Field hockey sticks range in length from about 26 inches to 38 inches and were traditionally made of wood, but you can now find them made out of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon and other composite materials. The sticks have a rounded handle which flattens out on one side and the blade is basically a hook at the bottom of the shaft. The flat side of the hook is used to push, dribble and shoot the ball. Players can only play the ball with the flat side of the stick. Players generally use a lighter stick for indoor hockey. The stick should feel comfortable and well balanced in your hand with the right amount of flexibility. Field hockey sticks range in weight from about 12 ounces to 28 ounces and forwards generally prefer a lighter stick and defenders a heavier model. There are three main head shapes, shorti, midi and hook. Shorti is a traditional one piece head whereas the other two have several pieces laminated together.
