Field Hockey · Interesting Facts
Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology
10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 31 October 2026 · markdown
Chapter 5 traces the equipment of field hockey and the surfaces it is played on. Sticks began as hickory and ash, boiled, dried, glued and bent on a machine, and ended as stiff carbon tools. The head is the part that takes the most punishment from the ball, and makers tried pasting a net over the front of it to stop the cracks. In Jalandhar a stick maker found a different trick, since cracked wooden sticks could not be repaired and became fuel.
The business behind the gear is old. Grays of Cambridge is the world's oldest hockey brand, has made sports gear for more than 150 years and began with rackets. Kookaburra, a Melbourne family firm started by A.G. Thompson, designed its ball in 1982, the firm's first waterproof hockey ball. Sialkot and Jalandhar, a short drive and an international border apart, make much of the game's gear.
Surfaces changed the sport even more. The first Olympic match on artificial turf was played on a morning in July 1976 in Montreal, and the watered pitch was born by accident. London brought blue turf, Tokyo and Paris had Poligras turf, and the 50th anniversary of the change was marked as Hockey Turf Day on 18 July 2026.
The facts below cover the stick from wood to carbon, Jalandhar's trick, Grays of Cambridge, the Kookaburra ball, Sialkot and Jalandhar, Montreal's first day on turf, London Blue and Tokyo Cane, the ball through time, hockey on stamps and fifty years of turf.
5.51From Wood to Carbon
How a piece of bent wood became a stiff carbon tool, with a rule book trying to keep up.
Test 1From wood to carbonTake a test
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' · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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' · recall
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) · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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 · recall
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' · recall
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 · applied
5.52Jalandhar's Odd Trick
A stick maker found a strange way to stop wooden hooks from splitting.
Test 1Jalandhar's odd trickTake a test
Kohli stretched a condom over the hook, where makers had pasted a net, to hold the wood together and stop it cracking.
Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021 · recall
It stands on the Kapurthala Road.
Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
Makers first tried a net over the hook; when hooks kept cracking anyway, Kohli's condom treatment, from about 2001, replaced it.
Source: The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 2021 · recall
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 · recall
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 · applied
5.53Grays of Cambridge
The world's oldest hockey brand began by making rackets.
Test 1Grays of CambridgeTake a test
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' · recall
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' · recall
Grays began with rackets for tennis and other racket sports, and moved into hockey properly after buying Hazells in 1941.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · recall
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' · recall
The orange flash became the brand's visual signature, so Grays sticks are recognised on sight.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · recall
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' · recall
It belongs to Grays of Cambridge.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · recall
1855, 1941, the 1970s.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · recall
1855, 1890, about 2001.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · recall
Orange is Grays' trademark colour: the flash has marked its sticks since the 1970s, making them easy to spot among rival brands.
Source: Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays' · applied
5.54The Kookaburra Ball
A Melbourne family firm took an idea from golf and changed the ball for good.
Test 1The Kookaburra ballTake a test
A.G. Thompson started the firm there.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
The firm still has Thompsons working in the head office.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
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 · recall
The ball was designed in 1982.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
A waterproof ball did not soak up water on wet pitches the way leather did, which suited the watered turf of the 1980s.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
The Olympics in question were in Los Angeles.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
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 · recall
1890, 1956, 1982, 1990.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
1982, 2006, 2015.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · recall
The dimples come from the 1982 Elite design, which is described as the only hockey ball with the FIH's global approval.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history · applied
5.55Sialkot and Jalandhar
Two cities a short drive and an international border apart make much of the game's gear.
Test 1Sialkot and JalandharTake a test
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
It has been doing so since partition.
Source: The Hockey Museum, on Mike Smith's visits to India, 21 January 2022 (hockeymuseum.org) · recall
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) · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · recall
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 · applied
5.56Montreal's First Day
The first Olympic match on artificial turf, played on a morning in July 1976.
Test 1Montreal's first turf dayTake a test
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
Rain at Montreal showed that the surface played faster and truer when wet, which led to turf being watered before matches.
Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
Montreal 1976 was the first Olympics played on synthetic turf, and wet play there led 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' · applied
5.57London Blue, Tokyo Cane
From a colour for television to a turf partly made from sugar.
