Field hockey is one of the oldest sports on the planet. Tomb drawings in Egypt's Nile Valley show men playing the sport as far back as 2,000 B.C., according to USA Field Hockey. The evolution of the field hockey stick has been a driving force in the game's development. Early hockey sticks were of bamboo, and later, wood. Your personal needs and the needs of your position will dictate the stick you buy.
Best Stick by Position
The best stick for outdoor play must fit your position's need. According to the buying guide at Dick's Sporting Goods, weight and toe both factor in. Offensive players will shop for lightweight 19 or 20 oz. sticks, while defenders will opt for hard-hitting sticks weighing 22 to 24 oz. The toe, or hook at the end of the stick, also affects performance. Offensive players will generally opt for the smallest versions -- shorti or midi -- as these provide balance and ball control. Defenders will choose the larger maxi or hook toes, which offer larger receiving areas and stick faces for stopping the ball easily.
Stick Length and Height
Cranbarry, a leading manufacturer of field hockey sticks, writes that players and coaches all have their own opinions on stick length but the general rule of thumb is to base the size of the stick on your height. Rules cap field hockey stick length at 38 inches, which is recommended for people 5 feet, 9 inches and taller. Cranbarry's guide deducts 1 inch in stick length for every 4 to 5 inches in height.
Material
Dick's Sporting Goods reports that its sticks are either wooden or a composite of carbon and fiberglass. Hickory or mulberry are the most common woods, as they are solid but lightweight -- sticks cannot exceed 26 oz., a rule shared by the National Federation of State High School Associations, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Hockey Federation. Composite sticks are lighter weight and offer a stronger, more powerful stick.
Reinforcements
The stick stands alone as a powerful offensive or defensive tool. Players often take the extra step of reinforcing their stick with braiding or tape to reduce vibration or stiffen the shaft. According to Cranbarry, adding polyethylene tape on the flat side of the stick strengthens its core while tamping extra vibrations. Applying carbon tape to both sides of the stick increases stiffness, translating to more powerful hits.
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