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Field Hockey · Rules of Hockey

Law 19: The Stick

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 30 October 2026 · markdown

Law 19 gives the detailed specification of the hockey stick in the FIH Rules of Hockey 2027. It fixes the shape of the handle and head, the flat playing side, the bow, the edges, weight, length, ball speed and materials.

The stick has a traditional shape of handle and head. The head must be a J or U shape, its upturned end limited by line C. The head is flat on the left-hand side only, the side to the player's left when the open end points away. A single convex or concave deviation of at most 4 mm with a smooth profile is permitted, but other indentations or grooves are not, and a twist along the flat side is not allowed.

The point of maximum bow must not be closer than 200 mm to the base of the head, and the bow must be one smooth profile with no multiple curves. In the bow test the 25 mm high end must not pass freely more than 8 mm under the stick. Edges and back are rounded, with no flat sections. The stick may not be more than 105 cm long or exceed 737 grams. Ball speed must not exceed 98% of stick head speed, and no metal or metallic components are allowed.

The facts below cover shape, head and playing side, then bow, weight and materials.

19.191Shape, Head and Playing Side

The handle and head, the flat left side and how it is tested.

Test 1The shape of the stick, the head and the playing sideTake a test

  1. The stick has a traditional shape, consisting of the handle and the head.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.4 · recall

  2. The head must be a J or U shape, its upturned end limited by line C.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.9 · recall

  3. The head is flat on the left-hand side only, the side to the player's left when the open end points away.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.11 · recall

  4. A single convex or concave deviation of at most 4 mm with a smooth profile is permitted.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.12 · recall

  5. A twist or twists along the flat playing side are not permitted.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.14 · recall

  6. The handle may protrude beyond line A once only, to line B at most, but not also beyond line A1.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.15 · recall

  7. All measurements are made with any coverings or fixings attached, as the stick is used on the field.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2 · recall

  8. Apart from the single smooth deviation, indentations or grooves are not permitted on the playing side.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.12 · applied

  9. The handle runs down to a smooth, continuous transition into the head.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.4, 2.8 · applied

  10. 20 mm, 25.5 mm, 51 mm and 100 mm.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.2 · applied

19.192Bow, Weight and Materials

The bow test, edges, weight, length, ball speed and materials.

Test 1Bow, edges, weight, length and materialsTake a test

  1. The point of maximum bow must not be closer than 200 mm to the base of the head.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16 · recall

  2. The bow must be one continuous smooth profile; multiple curves are not permitted.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16 · recall

  3. The 25 mm high end must not pass freely more than 8 mm under the stick at any point.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16 · recall

  4. The edges and back must be rounded with a continuous smooth profile; flat sections are not permitted.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.17 · recall

  5. From the top of the handle to the bottom of the head, the stick may not be more than 105 cm.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.19 · recall

  6. Ball speed must not exceed 98% of stick head speed, tested at a stick speed of 80 km/h.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.20 · recall

  7. A stick may be made of any material other than metal or metallic components, if fit and not hazardous.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.22 · recall

  8. The total weight of the stick must not exceed 737 grams.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.19 · applied

  9. 4 mm, 8 mm, 25 mm and 200 mm.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16, 2.17 · applied

  10. The stick rests playing side down and the device checks how far its 25 mm end passes underneath.

    Source: FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16 · applied

Questions people ask

Which side of a hockey stick is flat?
The left-hand side only, the side to the player's left when the open end points away.
What shape must the head have?
A J or U shape, its upturned end limited by line C.
How much deviation is allowed on the playing side?
A single convex or concave deviation of at most 4 mm with a smooth profile. Otherwise indentations or grooves are not permitted.
How long and heavy may a stick be?
Not more than 105 cm from the top of the handle to the bottom of the head, and not more than 737 grams in total weight.
What is the bow test?
The stick rests playing side down and a device checks how far its 25 mm end passes underneath. It must not pass freely more than 8 mm.
Where may the maximum bow be?
The point of maximum bow must not be closer than 200 mm to the base of the head.
What may a hockey stick be made from?
Any material other than metal or metallic components, if it is fit and not hazardous.
What limits the ball speed off a stick?
Ball speed must not exceed 98% of stick head speed, tested at a stick speed of 80 km/h.

Sources

FIH Rules of Hockey, 2027 edition in force from 1 November 2026, Field and Equipment Specifications 2 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.164
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.122
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.192
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.41
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.91
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.111
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.141
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.151
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 21
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.4, 2.81
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.21
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.171
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.201
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.221
  • FIH Rules 2027, Specifications 2.16, 2.171