What if I Don’t like the Hockey Stick? – I Like to Try Before I Buy
Don’t worry! We are confident you will love our hockey gear so we provide risk free buying with a full refund and free return for any reason (in new condition, preferably within a week of purchase).
Do You Ship Internationally?
Yes, we ship to anywhere in the world. Shipping is already included in the prices on the website but feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Prices on the website are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and delivery is untracked but takes around two weeks.
What Makes a Good Hockey Stick?
There are a number of elements to consider in a stick. If you are unsure after reading the information below please feel free to email or call
Length – Most adult players use a 37.5 inch stick, though very tall people may go for a longer stick and other some players will have a preference for 36.5 inch (I use a 36.5″ to help control the ball close to my feet). Junior players usually use a stick that is around hip to belly button height but are better to err on the side of a stick being smaller as it will help them develop skills more easily.
Weight – Modern composite sticks provide more power than the old wooden sticks but there is the generalisation that defenders use heavy sticks (to help with power on clearance), forwards use light sticks (to help with control) and midfielders use medium weight sticks to balance power and control.
Head Shape – Most players use a “Maxi” head shape, providing a large sweetspot and a larger head area for trapping and controlling the ball on the reverse. It also provides enough space between the shaft and toe to drag the ball and spin with it. Larger “Hook” and smaller “Midi” (or even “Shorti”) heads are available on some models on the market. Slim heads are preferred by some players for improved control and to help with “3D” skills as the are easier to slide under the ball.
Bow – Most sticks on the market have a Mid-bow – this means the stick has a concave curve in the shaft of 19-25mm, with the maximum curve usually around 30cm up the shaft from the base of the stick. Some sticks are Low-bow so the curve is lower on the stick (usually the maximum is around 20cm up the shaft from the base). This helps with drag flicking (slinging the ball) as well as 3D skills and Tomahawks (reverse side hits) though can be more difficult to dribble and control the ball and to keep passes on the ground due to the angled nature of the head face.
Composition – Nearly all the sticks on the market today are made of composite materials such as fibreglass, kevlar and carbon. Fibreglass is very strong and abrasion resistant as well as being cheaper than many of the other materials. It also flexes more (reducing power) and is quite heavy. Carbon is very stiff and lightweight, providing maximum power on hits, pushes and sweeps. But it can be prone to cracking and abrasion and is very expensive so is usually combined with the other materials to improve durability. Kevlar is also lightweight, strong and flexible (and expensive). It is often used as a sleeve over the carbon frame to strengthen top end sticks that have high carbon content. Extra kevlar reinforcing is also often used on high impact areas such as the face and LBZ (Low Backhand Zone) used for tomahawks. Stiff sticks made of carbon and kevlar can take a bit more to master as they can lack the feel that comes from a stick that flexes more. This feel makes it easier to trap the ball (rather than it bouncing away off the stick), though Touch compounds on the head and sometimes taping the lower shaft of a carbon/kevlar stick improve the feel markedly.
Grips – Most sticks come with a soft PU grip and sometimes an undergrip to help with shock absorption (especially on top models). Some players will either tape over the grip or add an extra grip to thicken the handle. This can also change the balance point of the stick, making the head feel lighter and easier to control. Chamois overgrips can be used in the same way and have the aded benefit of providing excellent grip in wet conditions.
Shipping and Returns
We send New Zealand orders with Fastway Couriers. They take 1-2 working days for metropolitan areas and 4-5 days for rural delivery.
International orders are sent with NZ Post’s Air International service which takes around 2 weeks and is untracked.
We realise buying online means you don’t get to try the stick before purchasing it. Hence we happily accept returns if the stick isn’t to your liking and will even pay for the return, making the purchase risk free!
Please note returns must be in new condition and preferably sent within a week or receiving it.
We also provide a 3 month manufacturer’s warranty on construction faults.
How Do You Sell Quality Sticks So Cheaply?
By sourcing our sticks directly from the manufacturer with low overheads and reasonable margins we are able to pass the savings on the our customers. Compare the specifications with other well known brands and be amazed at the value we offer – the materials and specifications are top notch, with very high carbon and kevlar content.
Why Are Competitor’s Sticks So Expensive?
High profile brands spend large amounts on marketing, sponsorship and high business overheads. These costs are recouped by passing them on to the customer. These inflated costs are much more than the stick costs to manufacture and are then doubled by the retailer to arrive at the crazy prices you pay in stores.
Our sticks are made of the same materials in the same way as the expensive sticks but by using a different business model we can offer top quality hockey sticks at a great price!
What Payment Methods Can I Use?
The checkout on the website accepts payment by credit card or paypal balance. We can also accept payment by bank deposit if you are in New Zealand – just email us with the order details and we will send through the account number.