Do you size your stick for your stance or your butterfly?

Mine personally is for my stance. I was using a 24.5" paddle length a couple of years ago, and found that I'd end up kind of hunched over to my blocker side when I was in my stance, and as a result, this often left the glove side much more open than it should have been. I switched to a 27" paddle, and noticed an instant difference. I was better balanced in my stance, I felt more comfortable when I would go to the butterfly, and it gave that extra bit of length to assist in dragging the puck in during a scramble play. That all being said, I would classify myself more as a hybrid goalie anyway, but the longer paddle is here to stay for me anyway.

When I pick my stick, I kneel down into the butterfly position. I always thought it's best to have the stick (and blocker) in the right place when you spend so much time on your knees...

However, due to a degenerative disc in my back, I plan to eventually move to a slightly longer paddle for a more upright position.

I've been contemplating changing my size from 27".. I'm 6'4" so I always assumed because I was the biggest, I should be using the biggest. But after some training recently, I've come to realize it's probably not the best option for me. It's expensive to be buying sticks to experiment with though.

For me personally, I choose my stick based on stance for pretty much the same reasons as edmgoalie. I have two sticks, one for ice and one that's an inch shorter for ball hockey (since I don't have that extra inch of blade). I tried the shorter one on ice for a little bit, but my balance felt a little off in my stance. I guess its one of those things I could adjust to though.

I am 6'2" so I'm in a similar situation as you. I had a 27" stick and then moved to a shorter stick (I think 26", but not all manufacturers seem to measure the same way so it ended up being quite a bit shorter) and was having a lot of success with that. Lately I have had some issues with stick discipline when moving so I switched back to the longer stick and that seems to help there... it seems to me that you have to pick one or the other (for stance or for butterfly) but whichever you pick has trade offs.

And of course everyone has their opinion... even with my 27" stick I've been told by some people that it is too small for me... :)

I'm going to say stance, as it is easier to simulate your stance/height in a store than it is the butterfly. I find it hard to buy sticks regardless, as they all vary in measurement from maker to maker. Plus, I tend to go more for the lie of the blade than anything else.

When I buy a stick, I hold it like normal, but I go up on my tip-toes to simulate the extra height of being on skates. Then I have an idea of how it will be on the ice. Short of strapping on some pads, it would be harder to simulate the on-ice conditions in the butterfly.

I have been using a 27" paddle that felt great in Stance but was way to big in B'fly (im 5'7" and this is what the guy at cyclone Taylor put me in....

now using a 26`paddle which is better, but will drop down to either 24 or 25 on next purchase

I'm 5'10" and have a 27" paddle. I used to have a 25" paddle and the larger paddle has helped out a ton! Went bigger because of my stance.