# Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

Field Hockey · Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/field-hockey/interesting-facts/chapter-5-equipment-technology/)

Sticks, balls, turf and the odd ideas behind them.

## 5.51 From Wood to Carbon

How a piece of bent wood became a stiff carbon tool, with a rule book trying to keep up.

### Test 1: From wood to carbon

- Hickory and ash were also used in the old days. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', 6 August 2021; Encyclopedia.com, 'Hockey Stick'; FIH Rules of Hockey; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey')
- They were boiled, dried, glued and bent on a machine. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- It is the part that takes the most punishment from the ball. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- A smaller head made it quicker to turn the stick over on the new turf. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', 6 August 2021; Encyclopedia.com, 'Hockey Stick'; FIH Rules of Hockey; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey')
- The rules-makers were by then studying what sticks could be made of. (Source: The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey' (hockeymuseum.org))
- That is a little over 41 inches. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', 6 August 2021; Encyclopedia.com, 'Hockey Stick'; FIH Rules of Hockey; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey')
- It is about 26 ounces, a little under the old limit of 28. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', 6 August 2021; Encyclopedia.com, 'Hockey Stick'; FIH Rules of Hockey; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey')
- The handle came last, after sawing and polishing. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- 1905, 1999, 2000, 2015. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', 6 August 2021; Encyclopedia.com, 'Hockey Stick'; FIH Rules of Hockey; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey')
- Makers tried pasting a net over the front of it to stop the cracks. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)

## 5.52 Jalandhar's Odd Trick

A stick maker found a strange way to stop wooden hooks from splitting.

### Test 1: Jalandhar's odd trick

- It was described in the press as a kind of Indian revolution. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- It stands on the Kapurthala Road. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- It is the company's own label, not a foreign one. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- It was meant to prevent the wood from splitting. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- They could not be repaired, so they became fuel. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- Sharmila Devi and Nikki Pradhan were listed too. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- His wooden sticks, though, still get the treatment. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- First the net, then its failures, then the new idea. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- A cracked stick could not be mended, so it ended up as fuel. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)
- The trick replaced the old net pasted over the front of the hook. (Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021)

## 5.53 Grays of Cambridge

The world's oldest hockey brand began by making rackets.

### Test 1: Grays of Cambridge

- It has been making sports gear for more than 150 years. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- H.J. Gray is the founder's name. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- Tennis and racket sports came first. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- That deal took it properly into the hockey business. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- It became a symbol of the brand. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- The product demonstration was at the local hockey club. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- It belongs to Grays of Cambridge. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- 1855, 1941, the 1970s. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- 1855, 1890, about 2001. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')
- Grays has kept the flash on its sticks ever since. (Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays')

## 5.54 The Kookaburra Ball

A Melbourne family firm took an idea from golf and changed the ball for good.

### Test 1: The Kookaburra ball

- A.G. Thompson started the firm there. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- The firm still has Thompsons working in the head office. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- Before that it traded under the founder's name, with Kookaburra as the brand. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- The ball was designed in 1982. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- It was also Kookaburra's first waterproof hockey ball. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- The Olympics in question were in Los Angeles. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- An Australian firm's home Games was a very good place to start. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- 1890, 1956, 1982, 1990. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- 1982, 2006, 2015. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)
- It is described as the FIH's only globally approved ball. (Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history)

## 5.55 Sialkot and Jalandhar

Two cities a short drive and an international border apart make much of the game's gear.

### Test 1: Sialkot and Jalandhar

- That was the root of the city's whole sports-goods trade. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- It lies in Punjab, close to the border. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- They set up the sports goods industry on the Indian side. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- It is described as the home of the Indian sports industry. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- It has been doing so since partition. (Source: The Hockey Museum, on Mike Smith's visits to India, 21 January 2022 (hockeymuseum.org))
- It was the Punjab Lok Congress Party's logo, in the heartland of the stick trade. (Source: The Hockey Museum, on the 2022 Punjab elections, 21 January 2022 (hockeymuseum.org))
- A senior player had been quoted as rating Sialkot's sticks higher than Jalandhar's. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- 1883, 1947, about 2001, 2022. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- Pakistan's Punjab, then India's Punjab, then Odisha. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)
- They took their trade across the new border, and started again. (Source: DHL Pakistan, 'Sports goods manufacturing in Sialkot'; Jalandhar district website, 'Sports hub'; The Tribune, 15 July 2005; YourStory, August 2026; The Bridge on the duty on Pakistani goods)

## 5.56 Montreal's First Day

The first Olympic match on artificial turf, played on a morning in July 1976.

### Test 1: Montreal's first turf day

- It began at 10am. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- India won 4-0. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- The results were 4-0, 2-0, 5-0 and 1-1. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- It was manufactured in the United States. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- That accident gave birth to the watered pitch. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- Grass was thought too hard to keep in good condition there. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- New Zealand went on to win gold at the same Games. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- 2, 4 and 5. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- 1975, 1976, 1980, about 2000. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')
- Hockey's wet turfs were, by accident, born there. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey')

## 5.57 London Blue, Tokyo Cane

From a colour for television to a turf partly made from sugar.

### Test 1: Blue, cane and carbon-zero turf

- A yellow ball stands out far better against it. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- That made it the third most-attended sport at those Games. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- Only two sports drew more people. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- It was called Poligras Tokyo GT. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- It carried the name Poligras Paris GT zero. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- Watering a pitch for every match has long been a sore point. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- Poligras is the company's hockey brand. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- 2012, 2020, 2024. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- 1976, 2012, 2020, 2024. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')
- Poligras's London Blue replaced decades of green. (Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT')

## 5.58 The Ball Through Time

From a leather cricket ball with cork inside, to solid plastic.

### Test 1: The ball through time

- They were built very like cricket balls. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- The cork was wrapped in string and covered with leather. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- It was the same construction as cricket's. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- Some still contain a cork core. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- It was a century-old habit of the game. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- Yellow and other shades were later adopted to stand out on blue. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- That is why waterproofing was such a selling point in the 1980s. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- 1886, 1982, 2012. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- It was built up in layers, as a cricket ball was. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')
- It is why Victorian players could simply pick up an old one. (Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport')

## 5.59 Hockey on Stamps

Pakistan marked its World Cups in postage, and so did others.

### Test 1: Hockey on stamps

- It won the title at that World Cup, in Barcelona. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- It was printed by offset litho in Karachi. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- A red drape hangs behind them. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- East Pakistan was still part of the country in that month. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- They came in sheets of 50. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- The players are shown in sketchy action. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- Four million copies were issued. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- 2, 27, 50. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- 1971, 1990, 1994. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))
- The dates 15/24 October 1971 appear on it. (Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com))

## 5.60 Fifty Years of Turf

Hockey Turf Day marks 18 July, when hockey changed surface for good.

### Test 1: Fifty years of turf

- A year before Montreal, the idea was already underway in Europe. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- Polytan has supplied the turf for many Games since. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- He said the decision remained a milestone in the game's history. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- Hockey stayed on grass in many places for years, then changed fast. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- Both were raised on the new surface. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- It looks back over the change since 1976. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- It was marked at the 50-year point in 2026. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- 1975, 1976, 1980, 2026. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')
- Presidents from 2001, 2008, 2016 and 2021 on. (Source: FIH, 'History of the FIH' (fih.hockey))
- The new generation of turf is designed to play without watering. (Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026')

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the FIH and its continental federations, national associations, The Hockey Museum, the Olympic Channel and Olympedia, Guinness World Records, clubs' and makers' own histories, museums and named reputable media.

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