How tape affects ball control in 2026

Summary: The article explains how tape on the blade, the grip on the shaft, and a clean blade affect ball control in bandy. It is aimed at players, youth coaches, and parents who want a simple tape system that works match after match. You will learn concrete methods for taping the blade, building the grip on the shaft, and keeping the blade free from snow and ice.

Second half, the ice is worn, and you receive a pass on your backhand. The ball bounces off the blade and rolls over the sideline. You blame the ice, but when you look at your stick, you see the explanation: the tape on the blade is worn, the edge has lifted, and your hand has slipped a bit on the shaft. Ball control in bandy is built from many things, but the tape on your stick is something you can change in ten minutes in the locker room.

We often see that players put energy into the stick’s length and curve but tape the blade haphazardly and let old grip tape stay until it falls off by itself. The result is a stick that behaves differently from pass to pass, and that very inconsistency costs you ball control. You never truly learn what your stick does when it isn't the same two times in a row.

This guide walks through how tape affects ball control in bandy from three directions: the blade's surface, the shaft's grip, and the blade's condition during the game. You get methods for how you tape, how often you change it, and which products fit where, without mixing up the tapes. Each tape has its place on the stick, and when every piece of tape is where it should be, the stick becomes predictable. We start with the blade, since that is where the ball meets the stick.

Blade tape: an even surface provides consistent contact with the ball

The blade is the part of the stick that meets the ball, and the tape on the blade is the first thing to wear down. New tape provides an even surface, whereas worn tape with a lifted edge and a ragged surface provides different contact depending on where the ball hits the blade. We often see that players change tape only when it has already come off, instead of when the surface starts to become uneven.

Use Howies Cloth Tape to tape the blade when you want tape that lasts match after match without re-taping. It is premium cloth tape from the USA with 68 threads per inch, and it comes in white and black. Start at the heel, apply the wraps with even overlap toward the toe, and press down each wrap with your thumb. Use the same overlap every time, because consistency is what gives you the same feel pass after pass.

If you want a tape that withstands moisture, solve that with CCM Cloth Tape. It is 25 mm wide with 25 meters on the roll, has strong adhesive and a water-repellent surface, and fits players who tape often. A water-repellent surface makes a difference when the blade meets wet ice and snow at the end of a period.

In practice: apply CCM Cloth Tape along the underside of the blade and up over the edges, and finish by pressing down the end so it does not lift. Then check that there are no wrinkles or air bubbles under the tape. A wrinkle becomes a small edge that the ball hits differently each time, and those are the kinds of irregularities that make passes and receptions feel random.

Cloth tape belongs on the blade and the knob and nowhere else. Never put it on the shaft where the grip is, and do not use it on other parts of your equipment. Change the tape when the edge starts to lift or the surface becomes smooth and worn, and do it before the game instead of at halftime. New tape that has had time to set gives you a blade you recognize.

Shaft grip: your hands control what you don’t see

Ball control is in your hands just as much as on the blade. If your hand slides on the shaft, the angle of the stick changes in milliseconds, and the ball ends up where you didn't intend. We often see players squeezing the stick harder to compensate for a poor grip, and a tense hand provides worse feel than a relaxed hand with good friction.

Use Grip Tape to build the grip on the shaft's gripping zone. It is stretchy, made of cotton and spandex, conforms to the shaft, and does not stick to the glove. Available in seven colors: black, white, blue, yellow, pink, red, and green. In practice: apply Grip Tape in a spiral where the top hand lies, with half overlap between the wraps, and pull with even tension all the way so that the tape does not form wrinkles.

Solve this with LizardSkins when you want a thinner, non-slip grip. It is a 0.5 mm thick grip band with a non-slip surface and self-adhesive backing, NHL-licensed and available in over ten colors. Apply it in a spiral on the same grip zone, press down each wrap, and cut the end straight.

Choose based on feel and habit. If you want a slightly thicker, softer grip and fast rebuilding, go with Grip Tape. If you want a thin, precise grip, go with LizardSkins. Try both during separate practices and switch back if it doesn't feel right, but never change both parts in the same week, because then you won't know what made the difference.

Re-tape the grip when it has become hard, dirty, or smooth. One sign is that you start gripping harder than usual. Build the same grip every time with the same number of wraps and the same start; this makes the stick the same every session, and that predictability is what you build ball control on. Check the grip before every match by taking a couple of hard pulls on the stick with your glove on. If your hand slides, or the tape feels hard and smooth, change it before the warm-up instead of hoping it lasts.

