The Wall Test for Sizing

The wall test is a quick, accessible stick sizing method for players who don't have their skates available during the selection process or who want a rapid sanity check on a candidate stick length without going on the ice.

What You Need to Know

The wall test procedure: stand in your regular footwear on a flat surface. Hold the stick vertically against a wall with the butt end at the top and the blade resting flat on the floor. The butt end should reach somewhere between your chin and your nose when you are in relaxed, natural standing posture. Chin height corresponds to a stick appropriate for most forwards when worn with skates; nose height corresponds to a length that suits most defensemen on skates.

The wall test's limitation is that it provides a static measurement for a dynamic activity. Your effective skating posture — the knee bend, forward lean, and body position you use during active play — changes the effective length significantly compared to standing straight in street shoes. The wall test narrows the search to the right range; on-ice testing in skates confirms the final answer. Always confirm length through on-ice testing before committing to a permanent cut.

Key Takeaways:

• Wall test procedure: hold stick vertically against wall, blade flat on floor; butt end should reach chin to nose
• Chin height suits most forwards in skates; nose height suits most defensemen — starting references, not prescriptions
• The wall test provides a static reference for a dynamic activity — on-ice testing in skates confirms the final answer
• Always confirm length through on-ice testing before cutting — a cut cannot be undone

The wall test is a useful starting-point tool — use it to narrow the range, then confirm with an on-ice test in skates before committing to a cut.