4 THE STICK 

1. The stick shall have a straight handle and a curved head.
2. The stick shall have a smooth flat face on the lower part of its left-hand side only (playing side).
3. A stick with a deviation of up to 20mm from either edge of the face or the handle is acceptable (distance A - B and/or A 1 – B 1 in diagram).
4. The curve of the head, as measured vertically from the lowest part of the flat face parallel to the handle shall not exceed 100mm (distance C-D in the diagram).
5. The stick shall have a smooth transition from the handle to the head.
6. The back of the stick or right-hand side or non-playing side is the remainder for the whole length. It shall be smooth and rounded.
7. All edges shall be rounded.

4.2 Materials and Colour

1. The stick and possible additions may be made of or contain (wood or) any material other than metal or metallic components, provided it is fit for the purpose of playing hockey and is no risk to health.
2. Tapes and resins may be applied to sticks provided that the surface remains smooth.

4.3 Size and Weight

1. Inclusive of any additional coverings used, the stick shall pass through a ring having an interior diameter of 51mm.
2. The total weight shall not exceed 737 grams.

4.4 Ball Speed / Stick Speed Ratio
Ball speed shall not be higher than 98% of stick speed.

Method of Testing

Ball speed is determined at a stick speed of 80 km/hour (5 times) in the simulator of one of the F.I.H. approved laboratories.
Ball speed is calculated from the time the ball needs to pass two measuring points and is expressed as a ratio to the stick speed mentioned.
F.I.H. approved hockey balls are used (see appendix E to these rules).
Test is carried out at prevailing laboratory conditions: Temperature approx. 20C
Relative humidity approx. 50%
Manufacturers will be invited to submit (proto) types of sticks for testing and to send
the results to F.I.H. for approval. F.I.H. retains the right to test randomly for control purposes.

4.5 Playing Side
a. The playing side is the whole of the flat face and that part of the handle for the whole of the length which is above the flat face.

Mandatory Experiment

4.6 Diagram

1. The diagram describes the stick placed with the top of the stick to the positive X-axis and the curved part of the head to the positive Y-axis.
2. The face of the stick is the part seen in the diagram; the back of the stick is the part not seen in the diagram (including edges).
3. Distance A-B is 20mm maximum.
4. Distance C-D is 100mm maximum.

4.7 Limitation
a. The F.I.H. shall retain the traditional shape of the stick and has the right to prohibit shapes which in its opinion deviate therefrom. The F.I.H. also reserves the right to prohibit any type of stick which, in the opinion of its Hockey Rules Board, has been found demonstrably unsafe or likely to have a detrimental impact on the playing of the game.

4.8 Liability

1. Players shall ensure that their equipment does not, by virtue of its quality, materials or design, constitute a danger to themselves or to others.
2. The F.I.H. shall not be liable for any consequences deriving from the choice of the equipment used by the players, nor for any defects it may have or its non-compliance. Any verification of equipment that might have been conducted before the game is limited to ensuring compliance of the overall external appearance of that equipment with purely sporting requirements.

The stick has had a traditional shape and this will be retained. No particular design has been approved, but the introduction of new more extreme shapes will no be permitted.

The Hockey Rules Board will continue to watch closely the performance of traditional and non-traditional materials and will restrict and/or forbid their use if they result in changes to the characteistics of the game or in danger to players.