Snow, ice, and moisture: keep the blade clean during the game

During a bandy match, the blade gathers snow, ice, and moisture that settles between the ball and the tape. Wet tape with snow in the texture provides poor contact, and the ball shoots away or gets stuck in the wrong way. We often see players noticing this only after a couple of failed receptions, and by then three minutes have already passed.

Use Howies Hockey Stick Wax to counteract ice and snow buildup on the blade. It is a premium American wax with a strawberry-kiwi scent. Apply the wax over the taped surface before the warm-up, and reapply it in the break when the blade feels heavy. A blade that doesn't gather snow provides the same contact from the first minute to the last.

In practice: apply Howies Hockey Stick Wax along the entire underside and edges of the blade, and wipe off the excess so the surface doesn't become slippery in the wrong way. Do it cleanly and methodically, in the same places every time. Waxing the blade takes half a minute, and it is one of the simplest improvements to ball control you can make.

Always tape a dry blade. Moisture under the tape comes loose faster and creates wrinkles. Wipe the blade with a cloth, let it air dry for a few minutes, and then apply the tape. If the blade is cold after a car ride, wait until it has reached room temperature before taping, so the tape sticks evenly.

Have an order for halftime. Check the tape on the blade, wipe it off, and wax it again if necessary. Someone who has a routine for the break goes out with a blade that behaves like it did in the first half, and that is precisely the consistency you need to trust your receptions when the game is decided. Note how the blade feels during the first few minutes after waxing and after a tape change. After a few games, you will know for yourself which order provides the most control. Bring an extra cloth to the bench, because a dry cloth does the most good when the blade gets wet.

Build a system for training and matches

Tape is best when it is a system and not a series of individual decisions. You should know which tape goes where, how often it is changed, and what you have in your bag if something breaks. We often see that players who spend five minutes on their system before every session are the ones who rarely fight with their stick during a match.

Use the Grip & Stick Kit to keep the grip and blade protection in one place. The kit contains grip tape, an NHL-licensed grip band, and wax for the blade. You get both options for the grip on the shaft and wax for the blade in the same order, so the bag always has what is needed to rebuild the stick before a match.

Build a fixed order for the stick before every session. Start with the blade: remove old tape, wipe clean, tape with Howies Cloth Tape in the same pattern every time. Continue with the shaft: check the grip and change it if it has become hard or smooth. Finish with wax on the blade. The order takes five minutes and ensures you go out with a stick you know.

For youth teams, it pays off to show the system in the locker room and tape together the first few times. Let each player build their own stick following the same order and then compare. When everyone sees what even taping provides, it becomes a habit. Use Grip Tape as the standard grip for the youth team so everyone starts the same way.

Write down what works: number of wraps, which tape, which grip, and how often you change it. After a month, you have your own standard that you can trust, and then you know what to change if ball control falters one day. Do a quick check of the system once a month: count rolls, check that the wax hasn't run out, and replace what has become worn. Then you will notice in good time what needs to be restocked, and you avoid running out in the middle of the season.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I change the tape on the blade?

Change it when the surface of the tape has become smooth, when the edge lifts, or when you notice that the ball hits the blade differently. For those who play often, it might be after every match, while those who practice rarely might manage longer. Use Howies Cloth Tape to tape the blade when you want tape that lasts match after match, but check it before every session regardless. Make it a habit to drag your thumb along the blade and feel for edges that are lifting. It is better to change once too early than once too late, because uneven tape provides uneven ball control. Change before the game and not at halftime, so the tape has time to set. Feel free to write down the date when you last taped, so you can see for yourself how long a taping lasts for your specific style of play and position. It takes half a minute. Enter the date into your phone right after taping, so you don't have to remember it for the next session.

How do I tape the blade step by step?

Start by removing old tape and wiping the blade so that it is clean and dry. Start at the heel and work toward the toe with even overlap. In practice: apply CCM Cloth Tape along the underside of the blade and up over the edges, with the same overlap every wrap, and press down each wrap with your thumb. Pull the tape with even tension, without stretching it so much that it bunches up afterward. Finish at the toe, press down the end, and check that no wrinkles or air bubbles remain. Drag your finger over the entire surface and feel for irregularities. If you find a wrinkle, remove that wrap and re-do it. Test the stick with a few receptions before you go out, so you know the blade feels normal. Do the same on both sides of the blade if you tape around the edge. Then go through the steps in your head next time, and it will become a habit that takes a few minutes.

Should I tape the knob?

