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There are SO MANY different hockey brands and different types of sticks out there right now, you might not even know where to start.
The best for attacking players and the best overall is this STX XT 401 which will significantly improve your ball control and handling for the best accuracy in your shot. A lot of control to keep the ball close to you, while you can reach your teammates with solid pushes.
It's hard to say which stick is "the best field hockey stick in the world" because each stick has different characteristics to suit the styles or position of different players, but I've picked out the 7 best for each game type for you.
Before we get into the reviews of the stick, we should also mention that all hockey sticks viewed here are approved by the International Hockey Federation, the governing body of field hockey.
also look at our review of the best indoor hockey sticks
Let's take a quick look at them first and then you can read more about each of these sticks:
Overall best field hockey stick
40% carbon and an extremely low curvature, ideal for a pro attacking player.
Best cheap field hockey stick
Made from high quality fiberglass, this stick is really made for the beginner who doesn't want to spend too much.
Best ball control
55% fiberglass, 40% carbon, 3% kevlar and 2% aramid so offers a lot of power with excellent control over the stick.
Best for Beginners
Best for midfielder
Composite composition and Reactive Liquid Polymer provide perfect ball control.
Best for Playmaker
The stick is primarily made for accurate passing and close ball control for all the dribblers and playmakers out there.
Best for fitting
Graphene and twin tube construction improve the first touch actuation and provide a better feel.
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
How do you choose the right kind of hockey stick?
With so many different types of hockey sticks available today, choosing a hockey stick can be a chore, especially if you have no idea what you are looking for.
That's why I put together this complete guide on how to choose a hockey stick.
There are several factors to consider when selecting a stick which I explain in more detail below.
A defensive player or midfielder may prefer a strong stick with a regular bow and more carbon to propel the ball further, and an attacking player may prefer a composite stick with a lower bow for better handling, control and high shots.
Experienced players use composite and fiberglass as it helps them generate more power on shots without sacrificing flexibility and durability. Carbon fiber gives more strength where fiberglass helps absorb shock for more control and is more suitable for beginners.
About 2 seasons of intense training and regular competitions can certainly take their toll, and 1 season may be all you can get out of it, but if you treat the stick with respect, it can last about 2 seasons.
Correct length of your stick
Having a stick that is the right size will help you perform all your skills better.
Ideally, your stick should reach the top of your hip bone, but that also depends a bit on personal preference.
The most popular way to measure is to place the stick on the ground in front of you; the end of the stick should reach your belly button. This way works very well for both adults and children.
Let your child play with it for a while and ask if he can dribble with it; aIf the stick is too big, your child will feel it against his stomach and his posture will be too upright!
Also read: these are the best hockey sticks for kids
Stick lengths typically range from 24″ to 38″. A slightly longer stick increases your reach, while a shorter stick improves stick handling skills.
In a general sense, this table indicates which stick length should best suit your height:
Field hockey stick size chart
| Player length | Stick length |
|---|---|
| Larger than 180cm | 38" |
| 167cm to 174cm | 37" |
| 162cm to 167cm | 36" |
| 152cm to 162cm | 35.5" |
| 140cm to 152cm | 34.5" |
| 122cm to 140cm | 32" |
| 110cm to 122cm | 30" |
| 90cm to 110cm | 28" |
| Up to 90cm | 26" |
The right weight
Hockey sticks range from about 535 g to about 680 g. This usually depends on personal preference.
For example:
- Lighter sticks are usually designed for attacking players that allow for a faster backswing and stick skills.
- Heavier sticks are typically designed for defensive players and can help add power and distance to your shots, which is ideal for hitting balls and passing.
The composition
- Carbon: Adds stiffness to the stick. The higher the carbon percentage, the more powerful your hits will be. A stick with less carbon will improve control and make catching easier. Sticks with a higher carbon content tend to be more expensive.
- Aramid and Kevlar: Adds durability to the stick and absorbs vibrations sent by the stick when hitting and receiving balls.
- Optical fiber: Many hockey sticks still contain some level of fiberglass. It adds strength, durability and feel to a stick. These are less stiff than carbon-heavy sticks, making them more forgiving. Fiberglass resembles carbon but is cheaper.
- Wood: Some players still prefer to use wooden sticks. Wooden sticks improve control while dribbling and receiving. More affordable and ideal for young beginners.
It is recommended that beginners start with lower carbon levels and work their way up to more carbon in the stick as they progress.
Bow of the stick
The arc of a stick is the slight bend you can see from the handle to the toe. It usually ranges from 20mm – 25mm, which is the maximum.
(picture of: ussportscamps.com)
The choice of bow depends on preference, age and skill level.
- The more curvature the stick has, the easier it is to apply raised shots and drag movements, you can pushem well.
- Less curvature will improve control and you're less likely to accidentally shoot the ball up. You can hit harder.
