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HOCKEY - IMPROVE YOUR STICK HANDLING AND PUCK CONTROL

by HOCKEY EQUIPMENT:

Recently I was asked to recommend well-proved equipment to improve young players' stick handling and shot accuracy. I found this one to be the best. Play this video, decide you self:



TAPE 2 TAPE PASSER



Product Features:

•Train without a partner.

•Increase ability and confidence.

•Less wear and tear on expensive hockey sticks.

•Affordable gift to get players up off the couch.

•Easy to set up, maintain, & store.

•No more tape marks on the driveway or floor.

•Durable- made of the same material as ice rink boards.



The biggest advantage to TAPE-2-TAPE is the ability to set it up on any angle to simulate real game situations. It can be set up on a 45 angle to simulate a pass coming from the corner of the rink. At a 90 angle it will simulate a point to point pass or you can position the TAPE-2-TAPE in the net and simulate rebounds.

Like an actual game, the puck is constantly in motion with TAPE-2-TAPE and it gives the flexibility to practice game situations in the back yard or basement without the need of a partner to feed passes. TAPE-2-TAPE also teaches players to get the shots on net more quickly, a necessity in competitive hockey.

The Tape-2-Tape manufacturer does not recommend filling the unit with water or sand anymore. It may leak.



Reviewer: Marc from Hockey Training Canada

"very good product January 6, 2009
I got this for my kids, and they love it. Gives you the extra training for your game."
http://hockeytrainning.com

HOW TO BUY GOLF BALLS

by Sport Equipment

Today's golf balls are the culmination of a variety of disciplines and talents, from material science to physics. Since there are many kinds of golfers, engineers have devised many kinds of golf balls. When matched correctly to a golfer's game, specific golf balls can increase enjoyment as well as chances for par. The technology of golf balls has reached an unprecedented level, offering different covers, cores, dimple patterns and compression to best suit golfers' varying needs.

Ball Types

Distance

A ball designed to react quickly off the clubface for maximum speed, which results in overall distance.
Distance balls appeal to people who find every yard counts, but where it may bring 15 more yards off the tee, it might also skip off the putting surface like a flat rock on water.

Control

A ball designed to deter excessive spin, such as backspin (makes the ball climb higher) or sidespin (hooks and slices).
Control balls help golfers fight hooking-and-slicing tendencies and maneuver low shots on windy days.

Spin

A ball intended to create as much backspin as possible, which generally leads to higher trajectory and better stopping ability on the ground.
Better amateurs and touring pros prefer balls that offer high spin. These models may not be as long off the tee, but they make up for it in superior control.

Construction

Overall Design

Two-piece balls:

Contain a large solid core and thin Surlyn cover
Enhance distance and durability
Offer more durability and improved playing characteristics

Three-piece balls:

Contain a small solid or liquid core
Usually have rubber windings, and cover elastic winding and soft balata cover
Enhance backspin and control

Other:

Multi-layers provide a multi-purpose ball
Wound balls are made of thin, little rubber bands wound tightly into a sphere



Core

Solid cores are usually made of a high-energy rubber or similar compound
Liquid-filled cores offer less trajectory and great feel and can spin for better accuracy
Titanium cores provide more reaction and greater distance

Cover

Determines feel on soft hits, like putts and chips
Blends co-polymer plastics, high-energy rubber, or similar resistant compounds
Multi-cover layers material over the core to induce different playing responses
Surlyn balls travel farther with less spin
Balata-covered balls are softer and offer more enhanced feel, although they don't resist scrapes and cuts well

Dimples

Vary between 300 and 500
Affects the aerodynamics for more or less trajectory
Larger dimples promote trajectory
Smaller dimples lessen trajectory

Compression

Sorts golf balls by their hardness
If you prefer a softer feel, you should play a 90 compression ball, and if you prefer a harder feel, you should play 100
Swing speed is not necessarily the determining factor in selecting your compression

Playing Level

When thinking about which ball will help you achieve par, it's best to imagine a good-sized par-4.
If getting an extra 15 yards off the tee would help you hit shorter irons on approach shots to green, then maybe a distance ball will help.
Most people feel that high-spin balls appeal only to pros that need precision on iron shots. But a senior or woman who has trouble reaching a par-4 in two shots will appreciate the control offered by a performance ball after the 3rd shot.
Some balls are designed for slower swing speeds with a lightweight construction that catches air. They are generally marketed for women or seniors, but don't let labels fool you. Plenty of men play these balls because, for them, it yields the most distance.

