Nowadays most players prefer to use composite sticks. Wood sticks are becoming increasingly scarce in their use. This is not to say that wood sticks are no longer good. Many players, even at international level, still use wood sticks. If you are looking to use wood sticks then read on else go to section 4.

Most wooden sticks are made of Mulberry. This is a natural product, which is seasoned for 9 - 10 months. It is left soaked overnight before bending it in to a 'U' shape. The 'U' is then cut in half leaving a 'J' shaped piece. This is then cut into thinner pieces and shaped by hand -e.g. 'HOOK', 'MIDI' 'MAXI', 'J' and 'SHORTI'. These are some of the names you will come across when making your selection. Once the head is shaped and a handle is fitted to it, the stick is then reinforced. This is left to dry before applying a grip and cosmetics.

The strongest part of the tree trunk is the middle part, as it is the most mature. As the wood is cut, it is therefore graded according to the age of the wood and the quality. The inner most pieces of wood will be used for top grade sticks and the outer most part for lower grade.

The reinforcements also determine the price. The sticks are reinforced using different combinations of materials such as Fibreglass, Carbon, Kevlar, and Dyneema etc.

Fibreglass (FG) - It provides good stiffness, strength and has some vibration dampening properties. When applied properly, it should go clear and you should be able to see the wood underneath it. These days a lot of lower grade sticks are reinforced with FG.

Carbon - It is usually black in appearance. It has excellent stiffness and strength. It is also a very light weight material. The degree of its application will determine how stiff the stick is. The stiffer the stick, the more power it generates. In some models, it is used in combination with other materials such as FG and Kevlar.

Kevlar - It has very good tensile strength and impact properties. Yellowish in appearance, it provides perfect vibration dampening characteristics and high ball speed. When used in conjunction with carbon, it performs brilliantly.

Dyneema - It has excellent vibration dampening and shock absorption. It also has durable tensile strength giving added power.

Composite sticks (CS) are entirely man made. There are no natural materials i.e. Wood, in the construction of them. Using Carbon, Fibreglass, Kevlar and other man made fibrous materials, makes these sticks. Epoxy resins around a predetermined mould shape bond the fibrous materials. This allows the shape of the stick to be maintained very accurately.

The various fibrous materials used have different properties as explained in section 3. Carbon fibre, which provides stiffness, is used in varying quantities in different models to provide strength. Greater carbon content means greater stiffness, which equals greater power. It is generally accepted that a player-using heavy weighted wood stick, say 640gms, can generate as much power from a CS weighing say 580gms. In years gone by, players used to rely on the weight of the stick to generate power, and in return use to sacrifice dribbling speed. But now with CS, you can use lightweight sticks yet still have the hitting power. Take the sport of Tennis as an example - players now use graphite racquets and the ball speed has increased enormously. The same technology is used to make CS.

However, when you are selecting CS keep one thing in mind - During construction of CS, the weight and balance of the stick is more difficult to control. So even within the specified moulds you can get variance of weight and balance. For example, a lightweight stick can be between 550gms - 580gms and a difference balance point for every one of them. Even the sticks of the same weight can have different balance point. So when buying sticks on-line, you can acquire a different weight and balanced stick, even when you specify, say 36.5" Light. My advice is always to try to buy sticks by physically feeling the sticks. When you are paying so much money - do you not think that the stick should be exactly what you want?

Finally, as of 1.1.06 at International level (1.6.2006 in the UK for domestic competition excluding ENL) sticks, which have bend/curve greater than 25mm, will be illegal in their use. There may be different dates for individual countries - so please check with your local governing body.

• These are some of the points you need to consider.
• How tall are you?
• Are you a beginner?
• Do you play once a week or 6 times a week?
• Do you play against senior or junior players?
• Are you physically strong and well built?
• Does the standard you play at demand high performance from you?

FOR WOOD:Irrespective of whether you play in the 1st XI or the 5th XI, if you are playing against senior men or women, you need a stick that is well reinforced. Ladies can perhaps use less reinforced sticks, if performance is not essential. This is because you are less likely to break the stick through impact and highball speed. Men's games, on the other hand, generate higher ball speed and higher impact, thus requiring better reinforced sticks.

FOR COMPOSITES:Sticks at the lower end of the price structure will predominately be made of Fibreglass material. These sticks are fine for junior players playing at school level or colts hockey in the clubs. But for senior school level or even junior county level, players should consider using sticks that have some degree of Carbon content - Obviously more the better! For club use at senior level for both men and women, always choose some degree of Carbon content in the stick - I would suggest upward of 35% - 40% carbon.

General guideline:

Under 3'10" consider using 28" length - Light weight

3'10" - 4'1" consider using 30" length - Light weight

4'2" - 4'6" consider using 32" length - Light weight

4'7" - 4' 11" consider using 34" length - Light or Medium weight

5' - 5'3" consider using 35" length - Light or Medium weight

5'4" - 5'10" consider using 36" or 36.5" length - Light or Medium weight

FOR WOOD:Reinforcement is not important for 28" - 34" length sticks for beginners, although these days most sticks do have a degree of reinforcement. DO NOT spend too much money at this stage, as you are likely to grow out before you break it or wear it out. If you are buying a 36" length, fibreglass reinforcement is a good idea.