- An experienced hockey player who has a good command of the technique will more quickly opt for more curvature.
The three main types of sticks are:
- Normal / regular bow (20mm): The highest point of the arc falls in the center of the stick, which is ideal for every aspect of the game, from ball control to advanced maneuvers.
- Megabow (24,75mm): The center of the bow is closer to the toe of the stick, providing extra power when taking the ball and dragging it. This is ideal for more advanced players.
- Low bow (25mm): This arc is closest to the head of the stick and helps control and lift the ball and drag. Ideal for elite level players.
This video from Crown Hockey shows you the choice between Bow type (Low or Mid, and many brands call them just differently like TK's Innovate):
toe shape
The toe of the stick is the turn level and can affect how players hit the ball and handle the stick.
Smaller toes provide more agility but limit strength, while larger toes provide a greater surface area to hit and receive the ball but reduce movement.
(picture of: anthem-sports.com)
- lottery: A classic shape ideal for high speed, precise control and stick skills. It has a smaller hitting area and is not as popular as it used to be. Ideal for strikers.
- Midi: most used toe shape for beginners. Improves technique and provides precise control. Great sweet spot when hitting. Ideal for midfielders or players who like to move the ball quickly while dribbling.
- Maxi: Greater surface area and striking power. Ideal for drag flicks, injectors and reverse stick control. This toe shape is ideal for defensive players.
- Hook: J-shaped toe that offers the largest surface area for more ball control, better drag movements and the use of reverse skills. Ideal for players with an upright style and is good on grass surfaces.
Best Field Hockey Sticks Reviewed
STX XT 401
- One of the best choices for elite athletes
- Powerful shots
- Increases ball control
- Not ideal for novice players
The TK Total 1.3 Innovate offers experienced players a 40% carbon option and an extremely low curvature. This stick is ideal for a top attacking player.
The unique feature of the STX XT 401 is the unique carbon braiding system, which incorporates a seamless carbon structure into the stick for maximum strength and responsiveness.
STX advertises this stick as the lightest and strongest hockey stick on the market.
Delivering enhanced ball control and air dexterity with STX's scoop technology, the 401 has just the right amount of stiffness – not too stiff and not too flexible, giving you the control you need.
Integrated Damping System [IDS], is a vibration damping measure that is also an integral part of this stick, giving you full control and forgetting about excessive vibration.
The Low type bow makes it easy to get high shots. A high quality choice that will not disappoint; Get better without breaking a sweat with this field hockey stick. You won't be disappointed with this pick of the top ten field hockey sticks.
It will greatly improve your ball control and handling, and is designed for those who are well beyond mastering the fundamentals and looking for that final slice of competitive advantage in their game.
Features
- Increased ball control and air prowess with STX . shovel technology
- Bow Type: Low Bow
- Size/Length: 36.5 inches, 37.5 inches
- Brand: STX
- Color: Orange, Black
- Material: Composite
- Player type: Advanced
- field hockey
- Curvature: 24mm
STX Stallions 50
- High-quality fiberglass
- Cheaply priced
- Insufficient power for advanced players
Made from high quality fiberglass, this stick is really made for the beginner who doesn't want to spend too much.
Since the ball groove has been removed from the previous model, the energy transfer to the ball is at a maximum level. It's a great all-round performer for players who don't yet have optimal control of technique.
The fiberglass together with the midi toe improves ball control so that practice can be used optimally.
Features
- Composition of high quality fiberglass
- Cheaply priced
- Player type: Amateur
- normal bow
- Approximate weight: 550 grams
- field hockey
- Curvature 20 mm
Osaka Pro Tour 40 Pro Bow
- Pro Touch Grip handle
- Carbon composite for power and control
- Good price/quality ratio
- Wears out quickly
The number 2 in our list for the top hockey sticks. The Osaka Pro Tour Stick line of products started in 2013 and has since been further developed especially for attacking players.
Most Pro Tour sticks are made of 100 percent carbon, but this one is 55% fiberglass, 40% carbon, 3% kevlar and 2% aramid.
It therefore offers a lot of power, but also provides excellent control over the stick.
One of the unique things about the Pro Tour is the Pro Touch Grip handle which offers excellent gripping capabilities and is very helpful for its ability to support weather conditions.
You can play in the rain, in extremely high temperatures and it still provides a nice, firm grip.
Another great feature of the Pro Tour series is the fact that it has a textured toe box that provides traction so the ball won't bounce directly off the stick, along the ball channel in its long arc grip. It is lightweight and durable at the same time.
OSAKA sticks have taken off all over the world and are used by many elite players. This particular stick is one of their top models.
What we like about this stick is its value for money, its strength and agility. The Pro Tour 40 is one of the cheaper models in the line and an excellent entry into the Osaka brand.