I would like to recomend you an exellent GOLF GUIDE

HOCKEY STICKS TYPES and BRANDS

ICE HOCKEY

Wood

Wooden sticks are the cheapest on the market and allow you the most options in modification by cutting down the shaft, sanding the blade etc. These modifications allow you to customize your stick for comfortability. Wood sticks tend to break easier and are heavier and stiffer than composite brands. The wood may also bend or warp after extended use.

Composite

These sticks are now used by about 85 percent of NHL players. They come in one piece or two piece sticks, with a shaft and replaceable blades. They are much lighter and more flexible than wood sticks but are more expensive. There are currently many companies that will also custom make a stick for you. The main problem with composite sticks is their tendency to break. Remember they are built to shoot the puck harder not for longevity.

Types of composite:

Fiberglass

Fiberglass sticks are generally wooden sticks which are reinforced by fiberglass wrapping or coating. They can be modified like a wooden stick. While they are the least expensive of composite sticks they are also the weakest and heaviest.

Aluminum

Aluminum sticks were the first popular non-wood sticks to hit the market. The shafts are made entirely of aluminum and replaceable wooden or composite blades are inserted into the shafts. These sticks are stronger and lighter than wood and fiberglass but not as strong or as light as graphite and Kevlar. Compared to other composite sticks they are relatively inexpensive.

Graphite

Graphite can be used to reinforce or coat wooden sticks, mixed with Kevlar to form a shaft or can be used on its own to form a stick. Graphite is more expensive than fiberglass and aluminum, but less expensive than Kevlar and titanium.

Kevlar

Like graphite sticks, Kevlar may be mixed with another material or used on its own to form a stick. Kevlar sticks are costly but one of the strongest and lightweight on the market.

Titanium

These sticks are similar in most ways to Kevlar sticks except titanium sticks are usually not mixed with any other materials.

INLINE / BALL / STREET HOCKEY

Any of the above sticks may be used for these sports but remember the surface you are playing on is rougher than ice so your blades will wear out quicker. Many street hockey players use inexpensive plastic blades attached to a shaft.

HOCKEY STICKS BRANDS

There are certainly many options available to players looking for the perfect hockey stick. With all of the different hockey stick brands available it would be almost impossible not to find one to your liking, but for the fussy or hard-to-please hockey player, it can also mean a lot of experimenting and research. Most companies manufacture a selection of wood hockey sticks and composite hockey sticks as well as stick blades and stick shafts. However, with the popularity of the composite hockey stick, some smaller manufacturers are concentrating on producing a few select composite models only.
There are some well-known and large manufacturers which have been around for years, such as CCM, Sher-Wood, Nike, Reebok, Montreal, Kitchener, Louisville hockey sticks, Easton hockey sticks, Christian Brothers and Bauer hockey sticks, and some relative newcomers to stick making, such as Ballistik Tundra hockey sticks and Mission. There are also some other hockey stick brands on the market that may not be as well known as the larger companies, but are still making some solid hockey sticks. Some of these companies include Trilage, Salming, Busch, Falcon, Ferland, Flarrow, Flite, Fury, Harrow, Innovative, Rebellion and Tour.

Pro Hockey Sticks

From the TV series "How It's Made", how pro hockey sticks are made.

They’re not just made of wood anymore

Along with skates, the hockey stick is one of the most personal and important pieces of equipment a player has. Without a stick you can't play the game. It's that simple. Even though the average hockey player may only have possession of the puck for about two minutes per game it's essential that they have the right stick to shoot, stickhandle, check and pass with authority and accuracy.
Hockey sticks aren't confined to on-the-ice players. Many people who play hockey never step foot on the ice, but still need a hockey stick, include players of roller/inline hockey, ball hockey, floor hockey and street hockey.
When looking to buy a stick, the hockey stick sizing process is crucial to discover the right height and weight for you, however a stick that is too long can usually be cut down to size. You must also find a hockey blade with a curve that you feel comfortable with and a hockey stick with the right lie for your body.
There are many types of hockey sticks on the market to choose from including those made of wood, aluminum, carbon, kevlar, titanium, graphite and rubber coated sticks. There are one piece and two piece sticks, those with replaceable blades and custom-made sticks.
With a wide variety of hockey sticks comes a wide variety of price. They range anywhere from $10-$15 for a wooden stick up to about $300 for a top-of-the-line composite stick, with goalie sticks averaging about $50. You should also take into account the level of hockey being played before purchasing your eight year old a top-of-the-line $300 stick

Taping Ice Hockey Sticks

Cloth tape is the most common tape used on ice hockey sticks. Learn about other tapes available for taping a ice hockey stick from an experienced hockey coach in this free sports video