WHICH STICK TO CHOOSE?

The best hockey stick is above all the one you feel good with when you test it. It is a feeling when you take it in hand and compare it with other models, other brands? We will always have a preference on the basis of rather subjective criteria such as the grip on the right hand, weight, colour,...

But there are also other more objective criteria that need to be taken into account when choosing your new hockey stick.

SIZE

For children: the most common technique is to hold the stick vertically in front of the child so that it reaches the child's navel. A stick that is too big and the child will be too straight when playing and it will bother him. Conversely, a stick too small and it would bend more than necessary causing a bad posture of the child which can lead to a possible backache. The range of children's sticks starts at a size of 18 inches and extends to 35.5 inch sticks.

For adults: Until a few years ago, the adult range of sticks consisted only of 36.5" sticks. But today there are 37.5 and 38.5 sticks. More and more players are deciding to switch from 36.5 to 37.5 for more back comfort. The 38.5 sticks are still little used and are really recommended for experienced and/or very tall players.

As a help, here is a small summary table :

Stick size guide

 

THE COMPOSITION

Currently, hockey sticks are made of various main materials such as wood, fibreglass or carbon. Different brands even reinforce their sticks with a small percentage of kevlar or aramid.

Wood: The majority of children's sticks or standard sticks are mostly made of wood and reinforced with fiberglass. These sticks offer a softer feel in the hands when controlling the ball but offer little hitting power. Wooden sticks are ideal for beginners. They are also the cheapest sticks.

Fibreglass: Sticks made mainly of fibreglass are considered to be of medium range. There is a variable amount of fiberglass ranging from 25% to 75%. They are often supplemented with carbon. Offering more ball power than wooden sticks, this range of sticks is recommended for amateur players with previous hockey experience who want to feel great sensations of the game.

Carbon: Sticks ranging from 25% to 100% carbon are available. In practice, a stick is never made of 100% carbon since carbon is a very fragile material, it is often complemented with fiberglass, Kevlar or aramid. In theory, the higher the percentage of carbon, the greater the power of the ball when hitting. Conversely, ball control will be more difficult and therefore requires a good technical mastery. Generally speaking, the more carbon the stick is made of, the higher its price will be. We recommend these sticks to players wishing to improve their skills and playing experience as well as to more experienced players.

THE COURT

Hockey sticks currently all have more or less the same curvature which is 24mm max. (except for the extra low bow curvature which is 24.75mm) The different types of curvature therefore differ in where the curvature is maximum. In practice, the closer a stick is curved to the stick, the easier it is to play 3D balls or to make flicks and slaps. There are 4 curvatures:

 

Mid Bow :

Mid Bow Stick Schema

 

Pro Bow :

Pro Bow Stick Schema

 

Low Bow :

Low Bow Stick Schema

 

Extra Low Bow :

Extra Low Bow Stick Schema

 

THE WEIGHT

There are 4 weight categories for a hockey stick: heavy, medium, light and ultra light. There are very few heavy or medium weight sticks left. Today the vast majority of sticks are light. They have an average weight between 550gr and 600gr. The latest novelty are the ultra light sticks with a weight of less than 550gr. Beyond its weight, a light stick offers the advantage of a higher hitting speed but requires a greater technical mastery..