Today’s hockey game is ever evolving, and even the tried and true stick tape we have used for decades has found some competition. Stick grips that you install on top of your stick made of rubber with varying textures and patterns have begun emerging and gaining prominence recently. Some people may still prefer the classic white tape, but stick grips do offer benefits in many areas and have even won NHL players over. Our top pick for stick grips is the Buttendz Twirl Z, check out our full reviews below to help you decide if it’s time to replace that old white tape you’re still using on your twig!
Best Overall Grip
Amazing, Tacky rubber for an unbeatable grip with a simulated tape twirls makes this our top overall grip!
A grip that Buttendz teamed up with Patrick Kane to create, this is a symmetrical grip with a simulated tape twirl. Buttendz also offers it in multiple colors so you can customize your sticks look in whatever way you choose! Best of all? You break your stick, you can remove the grip and install it onto a new stick! This could be the last grip you ever purchase and for that reason it is our top choice!
Best Grip For Defensemen
Featuring the same awesome rubber and design as the Twirl 88, A large knob will really help you hold onto the stick when going for pokechecks
Buttendz makes over 5 different grips, and this one we believe is a fantastic choice for defensemen. A quick and accurate poke check is one of your best weapons to strip a forward of the puck, and a large knob is key to enhancing your poke checks and get a good grip on your stick. Buttendz has implemented a knob on top of this grip for that very purpose, making this our choice for best grip for a d man!
Best Grip For Goalies
This titanium mask provides top of the line lightweight protection with improved vision technology.
The Sentry is Buttendz take on goalie grips, as you can tell is has a massive knob on top, and features Buttendz typical high quality rubber for enhanced grip.
Our Recommendations
The Best Hockey Stick Grips
Specifications and Features:
- Peak Top Hand Control – Thinner grip with a twirl line, gives great feel and control for the top hand
- High Quality Rubber – Enhanced grip and less slippage will result in less wear and tear on your glove palm
- Buttendz Tiling Texture – This proprietary texture is what gives the Twirl 88 its amazing grip
What Players Are Saying:
BOTTOM LINE:
An excellent all around grip that we feel works best for forwards or offensive minded players, as it lacks a large knob typically sought by d men. You can also take it off a stick and re-install on a new one of it breaks! A great investment for your stick and more specifically your gloves!
2. Buttendz Flux Z - Best Stick Grip For Defensemen
Specifications and Features:
- Large Top Knob – A feature many D-men will install on their stick, this allows for better poke check control and accuracy
- Thin Grip Profile– Allows for great stick handling control when you grip it around the shaft of the stick, and keeping that big knob on top for poke checks
BOTTOM LINE:
We believe this grip is perfect for all you D-men out there. It is a bit of a wider grip measuring in at 22 mm wide and 7 mm thick, with a big knob up top, but if you look at how many top defensemen like to tape their stick, the Flux Z emulates just that. If you are looking to get away from stick tape and into a grip as a D man, this is your best bet!
3. Buttendz Future Grip
Specifications and Features:
- Raised Knob with Tape Twirl – If you’re not ready for either extreme of the Twirl 88 of Flux Z, the Future Drip is the perfect middle ground
- High Quality Rubber – Enhanced grip and less slippage will result in less wear and tear on your glove palm. This rubber is featured across the entire Buttendz lineup
BOTTOM LINE:
Not much else to say at this point, Buttendz has made sure to cover any and all knob taping styles and closes out their last player knob in our review with an offering that gives a bit more top knob and still has that tape twirl feature. The future also implements Buttendz new ‘Step Down’ knob so that it tapers off near the bottom for a great fit!
4. Buttendz Sentry - Best Stick Grip For Goalies
Specifications and Features:
- Unbeatable Goal Stick Control – A huge knob up top gives you excellent control with your goalie stick for either around the net sweeps or precision pokechecks with a player bearing down on you!
- High Quality Rubber – There’s nothing worse than wearing out the palm on your blocker, it’s an expensive piece of equipment! Keep your palm safe with Buttendz soft but tacky grip!
What Players Are Saying:
BOTTOM LINE:
Buttendz take on a goalie knob follows their tried and true formula of high quality rubber, a big knob, and the ability to reuse in case of a stick break. The extra large knob on top of the stick is perfect for goalies, allowing you to make sweeping poke checks and giving you a bit of extra surface area to save those pucks intended for the top shelf! You may never have to tape a knob again after purchasing one of these!
5. Buttendz Fusion Z - Best Stick Grip For Stickhandling
Specifications and Features:
- The Original Buttendz – The grip that started it all, the Fusion Z was built to replace your standard knob tape job
- Designed For Top Hand Mobility – The slimmer profile of the Fusion Z is designed to give you the ultimate mobility for stick handling.
- Rounded Edges – Really help with rolling your wrist when stick handling
BOTTOM LINE:
This was the original Buttendz and to this day is one of my favorite. It is the slimmest knob buttendz offers, coming in at only 15.5 mm wide and 5 mm thick. It comes in Buttendz typical wide array of colors, and is my grip of choice if you love to handle the puck.
6. Lizard Skin Hockey Grip Tape - Best Stick Grip Tape
Specifications and Features:
- Durasoft Polymer – A soft yet tacky grip tape will give you excellent top hand control without damaging your gloves
- Easy Installation – Since this stick grip is applied similar to stick tape, there are no complicated applicators, and you will have it on and working in under 2 minutes
- Color Customization – Every color under the rainbow, as well as USA patterned grips are available from Lizard Skin
What Players Are Saying:
BOTTOM LINE:
If you aren’t interested in the hassle that can be involved with getting a grip onto your stick, the Lizard Skin grip tape is a great alternative. Made with a tacky polymer that will feel very similar to one piece stick grips, this roll of tape is made to emulate the feel of stick grips. It comes in tons of great colors such as black, blue, vegas gold, all the way to pink and american flag colors! If you are looking to customize the butt end of you stick, the Lizard Skin Grip Tape is a fantastic choice!
Conclusion
We went over many different Grips and Tapes, and I hope at this point you have a good idea of what might work for your game. Any little advantage or boost to your game helps these days, so hopefully you find a grip that fits your game perfectly! Sound off in the comments with your thoughts!