From the early days of field hockey and for years after, players only had the choice of a wooden stick design. With advances in technology manufacturers tested new materials to improve power when hitting the ball. One such material was aluminium, however, some players were injured by the new fabrication. As a result, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) introduced new rules on allowable substances in the manufacturing of hockey sticks.
Current rules
At the time of writing, the FIH rule book on hockey stick manufacture states:
- The stick and possible additions may be made of or contain any material other than metal or metallic components provided it is fit for the purpose of playing hockey and is not hazardous.
Today’s hockey sticks are made of wood or a combination of materials. Manufacturers focus their design outcomes on improved hitting power, lighter weights, comfort and stick-wear reduction. With a wide array of playing styles one stick will not appeal to all players. Hence, it’s of great benefit to the sport that manufacturers include composite materials and variety in their designs.
Construction
Hockey stick construction materials used on their own or in combination are wood, Kevlar, fibreglass and carbon fibre.
Kevlar
Invented almost 50 years ago, Kevlar is a super-strong fibre used in many things including protective body armour. It can withstand high impact so when used in hockey stick construction reduces vibration felt in players’ hands compared to traditional sticks.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass is a strong, light-weight material consisting of glass fibre reinforced plastic. It’s utilised in the production of many different goods including boats and surfboards. Favoured by many manufacturers not only for its strength and lightness, but also for its low cost raw material, namely glass. Glass is cheaper than alternative options such as carbon fibre. When it comes to hockey sticks, fibreglass adds strength without adding considerable weight. Furthermore, when it’s applied to wooden sticks the fibreglass covering reduces wear.
Carbon fibre
Carbon fibre is a material consisting of carbon atoms bonded together in crystals. It can be found in many products and is also used in motor sports. Its properties are high strength, stiffness and low weight. Due to its relatively higher cost, carbon fibre tends to be found in the mid to top of the range hockey sticks. A higher percentage of carbon fibre used relative to other materials the higher the stick tends to cost. For example, some manufacturers construct 100% carbon sticks or 95% carbon and 5% fibreglass. The benefit of this material in hockey stick construction is not only its light weight but also its stiffness. This high rate of rigidity creates much greater energy transfer during ball hitting than with other compounds.
Hockey stick purpose
Another consideration when choosing a hockey stick is what purpose it needs to serve in terms of player position. For example, a composite stick with Kevlar would be ideal for a defender. On the other hand, a light-weight carbon fibre composite would suite a forward. To learn more about the specific stick needs of defenders, forwards, midfielders and goalkeepers read our field hockey stick article here.
