Sports that use sticks include field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, floorball, bandy, hurling, shinty, and ringette. In each, players use a stick or stick-like implement to control, pass, or strike a ball or puck.
The equipment and rules vary widely: some games are played on ice, some on grass or indoor courts, and some involve a ball carried in a stick’s pocket. This guide compares the main stick sports, explains how their equipment differs, and helps you tell stick sports apart from games that use bats, clubs, or poles.
Which sports use sticks? The main examples
Hockey sports are the largest group of stick sports. Field hockey, ice hockey, floorball, bandy, and ringette all use sticks to move an object toward a goal. Lacrosse also uses a stick, but its netted head lets players catch and carry the ball.
Other sports have distinct traditions and equipment. Polo players use long mallets on horseback, while hurling and shinty use shaped wooden sticks to strike a ball. Kendo uses a bamboo sword called a shinai, so it is sometimes included in broad lists of stick-based sports, though it is better described as a sword sport.
- Field hockey: Players use curved sticks to pass and strike a hard ball on a field or indoor court.
- Ice hockey: Players use sticks to handle a puck on ice.
- Lacrosse: A stick with a netted head is used to catch, carry, pass, and shoot a ball.
- Floorball: Lightweight sticks are used to move a lightweight ball across an indoor court.
- Bandy: Players use curved sticks to control a ball on a large ice surface.
- Ringette: Players use straight sticks to move a rubber ring across the ice.
- Polo: Riders use long mallets to hit a ball while mounted on horses.
- Hurling and shinty: Players use traditional shaped sticks to strike a ball in fast-moving field games.
How stick sports differ from one another
The word “stick” covers equipment with very different shapes and jobs. A hockey stick has a blade for pushing or hitting an object. A lacrosse stick has a pocket for catching and throwing. A polo mallet is long enough to reach the ball from horseback.
The object in play also changes how each sport feels. A puck slides on ice, a ball may bounce or roll, and a ring is pushed rather than handled like a ball. These differences affect the skills players practice, the protective gear they need, and the surface the sport requires.
| Sport | Playing surface | Stick or implement | Object controlled | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field hockey | Grass or artificial turf; some indoor formats use a court | Curved stick with a flat playing face | Hard ball | Team passing and goal shooting on a field |
| Ice hockey | Ice rink | Stick with a blade | Puck | Fast play, checking in some formats, and shots on goal |
| Lacrosse | Field or indoor arena | Stick with a netted head | Ball | Catching and carrying with the stick |
| Floorball | Indoor court | Lightweight stick with a shaped blade | Lightweight ball | Indoor team play with quick passes |
| Bandy | Large ice surface | Curved stick | Ball | Field-style team play on ice |
| Ringette | Ice rink | Straight stick | Rubber ring | Moving and passing a ring on ice |
| Polo | Field or arena | Long mallet | Ball | Hitting the ball while riding a horse |
| Hurling and shinty | Field | Traditional shaped wooden stick | Ball | Striking and carrying play rooted in regional traditions |
Rules and equipment can differ between leagues and formats, particularly in indoor versions of field hockey and lacrosse. If you are choosing a sport to try, check the local club’s equipment list before buying anything.
What the sticks are designed to do
Blades for pushing, passing, and shooting
In hockey sports, the blade is the part that contacts the ball or puck. Its shape and permitted playing surfaces depend on the sport. Players use the blade to direct the object, pass to teammates, and shoot at goal. Stick control is central because players generally cannot move the object freely with their hands.
Netted heads for catching and carrying
A lacrosse head has a net that holds the ball. Players cradle the stick, moving it in a controlled way to keep the ball in the pocket while running. That design makes lacrosse stick handling different from hockey: the stick is used not just to strike or push, but also to carry and pass.
Long mallets and traditional sticks
Polo’s long mallet is designed for riders to reach a ball on the ground. In hurling and shinty, the stick’s shape supports hitting and controlling a ball during open-field play. These implements are not interchangeable with hockey sticks; their dimensions and handling suit their own rules and movement patterns.
Are bats, clubs, and poles considered sticks?
Not usually. Baseball and cricket use bats, golf uses clubs, and pole vault uses a flexible pole. These objects may look like sticks in a broad, everyday sense, but the sports are not commonly classified as stick sports because the equipment has a different name and role.
Use the sport’s own equipment name for clarity. Calling a golf club a stick may make sense casually, but it obscures the difference between a club used to strike a stationary ball and a hockey stick used to control an object during team play. Likewise, a baseball bat is not a hockey stick simply because both are handheld.
Some activities use a stick-like tool without being stick sports. Curling players sweep with brooms, and Nordic walking uses poles, but neither uses a stick to control a ball or puck as part of the sport’s central play. The most useful distinction is what the implement does, not whether it looks like a long piece of equipment.
How to choose a stick sport to try
If you want to take up one of these sports, start with the surface and skills available near you. Ice hockey and ringette require access to ice, while floorball can be played indoors. Field hockey, lacrosse, and many traditional stick sports need suitable field space and a local team or program.
- Choose a setting. Decide whether you prefer ice, an indoor court, or an outdoor field. This narrows the options quickly.
- Try a beginner session. A club or recreation program may lend equipment, letting you test the sport before buying a stick.
- Ask about the exact format. Indoor and outdoor versions can have different rules, gear, and playing surfaces. Confirm which version the group plays.
- Check fit and handedness. Stick length, blade shape, and the side you hold the stick on can affect control. Follow the coach’s advice rather than choosing by appearance alone.
- Get the required protection. Protective equipment depends on the sport and level. Ask the organizer what is required before joining a game.
A common beginner mistake is buying a stick before checking the league’s rules. A stick that is suitable for one sport—or even one format of a sport—may not be permitted or practical in another. Borrowing equipment for an introductory session is a simple way to avoid that mismatch.
What to know before playing
Stick sports reward coordination, but each asks for a different kind. Hockey players practice controlling a ball or puck with the blade. Lacrosse players build catching and cradling skills. Polo riders must coordinate their position in the saddle with the swing of a mallet.
Protective needs also vary. A hard ball, puck, or fast swing can create impact risks, so use the gear specified by your club and learn how to carry and handle the stick safely. Beginners should leave space between sticks during drills and avoid swinging near other players unless the exercise calls for it.
Before joining a team, find out whether instruction is provided, what equipment can be borrowed, and how contact is handled. Rules about body contact and stick use differ across sports and age groups. A short beginner lesson can help you learn safe technique before playing at full speed.
To answer which sports use sticks, start with hockey, lacrosse, polo, bandy, floorball, ringette, hurling, and shinty. Their sticks differ because each sport asks players to control a different object on a different surface.
For a practical next step, look for a local introductory session and ask whether equipment is available to borrow. Trying the sport first helps you find the right fit and avoid buying gear that does not match its rules.