5 Best Field Hockey Sticks For Beginners (…and 2 to Avoid)

As a beginner to the sport of field hockey, choosing a stick for the first time can be difficult with all the choices out there. The top pick for a beginner is the STX HPR 101.

You may not know what position you will end up liking or have any idea what sticks work best for you. So as a beginner, you need a good all-around stick that will let you learn the game and grow your skills. 

But if you want to read my full breakdown as well as see some other options that might be a better fit for your specific needs, then keep reading… 

My top pick is the STX HPR 101. This stick is great for beginners and easy to learn on.

STX is a great company that has been around for a long time. Their sticks are great as they know what players are looking for in their sticks and develop them for the player.

The HPR 101 allows beginners to get used to the feeling of the ball hitting on and off the stick, as it is an easier touch for new players.

Sometimes the stick vibrates when the ball ricochets off the stick. The HPR lightens the feel of the ball on the stick, which allows you to get used to it more easily.

This stick is 10% Carbon, 85 % Fiberglass, and 5% Aramid and has a maxi toe shape. The maxi toe shape is a little bigger which increases the receiving area and is good for trapping and stopping the ball.

Trapping and stopping the ball are essential to receiving a pass.

The HPR 101 is great for learning ball control. Controlling the ball is important because if you cannot control the ball then you will not be able to master other skills.

Grays has been around for years and their sticks tend to be really good. The stick I recommend here is the Grays GX 1000. Grays sticks are good and reliable.

The GX 1000 is light in weight. It is made from carbon, aramid and has a fiberglass wrapping. It has a maxi head shape which is good for trapping and stopping, two skills that you will need to learn.

It is easy to learn stick skills, such as passing and dribbling, on this stick. It also allows for easier control, which is great for someone just starting out.

Stick skills and control are important because if you cannot control the ball then you will not be able to maintain possession of the ball. Stick skills are important because they are used throughout the entire game.

I recommend this stick because it allows you to learn stick skills and control, which are highly important to know and master. 

My next top choice is the Mazon Fusion 500. This stick is all-around great for beginners as it is solid and powerful. It has a maxi head shape.

The maxi head shape has an increased receiving area which is good for those starting out as it allows for more area to stop and trap the ball. You can learn to control the ball and various stick skills, such as passing and trapping, on this stick fairly easily.

The Fusion 500 is durable and has great control. It is 10% Carbon. This stick is great at absorbing the vibration from trapping the ball or from a hit.

As a beginner, you probably want to stay within a certain budget, especially since you may want to upgrade your gear as you get better.

The stick I recommend here is the CranBarry Falcon. CranBarry sticks are good and reliable.

The Falcon is made up mostly of fiberglass and mulberry wood. It is durable and has an extended grip, which is great as it allows you to have better control.

It has a reinforced tow which helps with durability. 

Having this stick allows you to learn control, which is an important skill in the game as you need to have control of the ball. It is lightweight and durable which makes it a great first stick.

The top choice for a beginner is the TK 3.6 Control Bow Composite.

The TK 3.6 Control Bow Composite is a good option for a beginner or intermediate player. It is a good stick to continue learning the game when playing indoors.

It has remarkable control which is great for a new player. Being able to have control of the stick as well as controlling the ball is important when learning the game.

The composition of the 3.6 Control Bow is 95% Fiberglass, 5% Kevlar. It also has a low bow.

This stick is great for those with a range of skills as you can learn on this stick. It does not matter what position you play (except for goalie) as you can learn the basics on this stick as well as things specific to each position.

The STX IX 401 is another stick that it is good for a beginner. Both sticks are good options for beginners.

To read more about the STX IX 401, read my guide of Best Indoor Field Hockey Sticks.

Sticks to Avoid

As a beginner, there are some sticks you should not buy. It’s not because they are bad sticks, it is because these sticks require some skill to use them. These sticks are designed for those who have been playing for a while.

GRAYS GR7000 ULTRABOW

The Grays GR7000 Ultrabow is a great stick for midfielders with experience, but as a beginner this stick isn’t a good choice for you. You need something that will work with you and your skill level. As you learn the game and practice more, the better your stick handling skills will become and then you can look into upgrading to a better stick.

