What are the rules for a hockey stick?
Officials' detail · The pitch, the goal, the stick and the ball · 3 of 5A hockey stick has a handle and a hooked head that is flat on the left side only. It must fit through a 51 mm ring, weigh no more than 737 grams, be no longer than 105 cm and have a bow of no more than 25 mm. It can be made of any material except metal.
How it works
- Shape: a handle and a J- or U-shaped head, flat on the left side only (as the player holds it, head pointing away).
- Smooth all over, with no sharp or rough parts.
- Must pass through a ring of 51 mm internal diameter, including any tape or grip.
- Bow (curve along the length): one smooth curve, at most 25 mm deep, its deepest point at least 200 mm from the base of the head.
- Weight: at most 737 grams. Length: at most 105 cm.
- Material: anything except metal or metallic parts, if it is safe. Tape and resin are allowed.
- Power limit: in an approved laboratory test, ball speed must not be more than 98% of stick-head speed.
- The FIH can ban any stick it judges unsafe.
Tricky cases
Are left-handed hockey sticks allowed?
No. Every stick is flat on the left side only, so left-handed players use the same sticks.
Can a player change sticks during a match?
Yes, but not between the award and completion of a penalty corner or penalty stroke, unless the stick no longer meets the rules.
Why does the bow matter?
A deeper bow makes it easier to lift the ball and drag flick, so the rules cap it.
Why the rule exists
Limits on size, bow and rebound keep sticks safe and stop equipment, rather than skill, deciding how hard and how lifted a ball can be played.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIH rules | As above | H4.6; Spec 2 |
From the rule book
FIH Rules of Hockey, Rules 4.6 and 9.15 and Equipment Specification 2, in force from 1 March 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIH Rules of Hockey (PDF).