What is the P92 Curve Good For? (Owners Review & Guide)

If you are on the search for the best possible hockey stick curve considering the P92 is not a bad idea. I have been using this curve for a very long time, about 10 years, it’s been my go-to option. I have used a few other curves but they just didn’t feel right, the Bauer P88 was too small and the Bauer P28 has too large of a curve.

The P92 curve has an open face and begins curving in the middle of the blade, it slowly opens more towards the tip of the blade. It’s a great all-around curve for shooting, passing, puck control, and saucing the puck. All players from beginners to pro players can use the P92 curve.

What Does the P92 Curve Look Like?

The P92 is one of the most popular hockey stick curves on the market. It has an open face, it’s a mid-toe curve, and the tip of the blade is round. Here is a photo of what the curve looks like:

What Are Other Names for the P92 Curve?

If you aren’t aware there are a few major brands in hockey, the most popular being Bauer and CCM, then others follow like TRUE, Warrior, Easton, and so on. The P92 name comes from Bauer and other companies have the same stick curve but may call it something different.

Here is a chart of all the other names for the P92 hockey stick curve:

What NHL Players Have Used the P92 Curve?

• Joe Sakic
• Auston Matthews – P29
• Mitch Marner – TC2
• Brad Marchand – W03
• Taylor Hall
• Markus Naslund

Many NHL players use the P92 curve, many people know it as the Sakic, Backstrom, Matthews, or Hall curve solely because the sticks you would buy from the sports store would have P92 and one of these players’ names under it.

When I was young sticks had Sakics name, when he retired, then Backstrom. Eventually, I noticed Matthews name on it. It is subject to change, again and again, I like to believe it’s a marketing tactic.

How is the P92 Different Compared to Other Curves?

The P92 Curve vs P28?

The Bauer P28 curve, also known as the Giroux, McDavid, or Eichel curve is quite different than the P92. In simple words, the P28 curves at the toe most while the P92 curves at the middle and slowly throughout the toe. I look at the P28 and consider it a much more aggressive curve than the P92, almost like the P92 was on steroids.

The look is similar, they both start curving and opening in the middle, but the P28 opens much faster. Overall, the P28 curve is a larger curve and the toe is extremely open compared to the P28. This means the P28 will shoot pucks super high with little effort. Both curves have round toes.

Take a look at both curves below:

The P92 Curve vs P88?

The P88 curve, also known as the Kane curve, is a totally different feel compared to the P92. The P88 has a slight middle curve, but the face doesn’t open nearly as much as the P92 curve. I feel this curve is almost “flat” like a wall, just because it barely opens at the toe in comparison. You’ll understand if you use both. The toe on the P88 is also round. I find this curve is great for keeping the puck low, back hand passing, and picking up hard passes, but when it comes to stickhandling I prefer the P92 any day. I can’t toe drag the puck very well with the P88.

Read my full article on the P88 here: “What is the P88 Curve Good For?”

Take a look at both curves below: 

What is the P92 Curve Good For?

Now it is time to get into more detail about each aspect of the P92 curve, I will talk about what the curve is good for and what it might not be best for. Keep in mind that choosing a hockey stick curve is strictly personal preference. Just because I like one thing doesn’t mean another person will. Test different options to see what curve suits your game! Let’s get into details about the P92:

Stick Handling and Puck Control with the P92 Curve

Some people prefer smaller curves for puck control, however, I am the opposite. When a curve is larger around the toe I can handle the puck much better. I like to toe drag and quickly grab the puck with the toe of my blade, with small curves like the P88 I find I have less control doing so.

The P92 is a happy medium in this regard, it opens and curves at the middle-toe the perfect amount. It’s not too small and not too big like the P28.

Simple puck control like stickhandling I find is great too with the P92, the heel to the middle of the blade is rather flat, making it a great place to keep the puck when in motion. The hardest place to control the puck with the P92 is the backside toe.

Shooting with the P92 Curve

Now, this is why I like the P92 curve most, when it comes to shooting and accuracy I am much better with the P92 than any other curve option. The curved toe makes taking snapshots a breeze, I like to drag the puck in with the toe and snap it quickly. Without the toe curve, dragging in the puck would be difficult.

The open-face curve makes lifting the puck easy when shooting. This means you can pick top corners easier, but it also means you can shoot the puck high over the net easier too. So be careful of that.

Taking shots with the heel of the P92 keeps the puck low, anywhere from on the ice to the middle of the net. Releasing from the middle of the P92 blade will lift the puck higher, typically from the middle of the net to the crossbar. When releasing from the toe, where the curve is opened most, the puck often is shot high towards the top of the net or over the net.

Keep in mind that skill level also determines where you shoot the puck, not just the curve. Proper execution and how you release the puck helps determine where the puck will go. The way you hold your stick determines how high or low the puck goes.

I am a defenseman in hockey, typically defense take more slapshots than forwards because we are on the point. I like the P92 curve for slapshots, but if you aren’t careful you can shoot the puck too high. Slapshots from the point are meant to stay low, so the goalie can’t see it and your teammates can tip/deflect the puck easier. If you are taking slapshots with the P92 you want to use the heel or the middle, often releasing off the toe will make the puck go high. Not the best bet for a slapshot unless you are picking a corner close to the net.

Backhand shots are a bit harder with the P92 and it definitely takes practice. The backhand shot is the hardest hockey shot anyways. Even though the tip of the blade on the backside is faced down, you can still maneuver your blade to lift the puck when using the P92. However, the middle and heel of the blade on the rear side are almost straight, this will make lifting the puck with a backhand shot easier in this area.

