© 2025 Awan Creatives. All rights reserved.
The origin of the game of hockey is a hazy and contentious issue. Various forms of field hockey were played in Scotland, Ireland, and France as early as the sixteenth century. A game involving sticks and balls played on ice called kolven was first recorded in Holland in the seventeenth century. The French called their game hocquet, which likely translated into the modern name of the game. Native Americans in eastern Canada had been playing baggat-away, now known as lacrosse, for hundreds of years by the time the French arrived. A fresco from the Athenian acropolis shows two men holding sticks and battling for possession of a ball.
The modern game is generally accepted as having originated somewhere in Canada in the mid to late 1800s. Claims are laid to the official birthplace of the game from Kingston (Ontario), Montreal, and Halifax. The first know codified rules were produced in 1879 at McGill University in Montreal. In 1892, Canada’s Governor General Lord Stanley introduced the game’s first national title, the “Lord Stanley’s Dominion Challenge Trophy,” now simply called the Stanley Cup. Regional leagues prevailed across Canada and the United States for several years. In 1917, the National Hockey League (NHL) was founded in Montreal, and by 1926, the NHL had absorbed most of the competing leagues and took sole possession of the Stanley Cup.
Until a Montreal company began manufacturing hockey sticks in the late 1880s, most players made their own. A player would cut down an alder or hickory sapling, cut out 3 ft (91.44 cm) sections of trunk with branches attached, and file the wood into the desired shape. These first sticks had short handles and small, rounded blades, much like field hockey sticks. Even as play became more organized and stick manufacturing moved from the woodshop to the factory, stick development was slow and evolutionary. First the blades grew longer and squarer, allowing better control of the puck. Then, the shaft grew longer so that players lost the hunched over stance of early games. However, the stick was still fashioned from a single piece of wood, which made it heavy and made the thin blades prone to splitting. In 1928, the Hilborn Company, a stick manufacturer in Montreal, produced what is acknowledged by some to be the first two-piece hockey stick. The new design, with separate pieces for the blade and shaft, freed stick makers from having to find appropriately shaped lumber and allowed blades to be replaced when they cracked. Separating the blade from the shaft also gave manufacturers new latitude to experiment with the shape and thickness of blades. It was not until the late 1960s that blades took their largest jump in shape change when they began to take on a curve. One story, possibly apocryphal, attributes the design revolution to Chicago Black-hawks star Stan Mikita. The story tells that Mikita, frustrated during practice, was trying to break his stick by jamming it between the player’s bench gate and the boards. The stick would not break, but its blade did bend remarkably. The new curve gave Mikita exceptional control and speed when shooting. Today, every player has his own preference about the amount and placement of the curve, but all blades have it. The next change came in the 1970s, primarily as a response to increased competition for wood supplies. During that time, foreign demand for ash wood raised prics beyond what stick makers could afford. Typically, only 10% of the wood in a shipment would be of acceptable quality for use in a stick, so manufacturers needed an enormous supply. They began to experiment with lamination as a way to use less and varied types of wood. Ultimately, the cost-cutting measure produced stronger, lighter, more responsive hockey sticks. Today, most high quality wood sticks are laminated.
The three qualities any player is seeking in a hockey stick are stiffness, lightness, and responsiveness. Lack of flex is supremely important in the blade, where any.
A Comparative Analysis of Performance, Durability, and Suitability. Wooden Field Hockey Sticks
Performance and Feel
Cost
Composite Field Hockey Sticks
Black Outdoor Composite Field Hockey Stick Blue Outdoor Composite Field Hockey Stick Red Outdoor Composite Field Hockey Stick Orange Outdoor Composite Field Hockey Stick Wonder Outdoor Composite Field Hockey Stick
Performance and Feel
Power and Stiffness: Offers greater power, ideal for advanced players.
Precision and Skill Execution: Better for advanced skills and movements.
User-Friendly
Lightweight: Enables quicker movements and agility.
Customization: Offers various options in bow shapes and balances.
Durability
Longevity: More resistant to wear and damage, a better long-term investment.
Limitations
Vibration: Increased stiffness can lead to more vibration, which may be uncomfortable for some players.
Ultimately, the choice between wooden hockey sticks and composite sticks depends on the player’s skill level, playing style, and personal preference. Beginners may prefer the control and affordability of wooden sticks, while advanced players often opt for the power and durability of composite sticks.
Composite Field Hockey Stick Bow Shapes: Understanding Different Bows and Recommendations for Playing Positions
1. Standard Bow
Description: Gentle, even curve with a peak around the mid-point of the shaft.
Benefits: Balanced feel, good for ball control, and fundamental skills.
Recommended Positions: Suitable for all-round players and beginners.
2. Mid Bow
Description: The curve peaks slightly closer to the head than the standard bow.
Benefits: Enhances control and power for hitting and passing.
Recommended Positions: Ideal for defenders and midfielders.
3. Low Bow
Description: Pronounced curve peaking closer to the head.
Benefits: Aids in lifting the ball, drag-flicking, and 3D skills.
Recommended Positions: Best for midfielders, forwards, and drag flickers.
4. Extra-Low Bow
Description: Most extreme curve, peaking very close to the stick’s head.
Benefits: Maximizes ease in lifting the ball and executing advanced skills.
Recommended Positions: Suited for advanced forwards, attacking midfielders, and specialist drag flickers.
5. Control Bow
Description: Combines elements of mid and low bows, focusing on control.
Benefits: Good mix of power and control with an emphasis on skill execution.
Recommended Positions: Ideal for versatile players in various roles.
Recommendations Based on Playing Position
Defenders: Mid-bow for a balance of control and power.
Midfielders: Mid-bow or low-bow bow depending on offensive or defensive play style.
Forwards/Attackers: Low bows or extra-low bows for enhanced offensive skills.
All-Rounders: Control bow for versatility across multiple positions.
Note: Players should consider trying different bow shapes too
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