Being a part carbon stick and a great shape, there is plenty of power when you connect to the ball. Dribbling and other 3D skills are no problem with this stick, as it's super light and very responsive, so quick maneuvers feel good.
The only downside we've found with the OSAKA sticks is that they tend to wear out pretty quickly, but it will still survive a full season if not hacked by other players.
In short, if you are looking for a good stick as a striker or striker, this one is good value for money.
Features
- Stick Length: 36,5 Inch
- Curvature: 24 mm
- Colour Black
- Material: 55% fiberglass, 40% carbon, 3% kevlar and 2% aramid
Also read: the best hockey shin guards reviewed
Grays GX3000 Ultrabow
- Ultrabow suitable for beginners
- Smaller curvature
- Low power
This Grays GX3000 is an Ultrabow model and is part of the extreme (or Xtreme) line of hockey sticks. This line is known for the application of the best technology combined with performance, durability and ball control.
For more than 10 years, the top hockey brand Grays has been improving its GX line with new approaches, materials and styles.
They have also developed their Ultrabow, a curve that resembles the "normal" curve and is extremely suitable for beginners to master hockey.
It is a classic style profile with a smaller curvature that starts at the center of the hockey stick. This small curvature makes the hockey stick very suitable for novice hockey players.
The Ultrabow makes it easy to pass, receive and shoot. All this unfortunately at the cost of the power you can exert with it in your shot, but nothing is without drawbacks.
Features
- Micro hook
- Available in 36,5 and 37,5
- Maximum bend of 22.00 mm
- Curve location: 300mm
TK 3.4 Control Bow
- Composite composition gives power and control
- Reactive Liquid Polymer increases ball control
- Not suitable for attacking players
The TK Total Three hockey sticks are some of the latest innovations from TK.
These modern sticks use the best materials and latest techniques, in order to perform optimally.
This specific TK 3.4 Control Bow hockey stick consists of:
- 30% Carbon
- 60% Fiberglass
- 10% aramid
By using Carbon, the stick becomes firmer and less yielding, resulting in extra striking power, plus it provides more durability of the stick.
If you've also looked at the rest of the sticks, you know by now that a small amount of aramid is often added to obtain more shock absorption. That way you no longer suffer from vibrations when you want to catch a hard ball.
This allows for greater control over the stick.
Furthermore, like the TK Total One 1.3, it has an Innovate curvature, which in fact resembles Low Bow curves from other brands, with an extra layer of Reactive Liquid Polymer to further increase ball control.
The 24 mm curvature is located far at the bottom of the hockey stick, so that it can be used well for the more technical players among us, who are already a bit more advanced
Adidas TX24 – Compo 1
- Affordable
- Dual Rod Shock Absorption
- Key impact areas reinforced
- Not very powerful
If you're looking for a good quality stick at an affordable price, the Adidas TX24 – Compo 1 might be just what you're looking for.
It is made from high quality materials including plastic with added reinforcement around key impact areas.
The stick is primarily made for accurate passing and close ball control for all the dribblers and playmakers out there.
In addition, the Dual Rod technology allows a high energy return and the stick is excellent for players who push a lot.
The two carbon rods are filled with foam to aid in shock absorption. Adgrip is integrated, this grip has that chamois a little bit in the hand and a firmer grip.
The touch compound feature is also supported here, allowing the hook-to-ball contact patch to keep the ball in check, allowing for better accuracy.
Features
- DualRod technology for shock absorption and increased power
- Key impact areas reinforced
- Brand: Adidas
- Target Audience: Unisex
- field hockey
- Material: Plastic
- Stick Length: 36,5 inches
- Carbon percentage70%
- Colour Black
- Size: 36
Grays GX1000 Ultrabow
- Twin tube construction increases durability
- Perfect for beginners
- Too little power for advanced
This stick makes its way into the top ten hockey sticks by using Grays' second generation Carbon Nano Tube technology.
It is a top model that provides powerful energy transfer when striking and more shock-absorbing basalt fibers for extra feel and response.
The stick has IFA on the surface of the head, which provides a softer feel. The Ultrabow blade profile is the perfect solution for generating drag-flick momentum.
Graphene and twin tube construction improve the first touch actuation and provide a better feel.
Features
- Carbon Nanotube Technology
- Blade profile: Ultrabow
- Size/Length: 36.5 inches, 37.5 inches
- Brand: Grays
- Material: Composite
- Player type: Advanced
- field hockey
- Curvature: 22mm
- Weight: Light
Conclusion
Field hockey is a high intensity game that moves extremely fast and can also be very dangerous.
When playing at a high level of competition, you always have to keep your wits about you, but you also have to be sure that you have equipment you can rely on. You have to be ready to perform when needed.
As the game has evolved over the years, so has the technology, especially for the sticks.
With a new top field hockey stick, the ball can be played at more than 130 mp/h or 200 km/h.