Test 1Blue, cane and carbon-zero turfTake a test
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' · recall
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' · recall
Only two sports drew bigger crowds at London 2012; about 600,000 watched the hockey in person.
Source: AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · applied
5.58The Ball Through Time
From a leather cricket ball with cork inside, to solid plastic.
Test 1The ball through timeTake a test
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
1886, 1982, 2012.
Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' · recall
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' · recall
Old hockey balls had a cork core wound with string under a leather cover, just like a cricket ball, and were painted white.
Source: Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' · applied
5.59Hockey on Stamps
Pakistan marked its World Cups in postage, and so did others.
Test 1Hockey on stampsTake a test
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) · recall
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) · recall
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) · recall
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) · recall
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) · recall
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) · recall
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) · recall
2, 27, 50.
Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com) · recall
1971, 1990, 1994.
Source: iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com) · recall
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) · applied
5.60Fifty Years of Turf
Hockey Turf Day marks 18 July, when hockey changed surface for good.
Test 1Fifty years of turfTake a test
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
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' · recall
1975, 1976, 1980, 2026.
Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' · recall
Presidents from 2001, 2008, 2016 and 2021 on.
Source: FIH, 'History of the FIH' (fih.hockey) · recall
Watering makes a pitch faster and smoother but uses a great deal of water, so waterless turf is the sport's next aim.
Source: Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' · applied
Questions people ask
- What were hockey sticks made from before carbon?
- Wood, including hickory and ash. They were boiled, dried, glued and bent on a machine, and the handle came last, after sawing and polishing.
- Why do hockey sticks crack, and what was done about it?
- The head takes the most punishment from the ball. Makers tried pasting a net over the front of it to stop the cracks, and a Jalandhar maker later found a new trick to prevent the wood from splitting.
- What is the world's oldest hockey brand?
- Grays of Cambridge, which has made sports gear for more than 150 years. It began by making rackets, and H.J. Gray is the founder's name.
- Who made the Kookaburra hockey ball?
- A Melbourne family firm, started by A.G. Thompson. The ball was designed in 1982 and was the firm's first waterproof hockey ball, introduced at the Los Angeles Olympics.
- When was the first Olympic hockey match on artificial turf?
- On a morning in July 1976 in Montreal, starting at 10am. The turf was manufactured in the United States, and New Zealand went on to win gold at the same Games.
- Why is hockey played on blue turf?
- A yellow ball stands out far better against it. Poligras's London Blue replaced decades of green, and television viewers can see the ball much more easily.
- What were early hockey balls like?
- Early balls were built very like cricket balls, with a cork core wrapped in string and covered with leather. Some still contain a cork core, and waterproofing was a big selling point in the 1980s.
- What is Hockey Turf Day?
- A day that marks 18 July, when hockey changed surface for good. It looks back over the change since 1976 and was marked at the 50-year point in 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.
- The Free Press Journal, 'The condom touch to hockey sticks', by Gajinder Singh, 6 August 202114
- Longstreth, 'A trip to Grays headquarters', 2025; Grays of Cambridge company pages; Tennis & Rackets sponsor page, 'Grays'10
- National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport' (Melbourne Now); Kookaburra Sport company history10
- AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'; Field Hockey Canada, 'Synturf for Hockey'10
- AstroTurf, 'Celebrating day one of hockey's turf transformation'; Polytan, 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; Asian Hockey Federation, 'Poligras Tokyo GT'10
- Britannica, 'Field hockey'; The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey'; National Gallery of Victoria, 'Kookaburra Sport'10
- iStampGallery, 'Pakistan on 1971 Men's Hockey World Cup' and 'Pakistan on 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup' (istampgallery.com)10
- Polytan, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026' and 'From Montreal to Tokyo and beyond'; FIH, 'Hockey Turf Day 2026'9
- 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 goods8
- 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'5
- The Hockey Museum, 'History of the Rules of Hockey' (hockeymuseum.org)1
- The Hockey Museum, on Mike Smith's visits to India, 21 January 2022 (hockeymuseum.org)1
- The Hockey Museum, on the 2022 Punjab elections, 21 January 2022 (hockeymuseum.org)1
- FIH, 'History of the FIH' (fih.hockey)1