Straight fibres
Aligned fibres are very efficient at adding stiffness along their own direction. The designer controls where that directional stiffness is useful.
MERCIAN STICK ENGINEERING · SINCE 1974
WHAT ARE HOCKEY STICKS MADE FROM?
A hockey stick is not one material, and a carbon percentage is not a performance score. Carbon, fibreglass, aramid, resin, reinforcement and damping systems work together to change power, touch, vibration and durability.
THE SHORT ANSWER
More carbon usually means a stiffer, more direct response — not automatically a better stick.
Higher-carbon constructions tend to feel crisper and transfer energy more directly. More fibreglass and a more flexible lay-up can give a softer, more forgiving feel and absorb more vibration.
The right balance depends on how you want the stick to respond, not on chasing the biggest number on the label.
WHAT A COMPOSITE STICK REALLY IS
The visible finish is only the outside.
A modern composite stick is a bonded structure made from several materials. Each has a different job, and the way they are combined matters as much as the headline percentage.
SIMPLIFIED MATERIAL STACK
CARBON / PERFORMANCE LAMINATE
Stiffness, fast recovery and direct energy transfer
Stiffness, fast recovery and direct energy transfer
FIBREGLASS / SUPPORTING LAYERS
Strength, flex and a more forgiving response
Strength, flex and a more forgiving response
ARAMID / LOCAL REINFORCEMENT
Impact resistance and durability where required
Impact resistance and durability where required
RESIN / BONDING MATRIX
Holds the fibre system together as one structure
Holds the fibre system together as one structure
Simplified view: the exact recipe, order and position of layers varies by model and by location along the stick.
WHY FIBRE DIRECTION MATTERS
Carbon is strongest in the direction the fibres run.
That is why construction uses fibres in different directions. A straight fibre can add stiffness strongly along one line; woven or angled layers help the structure resist loads from more than one direction.
Woven or angled layers
Crossing fibre directions helps the stick resist twisting and bending loads coming from different directions during play.
3K & 6K CARBON
3K and 6K describe the size of the carbon tow: roughly 3,000 or 6,000 filaments in each bundle. They describe the fibre format — they do not, by themselves, tell you whether one stick is better or more suitable than another.
THE MATERIALS
What each part contributes to the playing feel
Modern sticks use several materials because each solves a different problem. The response comes from the combination.
Carbon fibre
High-quality carbon provides stiffness and fast recovery. That generally creates a crisp, direct response when passing and hitting.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass adds structural strength with more flex than carbon. It can soften the response and help absorb vibration.
Aramid / Kevlar
Aramid fibres add tensile strength and impact resistance in areas that need extra protection and durability.
QCS carbon sleeves
Mercian's Quad Carbon Sleeve system uses braided carbon reinforcement through the structure, with additional reinforcement at important stress areas, to support stiffness and stability.
TCDK
Tungsten Carbide Diffused Kevlar reinforces high-wear areas, including the backhand edge, where repeated contact can be hardest on the stick.
Damping systems
Selected constructions use vibration-control materials such as piezo fibres, M-Gel and EVA to reduce harsh feedback without removing useful feel.
CARBON PERCENTAGE
Use it as a clue, not a score.
A figure such as 90% or 100% carbon normally describes the dry fibre mix, not the entire finished stick by weight. The finished structure also contains resin, reinforcing fibres and other systems.
Two sticks with similar carbon figures can therefore feel very different because fibre quality, direction, resin, reinforcement, damping and balance are different.
WHAT SHOULD I ASK INSTEAD?
“How do I want the stick to respond?”
That question gets much closer to the buying decision: forgiving and easy to control, balanced between feel and stiffness, or very crisp and direct.
FROM MATERIALS TO A STICK CHOICE
Think in responses, not percentages.
Mercian's ranges deliberately cover different parts of the response spectrum. These are broad guide rails; individual models still vary.
Genesis · More forgivingGenerally more flex and accessible feel for players who value control and forgiveness.Browse Genesis →
Evolution · Broad middle groundA wide spectrum from softer responses through to more direct, performance-led constructions.Browse Evolution →
Elite · Most directThe crispest, most performance-led end of the current Mercian player-stick range.Browse Elite →
WHY MERCIAN CARES ABOUT THE DETAIL
Material quality matters before the stick ever reaches the pitch.
Mercian has worked with hockey-equipment manufacturers and material suppliers for decades. Regular factory visits and long relationships give us a practical view of raw-material quality, consistency and workmanship — the details behind the specification on the label.
1974Mercian begins in the UK.
Decades of developmentMaterials and constructions evolve through repeated product cycles.
Factory relationshipsRegular visits and long-term supplier partnerships build practical knowledge.
TodayThose lessons shape Genesis, Evolution and Elite sticks.
MORE THAN THE LAMINATE
Other details also change the feel
High-friction face
Surface treatments can increase grip between ball and stick, helping close control without changing the underlying bend.
M-Gel & EVA
Handle damping can reduce sharp vibration reaching the hands and change how solid or forgiving the stick feels.
Resin & finishing systems
Bonding quality, resin formulation and finishing processes affect structural consistency, durability and the final playing response.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Find the right response for your game.
Use the guided choice journey if you would rather start with how you play than with a material percentage.