What stick should I choose?
How to choose the right stick for YOU Basic criteria for stick selection is:
- Player height.
- Level of play.
- Player preference.
- Budget.
There are basically two types of sticks, wooden and composite.
Wooden sticks
All Mercian wooden sticks are individually handcrafted. They withstand intense pressure during the shaping process. Once the sticks are shaped, they are reinforced with different fibers (Fiberglass, Carbon and Kevlar). The reinforcement fibers give the sticks exceptional power and durability.
Composite sticks
Composite sticks are produced with different materials molded together. Each composite stick has an individual matrix formula to maximize its power, strength, feel and durability. Each stick from the mould will be exactly the same.The stick should be well balanced and should feel good in your hands. The weight in head should still allow you to have maximum stick speed when maneuvering and hitting the ball.
Reinforcing Materials
Fiberglass is the basic material reinforcing the handle. It adds strength and durability.
Carbon or Graphite add stiffness to the handle. The more experienced player can take advantage of the increased hitting power without it having an adverse effect on their receiving skills.
Kevlar adds strength, while also dampening the vibration. The added flexibility allows for more control and feel when hitting or receiving
Player Height
Generally most players play with a 36.5 inch stick, Junior players may select sizes 36 and below. Sticks from 37.5 inch and higher are mainly used by taller players or due to player preference.
Recommended Stick Length
(these are estimate sizes so size and age may also affect the desired stick length)
Under 4" = 30"
4’ 0" to 4’ 3" = 32" to 34"
4' 3" to 4' 6" = 34" to 35"
4' 6" to 5' 0" = 35"
5' 0" to 5'9"= 36.5"*
Over 5'9" = 37.5"
*the most popular length
Stick Weight
Weight is quite important when choosing a stick. Generally the weight of a stick is classified as
Light - weighing 17oz - 20oz. The light stick allows faster stick movement; if you rely on your skill to beat an opponent and are not too concerned about hitting the ball at high speed, then consider lightweight.
Medium - weighing 21oz - 22oz. The Medium sticks are good for hard hitting out of the defense. If you are a midfield or a defender, consider using a medium weight stick.
Level of Playing:
Irrespective of whether you play for high school or university you have to take into consideration how often you play or practice as you will be using the stick a lot more than anticipated. It may be a good idea to go for the higher price range of sticks, which has stronger materials resulting in better performance.
These are just general guidelines to help you make your decision, however it all depends on personal preference. If you have any other questions about this topic or any field hockey equipment please email us.
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How many sticks do I need?
Dedicated players have their favorite first choice stick, and a few different sticks as back-up for breakages, variables in playing conditions and surfaces, and different plays.
Sticks do break during play. It is better to have your own broken-in stick in waiting than to borrow an unfamiliar stick during game play.
Some sticks work better for some circumstances. No single stick does everything for everybody on every playing surface.
We suggest you have a minimum of two sticks with you whenever you go to play. For frequent play on both natural and artificial turf, you will probably want a minimum of four sticks, two for each surface. If you switch positions, you will probably want one stick for each position and an all-purpose backup.
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Should my composite stick chip?
Yes, the paint on composite sticks will chip. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the game of field hockey some chipping will occur with the graphics of your stick. Chipping of the graphics does not affect the playability of your stick. |
The stick i want is not available in my length?
If you want a shorter composite and is not available in the length you require you can cut a stick down to 35" or any length in between without affecting the balance of the stick. |
Why do i have a rattling sound in my stick?
Rattling inside of the stick is not uncommon, and although annoying should not affect the performance of your stick. Composites sticks do have a hollow chamber and the noise you hear is a loose piece of material inside. This can be fixed by removing the end cap and shaking loose the material.
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My end cap fell off, how can i fix it?
Sometimes the end cap of the stick comes loose by itself, we recommend your use a two part expoxy resin to re-attach the end cap, and replace the grip. If you have any concerns on fixing the stick yourself, please ship the stick to us and we can recondition the stick in most cases. |
I think my stick is broken, what do I do now?
If you bought a Mercian stick direct from us or from one of our retailers you will need to contact us first before returning the stick. It may be a problem we can fix.
We stand by our products and are guaranteed against defective materials and production, please check our terms and conditions to see if your stick is covered.
We suggest taking a digital photo of your stick and a short description of what you think maybe defective and we can assess the next step. |