PRINCESS 7 STAR LOW BOW

Again, this is another top of the line stick. It is made of 100% carbon and is the stiffest stick in the Princess line. As a beginner you need to learn the basic stick handling and ball control. With this stick being so stiff it is extremely responsive to the ball, which is why it is not recommended for beginners, but is highly recommended for advanced or elite players.

What Beginners Should Look For When Choosing A Stick

If you’re just getting started with field hockey then you’ll have different needs from a stick than an experienced player. There are four main factors you should be looking at when deciding on a stick: weight, material, position, and head shape. 

Weight

There are three different weight options, light, medium, and heavy. Lighter sticks are ideal for forwards, due to their ability to allow them to dribble faster and shoot quicker. Medium weight sticks are ideal for midfielders, as they need to be able to have power, shoot, and stop the opposing team’s offense. Heavy weight is ideal for defense, as they need to be able to stop the offense and be able to pass the ball to the midfielders or offense. 

Head Shape

Head shape can be an important part of a stick. There are two different sizes and there are four shapes. The most common head shapes are maxi and midi.

A smaller head size allows for better flexibility and movability, but it also reduces hitting surface, power when hitting the ball and reverse stick control. A larger head on the other hand has the opposite effect. The larger head allows for better reverse stick control, power when hitting and hitting surface. It does however have less flexibility and movability.

The shapes of the head are J shape, midi, maxi and hook. J Shape allows for easier dribbling, quicker passes and receives the ball with less effort. Midi is shorter than maxi and J Shape, and it goes over the ball quicker when dribbling.

Maxi is bigger and is good for trapping and stopping. Hook is not a commonly used shape by players. It is a stick that takes time to get used to, but once you are used to it you do not want to get rid of it. It creates a little “pocket” when the ball is being dribbled. It also helps with lifts. 

Material

Material is very important with a stick and position. There are a few different materials a stick could be made out of. Carbon, fiberglass, kevlar and wood. 

Carbon is a great option for cutting-edge players. It is both light and tough and can in any case have the hitting power that you have to make a shot. The drawback to carbon is that it isn’t instinctively simple to control. It requires a great deal of training to be utilized well.

Fiberglass is utilized as a fortifying material to include toughness and quality. Fiberglass can likewise include a component of intensity when utilized without anyone else, however, when utilized in mix with carbon it fills in as a support. 

Aramid or Kevlar are heavier obligation materials. They are anything but difficult to utilize, similar to fiberglass, however are explicitly intended to retain vibrations. This implies it won’t container your arm and your stick will be more grounded. 

Wood is minimal solid of the considerable number of materials, it includes a component of adaptability and pardoning in the stick, taking into account clean gatherings without requiring as a lot of specialized expertise. Wooden sticks are an incredible instrument to learn on.

Position

Each position has different needs, so keeping in mind what position you play can help you get the best stick. Do not worry if you do not know what position you want to play. You will learn them and figure out what you want to play. (Fun Fact, I started out as a forward, and after two and a half years I switched to goalie. Talk about a major position change!) If you are unsure what position you are going to play, that is okay, there are sticks that can be used for any position. 

Cost

As a beginner, the first stick you choose is not likely to be your stick forever. As you improve and develop preferences as well as choose a position, you’ll have more specific needs when it comes to choosing a stick. But that doesn’t mean your first stick isn’t important. You will be learning to play the game with this stick, so you will want a reliable and durable stick to start with. 

So you probably don’t want to break the bank on this first stick.

Size

The length of the stick is important for each player. The stick should come up to your hip bone. If a stick is too long or too short, it may not work for you. Here is a quick guide of what size stick you will need.

Height	Stick Size
3’5” and under	24”
3’6” to 3’8”	26”
3’8” to 4”	28”
4’1” to 4’3”	30”
4’4” to 4’6”	32”
4’7” to 5’0”	34″
5’1” to 5’3” 35”	35.5”
5’4” to 5’8”	36”-36.5”
5’9” to 5’11”	37”-37.5”
6” and up	38”