FOR COMPOSITES:Sticks at the lower end of the price structure will predominately be made of Fibreglass material. These sticks are fine for junior players playing at school level or colts hockey in the clubs. But for senior school level or even junior county level, players should consider using sticks that have some degree of Carbon content - Obviously more the better! For club use at senior level for both men and ladies, always choose some degree of Carbon content in the stick - I would suggest upward of 35% - 40% carbon.

FOR WOOD: 5'3" - 5'10"Consider using 36" or 36.5" Light, Medium or Heavy sticks. Reinforcement for you is important. Your stick must have at least fibreglass reinforcement. Ideally, it should have either carbon or Kevlar materials in it. This will take you up in price, but at least you can also get good performance out of it. For real performance, consider top end of the price range.

5'10" - 6'2"Consider buying 36.5" or 37" or 37.5" length. Weight will depend on your positional play, although there are no hard and fast rules for this. Look for Fibreglass, Carbon and Kevlar reinforced sticks. Yes you can get away with less reinforcement, if performance is not essential. But for real performance consider the top end of the price range.

6'3" - upwardsConsider buying 37", 37.5", 38" or 38.5" or even 40" if you are exceptionally tall. You do need a well-reinforced stick, i.e. FG, carbon and Kevlar.

FOR COMPOSITE:Lengths would be the same as using wood, but as a senior player, you must choose sticks that have at least 50% carbon content. For better performance, select sticks with greater Carbon content. The weight of the sticks for you is not so important but the percentage of Carbon content is. Remember...

Greater Reinforcement = Greater Stiffness = Greater Power (GR = GS = GP)

FOR WOOD:Weight is quite important when choosing a stick. Generally the weight guidelines are:

Light (19oz - 20oz / 550gms - 595gms)

Medium (21oz - 22oz / 595gms - 640gms)

Heavy (23oz + / 640gms+)

Maximum legal weight = 26oz / 737gms

If you are playing on artificial pitches, then you do not really need a very heavy stick, unless you happen to be a penalty corner expert. Your playing style may also be such that you prefer heavy sticks for hard hitting out of the defence. If you are a midfield or a forward, consider using a medium weight stick. Lightweight sticks allow faster stick movement. So, 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.

FOR COMPOSITE:The weight is not so important as is the degree of Carbon content. As I have said before GR = GS = GP (see section 7).

Light (550gms - 580gms)

Medium (580gms - 605gms)

Heavy (605gms - 625gms)

However, these are just general guidelines and weight range may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The opinion of your coach may differ as to what you should be using. Do listen to them, as they can advise better based on your style of play and in the position you play on the field.

The prices change all the time as the new products come on to the market. New technology has pushed the pricing boundaries higher but the upside to this is that the consumer now benefits from enhanced quality and better performance product. It is now difficult to suggest what one should spend, but suffice to say the prices will generally reflect the quality you buy. In other words, "You get what you pay for!"

All the major brands have their own relative merits. The best thing to do is to try out a few different brands and decide which one you feel most comfortable with. There are always new models being introduced with different shapes and specifications - So come into our store and try them out on our hitting area to see what suits you best.

If you are playing on sand based artificial pitches, it is more likely that the head of the stick will wear out before it breaks. So do not expect it to last forever, even if you buy the most expensive stick.

Most companies are quite sympathetic and give guarantees against faulty and bad workmanship. However, this guarantee is not for life. If there is an inherent fault with the stick, it will break in the first few outings.

Most of the time sticks break because the stick has been "Killed" (i.e. someone has whacked it, stepped on it, clashed with another stick or its been wrapped around the goal post in frustration), Also players generally do not look after them. Giving a time scale for a guarantee on sticks is not possible. Some players use the stick once a week and others 6 times. Broken sticks are judged on an individual basis and will have to be returned to the supplier for their assessment before anything can happen. It will depend on how much the stick has been used and how the stick is broken. Usually there is evidence to the nature of the break. The supplier may replace it, give a discount on the next stick or refuse it completely... It is best to keep a receipt for the date of purchase.

FOR WOOD: WARNING!Do not apply cotton tape directly onto unprotected wood. The cotton tape will retain water when you play on wet surfaces. When left to stand after the game, the water will be soaked in to the wood - this will soften it and will break.

Some Do's & Don'ts:

• Don't oil the stick, as oil is also moisture - like water it will penetrate the wood and will soften it.
• Don't leave the stick near heat to dry. This can also damage the stick - the head and the shaft may lose its shape.
• Don't use your stick to play with stones.
• Minimise hitting or scrape the ground each time you strike the ball.
• Do use a stick cover.
• Do look after it by applying epoxy resins to the bottom of the head to prolong its life. (E.g. TK's Stick Magic or equivalent)
• Do have a spare stick for practice and a stick for a match. When your practice stick wears out, demote your Matchstick for practice and buy another. This way you will always have the best stick to play your match with and a back up, in case of breakage during the match.
• Do use a cotton tape on shaft of the composite and wood sticks to protect from chipping away during stick tackles / clashes.