Muse back!
June 04, 2008 / Wednesday
Now I Can Practice In My Shoes
Okay, it's done. I cut my #2 stick so it goes up to my chin when I'm in shoes. The guy at EWH kept telling me no, no, don't do it, your back will hurt, don't do it, don't do it, but finally cut it for me when I insisted that I absolutely had to conduct this experiment. "But it's a good stick!" he said. "It's my backup," I replied.
I then took my freshly cut stick to Belmont for some pickup hockey. I got there a bit early and fashioned what might be my finest handle yet. Took the stick out for warmups. Maneuverability was good, shots were accurate. Took me a few tries to launch a slapshot, but I could tell it was just a matter of adjusting to the new length.
Pickup started, and I couldn't handle the puck to save my life. I kept reaching a few inches short, too. WTF? I switched back to my #1 stick and played just fine. So much for that experiment! What a waste of a good handle!
Maybe Ellaine's stick is magic. Maybe I should try to convince her to trade me for my now-too-short #2 stick. ;)
I should have cut #3.
June 4, 2008 08:53 PM | Hockey
Comments
In the practice, you were probably concentrating on the new stick and getting used to the feel. In the real game, you were probably using more instinct or muscle memory to concentrate on the game, not the equipment. Your muscles automatically set up for the old stick length, and then you got surprised when you pulled up a bit short. I bet with some more game time with the new (shorter) stick length you would adjust quickly. Then again, I am hockey challenged, so your mileage may vary.
Posted by: Mike at June 5, 2008 03:38 PM
But it worked so well in a game with no practice using Ellaine's stick. Why why why? Whyyy?
Posted by: Viv at June 5, 2008 03:40 PM
Maybe you were more conscious of the borrowed stick because it was "borrowed" and your brain made adjustments for that? Like when I borrow somebody's car, it doesn't matter where the seats, mirrors and stuff are (to a point, anyway) I can still drive without much trouble. If I get in my truck and somebody moved the seat an inch or two, I feel weird and uncomfortable until I get the seat back to where I feel is "right". It's a theory, anyway :-)
Posted by: Mike at June 5, 2008 05:20 PM
I know my stick is fancy, but not car fancy! LoL!
Actually, I think the stick I borrowed is noticeably lighter than mine, so maybe the added maneuverability helped. Who knows? I just know I'm happy to be playing with my regular stick again. :)
Posted by: Viv at June 5, 2008 05:39 PM