Watch an elite, international player and you will notice they tend to move their left hand according to the action they are involved with at any given moment.You will note that Dutch players almost all use 36.5" sticks and DO NOT CUT THEM DOWN.
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 fracture of the stick head.
Each and every Dita stick we offer complies to all FIH, NCAA, and NFHS rules.No stick exceeds a bow of 25 mm, nor do any weigh over 23 ounces.
Select the proper length stick using the Dutch Sizing Method and you will have the best length stick in proportion to your own body.
THE DUTCH 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.
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, DUTCH PLAYERS KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT USING A STICK.
