Quick answer
Hold a hockey stick with your top hand near the end of the shaft (the knob) and your bottom hand about a forearm's length below it — roughly shoulder-width apart. The top hand does the steering and most of the work; the bottom hand guides and adds power. Grip firmly but not white-knuckle tight, keep your wrists loose, and let the bottom hand slide up and down the shaft depending on the task: hands closer together for stickhandling, bottom hand lower for shooting and passing. Right-handed players usually put the left hand on top; left-handed players put the right hand on top — but the correct hand on top is whichever the blade curve matches.
Key takeaways
- Top hand on the knob steers; bottom hand about a forearm's length lower guides and powers.
- Grip firm but relaxed — squeezing kills your hands and your feel for the puck.
- Hands closer together for quick stickhandling; bottom hand slides lower for shooting and passing.
- The top hand should never leave the knob during normal play.
- Your dominant hand usually goes on top, but the blade curve decides which way you shoot.
- Stick length matters: roughly to your chin in skates, or your nose off-skates, for a good all-round grip.
Which hand goes on top?
This is the first question every new player asks. The top hand controls the stick, so many coaches put the dominant hand on top for control — a right-handed person often holds left (left hand on top), and a left-handed person often holds right. But there's no universal rule, and plenty of great players do the opposite. The real answer is that your grip and the curve of your blade must match: a "left" stick is built to be held with the left hand on top. Try both early, pick what feels natural, and then commit — switching later is hard.
Coach Erik's tip: In thirty years I've learned not to force a young player onto a "correct" side. Hand them a stick and watch which way they naturally chop at a puck or swing a broom — that's usually their side. Once they've picked, buy the matching curve and stop second-guessing it. A confident grip on the "wrong" textbook side beats a hesitant one on the "right" side every time.
The correct grip, step by step
- Top hand. Wrap it around the knob at the very end of the shaft. This hand steers and stays put.
- Bottom hand. Place it about a forearm's length down the shaft — roughly shoulder-width from the top hand for a neutral grip.
- Grip pressure. Firm enough to control, loose enough to feel the puck. Cue: "hold it like a bird — not so tight you crush it, not so loose it flies away."
- Wrists. Keep them loose and mobile; your wrists do the fine work of cradling and snapping the puck.
- Body. Stick blade flat on the ice, hands out in front of your body, not tucked into your hips.
How the grip changes by task
| Task | Hand position | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stickhandling | Hands closer together, bottom hand higher | Quicker, softer hands and better puck feel |
| Wrist/snap shot | Bottom hand lower (mid-shaft) | More leverage and stick flex for power |
| Passing | Bottom hand mid-shaft | Control and a smooth sweep |
| Poke check / reach | One hand (top), bottom hand off | Maximum reach into a lane |
| Slap shot | Bottom hand lower still | Long lever to load the shaft |
The bottom hand is the one that moves. The top hand stays anchored on the knob for almost everything except a one-handed reach. Learning to slide the bottom hand smoothly between tasks is a sign of a developing player.
Stick length and lie
A stick that's too long forces your hands too far apart and buries your hands in your body; too short and you hunch over. A common guide: standing in skates, the stick should reach roughly your chin; in shoes, roughly your nose. Younger players learning puck control often like it a touch shorter for quicker hands. Whatever the length, it should let you keep the blade flat on the ice with your hands comfortably in front of you.
Coach Erik's tip: If a young player's puck control looks clumsy, check the stick before you change the hands. Nine times out of ten it's too long. Cut an inch or two off, watch the hands come alive, and you've fixed the "skill problem" that was really an equipment problem.
Drills to groove your grip
Good grip becomes automatic through reps. Practice on a smooth surface with a puck or a stickhandling trainer, or use a stickhandling ball for soft hands.
- Stationary cradle. 3×30 seconds moving the puck side to side with hands close, top hand fixed.
- Hand-slide reps. Move the puck, then slide the bottom hand down and take a shot; reset. 3×10.
- One-hand reach. Extend the top hand only to pull a puck from arm's length. 3×10 each side.
- Grip-pressure check. Stickhandle for 30 seconds focusing on the lightest grip that still controls the puck.
For where to go next, see our stickhandling tips and shooting guide.
Common mistakes
- Both hands too close to the top. Robs you of shooting leverage. Fix: slide the bottom hand down to shoot.
- Squeezing too hard. Kills puck feel and tires your hands. Fix: relax to the lightest grip that controls the puck.
- Top hand leaving the knob. You lose control and reach. Fix: keep the top hand anchored except for a one-handed reach.
- Hands tucked into the body. Cramps your handling. Fix: play with your hands out in front.
- Stick too long. Forces poor hand position. Fix: size the stick to about chin height in skates.
- Wrong curve for the grip. Makes handling and shooting awkward. Fix: match the stick curve to the hand you hold on top.
FAQ
Which hand goes on top of a hockey stick?
The top hand steers, so many players put their dominant hand on top — right-handers often hold left, left-handers often hold right. But there's no strict rule; pick the side that feels natural and matches your blade curve, then commit to it.
How far apart should my hands be?
About a forearm's length — roughly shoulder-width — for a neutral grip. Move your hands closer for stickhandling and slide the bottom hand lower for shooting and passing. The top hand stays on the knob.
How tight should I grip the stick?
Firm enough to control it, loose enough to feel the puck. A white-knuckle grip kills your hands and your touch. Think of holding it securely but with relaxed wrists so you can cradle and snap the puck.
What size hockey stick should I use?
A common guide is that the stick reaches about your chin while standing in skates, or your nose in shoes. Younger players learning puck control sometimes prefer it slightly shorter for quicker hands. It should let you keep the blade flat with your hands in front of you.
Does the top hand ever come off the stick?
Only for a one-handed reach or poke check, where you extend the top hand for maximum reach. For normal handling, shooting, and passing, the top hand stays anchored on the knob and the bottom hand does the moving.
Can I switch which hand is on top later?
You can, but it's difficult once you've built habits, so it's best to choose early. If you're just starting, try both sides for a while and pick the one where your hands feel more natural and your shot feels more controlled.
Summary
Holding the stick well is the foundation everything else is built on: top hand on the knob to steer, bottom hand a forearm's length lower to guide and power, firm-but-relaxed grip, and a bottom hand that slides to match the task. Get the length right, pick your side and commit, and drill the grip until it's automatic. From here, build your stickhandling and shooting, and explore the Hockey Training hub for more fundamentals.