Yes, cloth tape belongs on both the blade and the knob. The knob is the upper end of the stick, and a taped knob protects it from wear and provides a clear ending to the stick. Use CCM Cloth Tape to tape the knob with a few wraps, and press down the end so it doesn't lift. Keep the tape on the knob and the blade, and avoid pulling it up onto the shaft where the grip zone begins, because the grip should be built from grip tape or a grip band. Tape the knob with the same tape as the blade so the stick looks uniform and you have one less roll to keep track of in the bag. Check the knob every time you re-tape the blade, and change the tape when it is worn or has come loose. It takes a minute and prevents the tape from getting stuck in your glove. Ask the coach if the ends of the sticks should be taped the same way throughout the team, so the youth players learn the same method. Make it part of the routine.

Should I choose stretchy grip tape or a thin grip band?

It depends on what kind of feel you are looking for. Use Grip Tape to get a stretchy, soft grip made of cotton and spandex that conforms to the shaft and does not stick to your glove. Solve this with LizardSkins if you want a thin, non-slip 0.5 mm grip band with a self-adhesive backing. Try both during separate practices and compare how your hand feels after twenty minutes. Choose what provides the best feel without needing to grip harder. Change only one thing at a time, so you know what provided the difference. Apply the same number of wraps and the same start every time, regardless of which grip you choose. When you have found what fits, keep it throughout an entire season, and change it only when the grip has become worn or dirty. Keep a simple log with dates and feel, and after a few weeks, you will see what fits your hand. Also ask a teammate about their choice, but trust your own hand most.

How do I stop snow from sticking to the blade?

Snow and ice stick to the surface of the tape and impair contact with the ball. Use Howies Hockey Stick Wax to counteract ice and snow buildup on the blade. Brush the wax over the blade's underside and edges before the warm-up, wipe away the excess, and repeat during the break if the blade starts to feel heavy. Always tape a dry blade, because moisture under the tape creates wrinkles and causes it to come loose faster. After the match, wipe the blade with a cloth and let it air dry before it goes into the bag. Store the stick at room temperature between sessions. Wax the same way every time, and you will learn how the blade feels when it is ready. It takes half a minute and gives you a blade that behaves the same way throughout the whole match. Additionally, it helps to wipe the stick after every period when it has been in the snow, so that moisture doesn't have time to work its way in under the tape. Make it a fixed routine on the bench.

Can I use cloth tape on the shaft for better grip?

No, cloth tape is used on the blade and the knob and not on the shaft. The grip zone on the shaft is built with grip tape or grip bands, which are made to provide the hand with friction and feel. Use Grip Tape to build the grip in a spiral with half overlap, because it is stretchy, conforms to the shaft, and does not stick to the glove. If you want a thinner alternative, use LizardSkins, which has a non-slip surface and self-adhesive backing. Cloth tape on the shaft becomes thick, uneven, and sticky against the glove, and it provides worse feel than intended. Keep the tapes separate in the bag and mark the rolls if several people use the same bag. Then no one will pick the wrong one in a hurry before a match, and the stick gets the right tape in the right place every time. If tape happens to end up on the shaft by mistake, pull it off immediately, wipe the shaft, and rebuild the grip from the beginning. Don't make a half-measure solution, because an uneven grip removes control and feel.

What should I have in the bag to be able to repair the stick?

Pack a spare for every part of the stick: cloth tape for the blade, grip tape or grip bands for the shaft, and wax for the blade. Use the Grip & Stick Kit to get grip tape, a grip band, and wax in the same kit. Solve this with Howies Cloth Tape for the blade, so you can re-tape if needed. Put the tapes in their own compartment in the bag so they don't stick to other equipment, and check the contents once a week. Restock when something is about to run out. Have a small pair of scissors or a knife in the compartment to cut the tape cleanly. An organized bag allows you to fix the stick in two minutes, even when something breaks in the middle of a match day. Try packing the bag the night before and going through the list, so you know everything is included. Put a note with the checklist in the lid of the bag, so you or a parent can check in ten seconds.

How do I get started as a new player with taping?

Start simple and build a routine. You need cloth tape for the blade and knob, grip tape for the shaft, and wax for the blade. Solve this with the Grip & Stick Kit for grip and wax, and supplement with CCM Cloth Tape for the blade. Ask a teammate or coach to show you the first time, and then tape together one more time. Do it at home before practice so you have time to test the stick. Write down what you did: how many wraps, which tape, which overlap. Next time, do exactly the same, and you will learn what the stick does. Change one thing at a time when you want to try something new. After a few weeks, you have your own standard, and then you notice immediately when something deviates and ball control falters. Set one goal per week, for example, to tape the blade evenly three times in a row. Small steps quickly build a routine, and you see for yourself how ball control improves. Feel free to ask for help.