How to Cut a Goalie Stick Paddle

Measuring

• 1

  Have the child put on his ice skates to account for the additional height when taking the measurements.

• 2

  Instruct the child to assume the standard hockey goalie stance with the goalie stick in hand.

• 3

  Measure the portion of the stick paddle's heel lifted off the ground. When a player assumes the goalie stance with a stick that is too big, the heel, or part of the paddle closest to the shaft, lifts off the ground. If the tip of the paddle, or the end opposite the heel, lifts off the ground, the stick is too short -- don't cut it.

• 4

  Lay the stick on a flat work surface. Place the tape measure at the very end of the paddle's tip and measure inward from the tip the same length as the measurement taken in Step 3. For instance, if 3 inches of the stick's heel is off the ground when the player assumes the goalie stance, measure a distance of 3 inches inward from the stick's tip.

• 5

  Mark a straight line across the height of the paddle at this point with a ruler and marker.

Cutting

• 6

  Place the stick so that the portion of the paddle you plan on removing extends out from the edge of the work surface.

• 7

  Clamp the stick to the work surface with a vise. Place the clamp at the juncture where the paddle meets the end of the table.

• 8

  Grip the paddle firmly with your non-cutting hand to prevent the stick from slipping while you cut the paddle.

• 9

  Cut slowly along the line drawn vertically across the paddle with a hacksaw. Avoid cutting too quickly as it may cause the stick to move and result in an uneven cut. Cut until the tip of the stick breaks free from the paddle.

• 10

  Remove the stick from the vise clamp.

Finishing

• 11

  Sand the end of the stick gently with fine-grit sandpaper. Smooth out any imperfections left in the tip of the stick by the hacksaw, though avoid sanding hard enough to make the stick any shorter.

• 12

  Wrap hockey tape around the entire paddle. Start with the tip and work toward the heel. Keep the tape as tight as possible while wrapping.

• 13

  Apply additional tape at the end of the paddle if any of the tip remains exposed after the initial taping. Goalie paddles are not designed to be cut, so you must protect the exposed portion for optimal stick performance.

• 14

  Instruct your child to assume the goalie stance on a flat surface while wearing skates and holding the stick. Visually ensure that the paddle of the stick sits flat on the ground.