How much carbon do you need? Stick materials demystified

"What is the carbon percentage of this stick?" — it is one of the first questions players ask and the first number manufacturers print in big letters. In our store you will find sticks ranging from 0 to 95% carbon. What does that number really mean, what does it do on the pitch and — most importantly — how much carbon do YOU need? Let us clear the marketing fog.

What sticks are actually made of

A modern composite stick is built from layers of several materials, each doing a different job:

• Fibreglass — flexible and springy. It offers good ball feel, forgives imperfect traps and keeps the price sensible. The backbone of beginner sticks.
• Carbon fibre — stiff and light. This is where the power comes from: the more carbon, the less hitting energy is lost in the flex of the stick.
• Aramid (Kevlar) — dampens vibrations and reinforces impact-prone areas, usually the lower part of the stick and its edges.
• Wood — the classic, today found mostly in kids' and recreational sticks: soft trapping, low price, considerable weight.

What carbon really does

Carbon stiffens the stick. A stiff stick works like a rigid lever: on hits and drag flicks almost all the energy transfers into the ball, so shots are noticeably harder with the same swing. A high carbon content is also felt on long-distance passes.

But that same stiffness has a flip side: a high-carbon stick is less forgiving. The ball bounces off harder on an imperfect trap, and a mishit can send an unpleasant vibration through your hands. That is why full carbon in a beginner's hands frustrates more often than it helps — trapping technique has to catch up with the equipment first.

How much carbon for which level

• 0–30% — beginners and juniors. Mostly fibreglass: the stick forgives mistakes, offers good ball feel and teaches proper technique. In our range this includes the Mercian Genesis series (CF15, CF25).
• 35–65% — regular players. The sweet spot: noticeably more power with a still-reasonable margin for error. Most club players choose this range — for example the Mercian Evolution series (CKF65).
• 75–95% — advanced and elite players. Maximum energy transfer for powerful hits and drag flicks, for players with a confident trap. This is the territory of the Mercian Elite series (CKF85, CKF90, CF95).

The myth: more carbon = a better stick

The most expensive stick with the highest carbon percentage is not "the best" — it is best for a specific type of player. A defender who builds play with long passes will appreciate the stiffness, but a technical midfielder who lives off dribbling in tight spaces often deliberately picks a lower carbon content for better feel. Match the material to your game, not to the price list.

Remember, too, that carbon is only one parameter — just as important is the bow of the stick, which we covered in our post on bow profiles, and the right length, which you can pick using our size guide.

How to find it in the store

Every stick in our catalogue lists its exact carbon content, and on the product list you will find a "Carbon content" filter — set your range and compare only the models that make sense for your game. Head over to the Hockey Sticks and see for yourself.

Still not sure where to start? Read our guide on how to choose a stick or simply email us at [email protected] — we will help you decide before you spend your money.