 
Visit our Official Equipment Supplier
|
The Saskatchewan Field Hockey Association would like to offer you some great deals on equipment we have in stock. We are the only place in Saskatchewan where you can purchase field hockey equipment of this quality. On occasion SFHA will make specialty orders from Longstreth and/or AKPro. You can also check out Rage Hockey's new line of field hockey sticks. Please E-Mail us for details.
Prices listed include taxes and shipping for Regina residents. For shipping costs on orders outside of Regina contact the SFHA office.
Buying a New Stick
What to think about when buying a stick?
Please keep in mind that the price of a good field hockey stick is in direct relation to the quality of the materials and the inherent power.
As for stick length, be aware that while a long stick may seem desirable, if it is too long two problems will become immediately noticeable. One is that too long a stick may cause undercutting of the ball, leading to frequent raised balls. The second problem is excessive hard contact with the playing surface, causing fractures of the stick head. Select the proper length stick using the Sizing Method and you will have the best length stick in proportion to your own body.
Stick Sizing Method
Hold your stick upside down, with the head in the air. Insert the head in your arm pit, as if the stick was a crutch. A real crutch would reach the floor, while your stick ends somewhere near your knee.
Where the end of the handle is in relation to your knee is the key to proper fit. The end of the handle should fall between the middle of your knee cap to no more than one inch below the knee cap.
Select a stick of that length, from your arm pit to middle of the knee cap, and you may be amazed at how much your ball control will improve. Also, you are a lot less likely to cause unwanted lifted balls and broken stick heads.
Stick Care
 After play or practice take a moment to wipe off any moisture or mud from your stick. Wooden core sticks react to fluctuations in humidity. Although sealed, sticks will lose moisture content if left in a hot car. Think of your stick as you would your dog or cat. Don't lock them in the trunk or leave them in a closed car during hot weather. Dehydration will decrease the wood's resilient properties and increase the danger of breakage. Repair deep scratches that reveal the wood with epoxy.* Use a "5 Minute" type epoxy available at your local hardware store.
DO NOT oil the head. Oil will cause the cellulose to expand.
If you tape the head or lower shaft, apply a layer of stick wax to keep moisture out. Taping the lower four inches of the shaft is highly recommended. It protects against the effects of hacking.
CARRY YOUR STICK IN A PROTECTIVE BAG and please, NEVER, NEVER toss your stick on the ground. This can loosen the anti-vibration wedges at the top of the shaft.
Customize your stick to reflect your personality and your ball sensitivity. Top players often modify the grip so that even with their eyes shut they can tell by the feel of their left hand exactly which angle the stick head is facing.
*Normally the only problem comes when a player wears through the epoxy on the head and does not repair the hole. Any hole gives moisture access to the wood, and as we know wood swells. This creates problems, usually separation of the laminate on the face of the head or splitting of the layers of the Lignostone head. Maintenance is not as simple as it was in "The OLDEN Days", when one could dry the stick after practice and whip the head with oil. Today, with advanced sticks, it is necessary to dry and inspect after each session, applying 5 minute epoxy to any possible holes. Holes tend to be found on the bottom of the head, due to wear from dirt or other abrasive materials, but also at the base of the shaft where the "hacking" by inexperienced players is often seen. Hacking takes a toll on many sticks, more so than other forms of wear.
|
