If you've been shopping for a field hockey stick, you've probably noticed every model is labelled with a carbon percentage — 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, even 90%. It's the single biggest factor in how a stick feels, and picking the wrong one can genuinely slow your progress or leave you fighting the equipment instead of the game.

What Carbon Percentage Actually Means

Hockey sticks are built from a mix of materials — usually fibreglass, carbon fibre, and sometimes kevlar or aramid for extra durability. The carbon percentage tells you how much of the stick's construction is carbon fibre versus fibreglass.

• Fibreglass is flexible, forgiving, and absorbs vibration well — great for learning technique.
• Carbon fibre is stiffer and transfers more energy directly into the ball, which means more power, but also less forgiveness if your technique isn't consistent yet.

As carbon percentage goes up, the stick generally gets lighter, stiffer, and capable of hitting harder — but it also becomes less forgiving of mishits and demands more control from the player.

Carbon Percentage by Player Level

10–20% Carbon: Beginners

Ideal for players new to the sport or still building fundamentals. The extra fibreglass content flexes more on contact, which is more forgiving of inconsistent technique and easier on the wrists during long practice sessions.

30–50% Carbon: Intermediate Players

This is the sweet spot for club-level players who've got their basic skills down and want more power and control without jumping to a stick that punishes every imperfect touch. Most schoolteam and club players land comfortably in this range.

70% Carbon and Above: Advanced & Competitive Players

High-carbon sticks are stiffer, lighter, and built for players with developed technique who want maximum power transfer on drives and hits. These sticks reward precision — and can be unforgiving if your hand positioning or hitting technique isn't already solid.

90% Carbon: Elite & Professional Use

At the top end, these sticks are built for players who train and compete at a high level and need every bit of power and responsiveness they can get. Not typically recommended as a first or second stick.

Other Things to Check Beyond Carbon %

• Bow type — a low bow gives more control for close skills and drag-flicks; a mid bow is more balanced for all-round play.
• Head shape — a maxi head offers a bigger hitting surface, which is more forgiving for developing players.
• Length — measure from the floor to your hip bone as a starting point, and adjust based on playing position.
• Weight — lighter sticks are easier to manoeuvre quickly; heavier sticks can add power on the hit.

Our Recommendation

If you're unsure, it's almost always better to start lower than you think you need. A 10–30% carbon stick with good fundamentals will serve you better than a 70% stick you can't fully control yet — and you can always move up as your technique develops.

Browse our full range of field hockey sticks across every carbon percentage, from beginner to elite level.