Passing with the P92 Curve

Making a pass with the P92 curve is simple, but you want to make sure you don’t lift the puck too much because of the open face blade. Of course, you can sauce the puck, but you want to learn how to make a strong hard on-ice pass first, these are most important. I like to release my passes from the heel to the middle of my blade, on the P92 the blade begins opening at the mid, so the puck will stay low if you don’t open up your blade.

Passing from the toe of the P92 often comes off weaker and will likely lift higher, I also find the puck may fumble if you do this, skill level depending of course.

Making a backhand pass with the P92 is best made when released from the heel and a bit further up, but not passing the middle due to the curve opening on the front in the mid and up. The P88 is easier to make backhand passes because of the larger-sized backhand and the fact it doesn’t close at the backend toe like the P92 does.

Picking Up Passes with the P92 Curve

Now let’s talk about picking up a pass with the P92. On the forehand, picking up the puck while using a P92 curve is easy. Since the curve is fairly large the puck lands on the blade and almost cups into the center of the blade. Its easiest to pick up the puck in the middle or heel rather than the toe with the P92.

Picking up the puck on the backhand is always trickier than the forehand. The curve never cups the puck like the forehand does, so here is how you pick it up with the P92. Since the P92 has a straight heel it is best to pick up backhand passes on the heel, avoid picking up on the toe. It is always harder to pick up the puck on the back toe of the blade, it often bounces off it. A quick but important tip for picking up pucks on the backhand is to slap back at the puck as it hits your stick, but keep your blade tilted slightly down so the puck doesn’t slide up and away. Make sure you are firm with your stick, this tap, slap, smack, or whatever you want to call it really changes how you pick up backhand passes, it’s a game-changer trust me.

Saucing the Puck with the P92 Curve

Of course, if you are a skilled player you can figure out how to saucer the puck with any blade really. What does saucing the puck mean? A saucer pass is when the puck is passed to another player but it is lifted off of the ice, it remains in a spiral/spinning flat motion, meaning the puck does not spin around like crazy. When you keep a puck in a flat motion it is more aerodynamic and the pass is much faster, plus it is 100 times easier to pick up on the receiving end.

The reason you may want to make a saucer pass is to make it more difficult for an opponent to intercept your pass. Or you may want to lift the puck over someone or someone’s stick, like a defender laying on the ice to break up your pass. A quick saucer can make you a much better playmaker.

The P92 is a great curve for making a saucer pass. Having the open face middle to the toe makes living it easier than the P88 curve, this is more important to consider as a beginner. To make a saucer pass I like to start with the puck on my heel and I slightly tilt my stick back, I then slide the puck from the heel towards the toe as I release it. This creates the spin on the puck to remain flat as I send it in the air. The more open a curve is the higher the saucer pass is likely to go. With more skill, you have much more control of height and how quickly you can make a saucer pass. For pro players, it just comes naturally in the way they release the puck.

Switching from the P88 to the P92 Curve – Can You?

You can switch curves whenever you want, I wouldn’t use multiple curves at a time switching back and forth. I think that could have damage to your development as a player. I actually used the P88 for quite some time when I played competitive hockey, it’s a great curve for many reasons, but it is a lot different than the P92.

Picking up passes was really easy with the P88 curve, the flat curve felt comfortable to receive the puck, especially on the backhand. However, I didn’t like shooting with the P88 in comparison to the P92. Why? Well, the P88 curve doesn’t open like the P92, this means the puck stays lower with the P88. But this is where the issue with changing from the P88 to the P92 comes in place, your shots with the P92 are often way too high initially after the change. You need to feel the change in height and practice until you aren’t shooting the puck over the net. That is what happened to me.

Also, my saucer passes were off. The way the toe curves on the P92 totally changed how my saucer pass would release, the puck would fumble a lot more. That took time in practice, I would do hundreds of passes a practice to get the saucer feeling comfortable, now its better than it ever was with the P88.

Your game changes when you change curves, it’s inevitable. It takes time to practice and get the proper feel back. Its like any type of new equipment, with a bit of time you’ll get comfortable and it will become the new normal.

Here is a quick recap of what to keep in mind changing from the P88 curve to the P92 curve:

Can a Beginner Hockey Player Use the P92 Curve?

Of course! The P92 is a great curve for beginners, it might be a good curve to start with to get your shots up and off the ice. Many beginners choose the P88 because its smaller and flat, easier for backhand passing and shooting, which is known as a difficult task as a beginner player.

However, learning on the P92 can actually make you a better puck handler and backhand shooter, so it may be worth the extra struggle in the beginning. Don’t be intimidated by a curve, try different curves out to see what feels most comfortable. Often that is how people find the best fit. It is also the reason why different curves exist, people like different things based on different skills they have.

Head to the rink or a sports store and test a few out, it will help you out more than reading about them. Sports are about trying and testing new things, practice makes perfect!

The Best P92 Curve Hockey Sticks:

The Verdict – Should You Use the P92 Curve?

After putting together this detailed guide about the P92 hockey curve it is time to make up your mind. Should you use the P92 curve? If you are interested in lifting up that shot and handling the puck better, maybe you should test it out. I wouldn’t throw out all your other sticks, but I would test it out on the ice shooting and passing some pucks.

Sticks are pricy, ask a buddy on the ice if you can test out there stick. Take a few snapshots, wrist shots, and passes, avoid slapshots or one-timers as they can break the stick. See how it feels, if you like it then maybe it is time to make the switch.

Good luck with your next shot!

Read my related post listing ALL types of hockey stick curves here.

Jamie

Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.