is in the toe of the stick, you should choose a higher lie. If the tape is evenly worn across the bottom of the blade then you have a good lie for you.
Pattern and Curve
Blade Patterns consist of the dimensions of right/left hand, curve type, curve depth, toe shape and face angle. Patterns are often named after NHL players for marketing purposes.
Blade Curve Type describes where the main part of the curve is located on the blade. Curve types are Heel, Mid and Toe curves.
Blade Curve Depth is the amount of curve in the blade. A simple way to measure the curve depth is to place the stick on a flat surface with the inside of the curve of the blade laying flat on the surface. You can then measure from the surface to the highest point inside the curve profile. Flat blades have a depth of zero. The most common depths range from 3/8″ to 1/2″ (9.5 to 13 mm).
Blade Face Angle describes how much of the face (or front) of the blade you can see when looking down at the ice. Face angles are referred to as Open or Closed. The more open the blade is, (you can see more of the front of the blade when looking down) the easier it is to lift the puck. Slightly open or closed angles are better for stick handling, catching passes and using your backhand.
These terms have also been added to the Hockey Stick Dictionary
Written by Greg at Hockey Stick Expert