Wood vs composite hockey sticks

Wood is cheap and forgiving. Composite is lighter, stiffer and lasts better on astro. Most children start with wood or low-carbon composite.

Wooden sticks

Wooden sticks have been around the longest. They flex more, so the ball doesn't bounce off the stick as easily, which helps young players learn to receive and dribble. They are also the cheapest sticks in most shops. In our list, junior wooden sticks run from R250 to R850.

Alfa Tango Hockey Stick: R250 at SportsApp. Wood and fibreglass. Sizes 28"–36".
GRYPHON Bolt Blue G26: R380 at Planet Hockey. Wood. Sizes 26"–36".
GRYPHON Speed Ice Blue G26: R580 at Planet Hockey. Wood. Sizes 28"–36".
Adidas Youngstar .9 Lucid Blue 2025: R590 (was R750) at Planet Hockey. Wood, mid bow. Sizes 28"–35".
Adidas Youngstar .9 Green 2026: R850 at Planet Hockey. Wood, mid bow. Sizes 28"–36.5".

Composite sticks

Composite sticks are made from layers of fibreglass, carbon and other fibres in resin. They are stiffer, so the ball travels further when hit, and they handle the hard surface of astro better. Junior composites usually have low carbon, about 10%, which keeps them forgiving. The cheapest junior composites in our list:

Tora Shwack Blue - 10% Carbon - Junior Hockey Stick: R325 (was R650) at Tora Athletic. 10% carbon composite, mid bow. Sizes 28"–34".
Tora Shweet - 10% Carbon - Junior Hockey Stick: R495 (was R550) at Tora Athletic. 10% carbon composite, mid bow. Sizes 32"–35".
Tora Shwizzle - 10% Carbon - Junior Hockey Stick: R495 (was R550) at Tora Athletic. 10% carbon composite, mid bow. Sizes 32"–35".
Alfa Y 30 Hockey Stick: R640 at SportsApp. 10% carbon composite. Sizes 34"–36".
Grays GX 1000 Ultrabow MC Junior: R699 (was R1,199) at Grays Hockey SA. Composite (carbon % not listed), ultrabow. Sizes not listed.

Which to choose

	Wood	Composite
Feel and forgiveness	High	Lower as carbon goes up
Power	Lower	Higher
Astro	Wears faster	Better suited
Price	Lowest	From about R325 for 10% carbon junior sticks

For a child who is just starting, or who plays mainly on grass, wood is a sensible and cheap first stick. For a child who trains on astro a few times a week, a low-carbon composite is worth the small extra cost. Either way, the right length matters more than the material: check it with the size finder.

Note: some shops don't state the material at all. Those sticks are left out of both lists above.

Questions parents ask

Is a wooden hockey stick good for a beginner?

Yes. Wooden sticks are forgiving, cheap and give good feel, which is why many first sticks are wood. Their downside is that they are less stiff and can wear on the toe on astro.

When should my child move to a composite stick?

Often once they play regularly on astro or after a year or two of hockey. A low-carbon composite (about 10%) is the usual next step.

Are composite sticks more expensive?

In our junior list, wooden sticks cost R250 to R850 and composite sticks start at R325.

Sources: Rage Custom: choosing a stick; Field Hockey Alberta; materials and prices from the shop pages linked on each stick page, checked 17 October 2026.