Need a field hockey stick? Pay attention to these factors when buying one

Even though the sport of field hockey has been played in some corners of the world for long ago, it is only it the last decade or so that it has become worldwide recognized and popular. Nowadays, it is quite normal to see fields filled with children and adults, who are getting familiarized with this beautiful game.

If you are also one of those, who are interested in this game and would like to learn how to play it, you need to start from the basics, and one of those basics is the field hockey stick.

Learn the basics

When searching for a field hockey stick that will be perfectly suitable for you, its not necessarily buys the most expensive one. When choosing and making a purchase, it all depends on your specific needs and requirements and how comfortable you are, when using a field hockey stick. If you want to speed up the search process, you can easily check these top 10 field hockey sticks and make your choice. But, to make a good choice, you should first familiarize yourself with some important factors and features.

What is the most appropriate size?

First of all, start with the size of the stick. Make sure to base the size off of the ground level to your hip. However, these are personal preferences. The last thing you will want is a stick that is too long, which will make ball control much more difficult and complicated. In some cases, some field hockey players do prefer somewhat longer sticks, which are at least an inch longer than the height of their hips. This extra inch usually allows them to steal the ball from a defender much more easily, or defend their goal from an opposing player.

The positions and most appropriate sticks

Defenders

Players, who play at the defender position, mostly prefer heavier and bigger sticks. These players rarely find themselves in offensive positions, where they are required to dribble a lot and attempt to score. For a defender, a heavy stick is much better because it allows him/her to stop the ball or the opposing player more easily. These sticks have to be heavy and large enough. So as to block or intercept the ball, without deflecting it into the goal. They also need to provide the player with enough power, to send to ball to the forward lines.

Forwards

On the other hand, forward players mainly use lightweight sticks. They use them because they have to be extremely agile and quick, in order to dribble and evade the opposing defenders and score a goal. In these situations, heavy sticks would only slow them down and decrease the momentum of their hits.

Midfielders

Finally, midfield players prefer medium sticks, which strike a perfect balance between lightness and weight. These player are not primary defenders, nor are they scorers, but they usually have to play on both the offense and the defense. With medium sticks, these players can get low and steal or tackle the ball, and quickly transition into an offensive play, without being slowed down by a heavy stick.

The materials

Lastly, pay attention to the materials. In the past, these sticks were usually made from wood, but nowadays, they are mostly made from composite materials. The levels and origins of composites can greatly contribute to the power, stiffness and weight of the stick, so make sure that you find the one that will perfectly suit your play style and skill level.