How to choose a Hockey Stick?

This guide is designed to help you choose the perfect stick from our top-tier range, the Tour and Taboo series.

Many players might think they should automatically choose the highest model. While the Tour is technically the most advanced stick in our lineup, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best fit for you.

This guide will explain our range and the factors to consider when selecting your ideal GRYPHON stick. We won't discuss material percentages because GRYPHON sticks don't use these descriptions in our marketing. Material percentages can be misleading since different grades and qualities of materials, like carbon, vary widely. More of a lower quality material will always be outperformed by less of a higher quality one. Our sticks' power comes from their linear and torsional stiffness, achieved through our unique lay-up methods. These methods are designed to maximise power-to-weight output, using the best materials and manufacturing processes available.

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Touch and Feel

Performance isn’t just about power; it’s also about touch and feel—how the connection between the ball and stick feels through your hands.

We design all GRYPHON sticks to provide a variable touch and feel on the ball. Within our Tour and Taboo series (our top-performance sticks), the potential power is quite similar, but the feel can vary significantly. This means you don’t need to worry about power; all Tour and Taboo models deliver that. Instead, focus on how that power feels.

Tour and Taboo Blue Steel sticks offer an instant and highly responsive touch, so you feel the ball contact right away. The Tour series includes Kraibon, an energy absorber, for a more cushioned touch, while Taboo Blue Steel features a carbon, aramid, and glassfibre blend for an immediate connection and a more personal feel. Taboo Dekoda and Taboo Striker sticks provide a more cushioned touch due to adjustments in these materials within the lay-up.

Weight and Balance Point

GRYPHON sticks typically range in weight from 510g to 540g. You want a stick that is heavy enough to maximize power but not so heavy that it hinders maneuverability and skill performance.

The balance point determines weight distribution. A stick balanced at the midpoint (400mm) means the weight is evenly distributed, resulting in a neutral pick-up. A balance point below 400mm (down to 380mm) means the stick is head-heavy, which might make it less comfortable and slower to move. A balance point above 400mm (up to 410mm) means the stick is weighted toward the handle, making it feel lighter at the head and potentially more maneuverable.

To find your ideal combination, dribble the ball from side to side. If the stick and ball stay together and everything feels good, your combination is right. If the stick lags behind the ball, the weight might be too high, or the balance too low, meaning you're not moving the stick quickly enough. Conversely, if the stick moves too quickly and gets ahead of the ball, the weight might be too low, or the balance too high.

Don't get too hung up on exact measurements; differences are minimal. For example, if you close your eyes and hold a 15g weight in one hand and a 20g weight in the other, will you notice a 5g difference? Probably not. So, keep it simple: describe your preferences to us with terms like "light," "really light," or "bit heavier" for weight, and "even," "low," or "high" for balance, and we'll take care of the rest.

Stick Shape

At the top of the GRYPHON range, there are six shapes to choose from, though not every shape is available for every model of hockey stick.

Think of a sliding scale where one end focuses on basic skills like trapping and pushing, and the other end emphasizes more dynamic skills like 3D maneuvers, overheads, and drag flicking. Each shape fits somewhere on this scale to assist with specific skills, while you may need to adapt for others. You and your stick form a partnership: the stick will support you, but you must also work with it.