Lit Review
Technology is always changing we see new technology all around us. In sports, technology has changed drastically over the past 20 years. Hockey has seen substantial changes in equipment from helmets to sticks. These new changes have advanced the sport of hockey, the way hockey was played 100 years ago and the way it is played today is like a distant relative. Not only has the equipment changed but also the rules.
Throughout the years hockey sticks have gone from wood to composite. The new sticks are now made with carbon fiber and graphite. Even though most hockey sticks look the same besides their varying graphic design they are different. There is much thought that goes into such a simple piece of equipment. Great consideration of the consumer’s ideas and needs are brought to the designer’s attention before he begins to make their new stick. There are many variations that the stick can have. Flex is one variable. It controls how ridged the stick is. There can be different places within the stick where it will flex is the most important. The point of flex can vary in every stick depending on the personal preference of the consumer. Flex is important because it makes shots harder when you weight transfer from back to front the bend of the ‘flex’ causes the shot to move at a much higher rate of velocity and have a higher accuracy. Composite sticks are the latest and greatest of hockey stick technology but there is a down side to composite. A player such as Gretzy who used to play in the NHL says they lose the feeling of the puck on their stick and Gretzy refused to change to composite sticks. The composite stick is lighter which plays major roll for players, now making them faster on the ice. The composite stick being lighter also has improved stick handling. When players used to play with wooden sticks the ability to moves quickly with precision was greatly affected by the heavy breakable wood. The new change in technology with the composite sticks has made more variables within the stick for the player to customize the stick to their specific needs, to further develop there stick handling. The changes in the skill set of hockey players from when wooden sticks were used to now has drastically changed just by improving a sticks technology.
Players on the ice always wants to have the top protection. There has been major improvement in the technology of equipment since the first time hockey was played. Hockey has gone from skates a stick and leather shin pads, to covered head to toe in padding. Hockey in the early 1900s just had shin pads that covered their shin leaving knee caps exposed. In the 1920’s there was a great improvement In the pads resulting in knee cap protection. They first started with leather squares to protect them. Now shin pads have evolved to be ½ an inch thick with a plastic shell on the outside so they can protect better than ever. There are always gaps that will be open but inventors always try their best to make the gap as small as possible. Over the last 20 years the gap has closed a whole inch. The elbow pad has evolved from just protecting the elbow to now covering ones upper arm, and the gap between their glove and elbow pad has completely closed. Due to all of the improvements in the protective technology players have less of a chance of injury.
Players are not the only ones whose technology has changed, the officials equipment has changed too. Official’s equipment has become lighter, stronger, and more efficient, so they are able to keep up with the faster more efficient players. Officials wear helmets, and shin pads. Years ago the shin pads they would wear were bulky and big making it extremely hard for them to keep up with the fast moving game of hockey. Now changes have been made so that hockey officials wear similar pads to soccer players which are light and make them fast. Officials needed this improvement to make sure they are in the right position for maximum sight so they can make the best calls.
Ten years ago the equipment that was known as the latest and greatest is now sitting the people attics. Equipment from 50 years ago could be in museums. The equipment of hockey is changing at a rapid pace and improving the game dramatically.
Technology is always changing we see new technology all around us. In sports, technology has changed drastically over the past 20 years. Hockey has seen substantial changes in equipment from helmets to sticks. These new changes have advanced the sport of hockey, the way hockey was played 100 years ago and the way it is played today is like a distant relative. Not only has the equipment changed but also the rules.
Throughout the years hockey sticks have gone from wood to composite. The new sticks are now made with carbon fiber and graphite. Even though most hockey sticks look the same besides their varying graphic design they are different. There is much thought that goes into such a simple piece of equipment. Great consideration of the consumer’s ideas and needs are brought to the designer’s attention before he begins to make their new stick. There are many variations that the stick can have. Flex is one variable. It controls how ridged the stick is. There can be different places within the stick where it will flex is the most important. The point of flex can vary in every stick depending on the personal preference of the consumer. Flex is important because it makes shots harder when you weight transfer from back to front the bend of the ‘flex’ causes the shot to move at a much higher rate of velocity and have a higher accuracy. Composite sticks are the latest and greatest of hockey stick technology but there is a down side to composite. A player such as Gretzy who used to play in the NHL says they lose the feeling of the puck on their stick and Gretzy refused to change to composite sticks. The composite stick is lighter which plays major roll for players, now making them faster on the ice. The composite stick being lighter also has improved stick handling. When players used to play with wooden sticks the ability to moves quickly with precision was greatly affected by the heavy breakable wood. The new change in technology with the composite sticks has made more variables within the stick for the player to customize the stick to their specific needs, to further develop there stick handling. The changes in the skill set of hockey players from when wooden sticks were used to now has drastically changed just by improving a sticks technology.
Players on the ice always wants to have the top protection. There has been major improvement in the technology of equipment since the first time hockey was played. Hockey has gone from skates a stick and leather shin pads, to covered head to toe in padding. Hockey in the early 1900s just had shin pads that covered their shin leaving knee caps exposed. In the 1920’s there was a great improvement In the pads resulting in knee cap protection. They first started with leather squares to protect them. Now shin pads have evolved to be ½ an inch thick with a plastic shell on the outside so they can protect better than ever. There are always gaps that will be open but inventors always try their best to make the gap as small as possible. Over the last 20 years the gap has closed a whole inch. The elbow pad has evolved from just protecting the elbow to now covering ones upper arm, and the gap between their glove and elbow pad has completely closed. Due to all of the improvements in the protective technology players have less of a chance of injury.
Players are not the only ones whose technology has changed, the officials equipment has changed too. Official’s equipment has become lighter, stronger, and more efficient, so they are able to keep up with the faster more efficient players. Officials wear helmets, and shin pads. Years ago the shin pads they would wear were bulky and big making it extremely hard for them to keep up with the fast moving game of hockey. Now changes have been made so that hockey officials wear similar pads to soccer players which are light and make them fast. Officials needed this improvement to make sure they are in the right position for maximum sight so they can make the best calls.
Ten years ago the equipment that was known as the latest and greatest is now sitting the people attics. Equipment from 50 years ago could be in museums. The equipment of hockey is changing at a rapid pace and improving the game dramatically.