stickwork

American  

[stik-wurk] / ˈstɪkˌwɜrk /

noun

Sports.

1. a player's degree of competence or proficiency as a baseball batter, hockey or lacrosse player, etc..

   Frequent practice improved his stickwork.

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Etymology

Origin of stickwork

First recorded in 1900–05; stick ¹ + work

Example Sentences

He starts gently behind Mr. Blanchard, whose goal of building toward a climax is well-served as Blakey grows gradually more animated, ending in torrents of stickwork and declarative bass-drum kicks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

At the other end of the ice, nifty stickwork can result in goals even the world’s best in net can’t stop.

From Washington Times • May 10, 2023

“Bjorkstrand, I think he’s been a little snakebit and he’s playing a little better than his numbers probably indicate. I really like his smartness and his stickwork and a lot of things.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2023

Semin tied it with a power-play goal at 15:43, but Ryder answered less than two minutes later with a dandy display of stickwork on the left side of the net.

From Washington Post • Nov. 9, 2011

His crackling stickwork and splintered rhythms give Cream a complex yet driving beat that few rock groups can equal.

From Time Magazine Archive