Sherwood Playrite Explained: Choosing the Right Stick for Young Hockey Players

If you're a hockey parent, finding the right stick for your young player can feel overwhelming.

With so many brands, stick lengths, flex ratings, and blade patterns to choose from, it's easy to find yourself wondering which stick is the right fit for a developing hockey player.

That's exactly why Sherwood developed the Playrite Youth Stick System. Using a simplified sizing system based on a player's height and weight, Playrite makes it easier than ever for parents to choose the right stick. The result is a better fit for young players, helping them develop proper fundamentals, build confidence, and most importantly, have fun playing the game.

The Sherwood Playrite Youth Stick System was designed to help young hockey players develop proper fundamentals with equipment that's built specifically for their size and strength.

Rather than offering one youth stick for players of every age and size, Sherwood created four unique Playrite models, each engineered for a different stage of development. Every model features its own combination of stick length, flex profile, shaft geometry, and blade pattern to match the needs of a specific range of players.

Instead of expecting young athletes to adapt to oversized or overly stiff equipment, the Playrite system matches the stick to the player. The result is equipment that's designed to help kids build confidence, develop proper shooting, passing, and puck handling skills, and enjoy the game from day one.

One of the biggest advantages of the Playrite system is that it removes the guesswork from buying the right stick.

Instead of comparing stick lengths, flex ratings, and other technical specifications, Sherwood uses a straightforward height- and weight-based sizing chart. Simply find your child's measurements and match them to the recommended Playrite model.

Because every Playrite model is already engineered with the appropriate stick length, flex, shaft geometry, and blade pattern for that stage of development, parents can feel confident they're choosing equipment that's designed to fit their young player today instead of a stick they'll have to grow into.

As players continue to grow, they simply move from Playrite 0 through Playrite 3, making it easy to stay in properly sized equipment throughout their hockey journey.

So what actually makes each Playrite model different? Let's take a closer look at the key design features and why they matter for developing hockey players.

A hockey stick's flex refers to how much the shaft bends when a player shoots the puck. The proper flex allows players to load energy into the stick, helping create harder, more efficient shots. If a stick is too stiff, young players often can't flex it properly, making it harder to develop proper shooting mechanics and generate power.

Rather than asking parents to figure out which flex is appropriate, every Playrite model features a flex rating that's matched to its intended player size. As players grow through the Playrite lineup, they're always using a stick that's designed for their height, weight, and strength.

A hockey stick's shaft geometry refers to the shape and dimensions of the stick where players hold it. The size of the shaft and the shape of its corners affect how comfortably a player can grip and control the stick. A stick shaft that's too large can be difficult for smaller hands to grip, making puck handling and shooting less comfortable.

Sherwood's Playrite 0 and Playrite 1 feature a youth-specific shaft geometry with a smaller circumference and rounded corners that fit comfortably in younger players' hands. As players progress to Playrite 2 and Playrite 3, the shaft transitions to a wider junior stick geometry that's better suited to larger hands, ensuring a comfortable grip throughout every stage of development.

A hockey stick's blade pattern, or curve, refers to the shape and face angle of the blade. Different blade patterns can influence how players receive passes, stickhandle, lift the puck, and shoot. The right curve helps young players build confidence by making puck control and shooting feel more natural as they learn the fundamentals.

The Playrite lineup uses two proven blade patterns based on a player's stage of development. Playrite 0 and Playrite 1 feature the versatile P92 curve, giving younger players an easy-to-use blade for learning the basics of passing, stickhandling, and shooting.

As players progress to Playrite 2 and Playrite 3, the lineup transitions to the P92M. This pattern builds on the familiar P92 shape while adding a taller, max blade height profile that provides more blade surface for receiving passes, controlling the puck, and making plays as players continue to develop their skills.

By pairing each stage of the Playrite system with an appropriate blade pattern, Sherwood helps young players continue building confidence without overwhelming them with dozens of curve options.

Choosing the right youth hockey stick doesn't have to be complicated.

Rather than asking parents to compare stick lengths, flex ratings, shaft geometries, and blade patterns, the Sherwood Playrite Youth Stick System simplifies the process with four purpose-built models selected using a straightforward height- and weight-based sizing chart.

By matching each player with a stick that's designed for their current stage of development, Playrite helps young athletes build proper fundamentals, gain confidence with the puck, and focus on what matters most: having fun and loving the game!

IW Hockey was founded by hockey players, and since 1994, it has grown into the go-to resource for hockey enthusiasts worldwide. We take pride in offering a meticulously curated selection of top-notch hockey gear, ranging from skates and sticks to apparel and accessories. Our mission is to share in-depth expertise on these products through insightful video reviews and detailed product descriptions, empowering you to make informed decisions about your hockey gear. Trust IW Hockey to be your unwavering teammate in pursuing your passion for the greatest game on earth. Thank you for choosing us, and we're thrilled to assist you on your hockey journey.