Hockey Stick Carbon Explained: What Percentage Is Right for You?
Carbon might be the most misunderstood number in hockey equipment.
Ask players what makes one hockey stick better than another and many will immediately point towards the carbon percentage.
More carbon means more power.
More carbon means better performance.
More carbon means a better stick.
Right?
Not quite.
Carbon is important, but choosing the highest percentage available can actually make hockey harder if the stick is too stiff for your current level or playing style.
In this Total Hockey Labs guide, we explain exactly what carbon does, the advantages and disadvantages of different carbon levels, the biggest myths around high-carbon hockey sticks and how to choose the right percentage for your game.
Watch the full Total Hockey Labs guide below, or keep reading to learn what carbon actually does in a hockey stick, why more isn’t always better and which carbon percentage could suit your game.
What Does Carbon Do in a Hockey Stick?
The main thing carbon does is increase stiffness.
A higher-carbon stick generally flexes less when you strike the ball.
That can increase energy transfer and help generate more power.
Sounds perfect.
But there is a trade-off.
As stiffness increases, cushioning decreases.
That means:
- the stick can feel harder
- receiving can become less forgiving
- poor touches can rebound further away
- players need stronger technique to control the ball
So carbon isn't simply about getting as much as possible.
It's about finding the right balance between power and feel.
Why More Carbon Isn't Always Better
Imagine you've just passed your driving test.
You immediately go out and buy a Ferrari.
The car is capable of extraordinary performance.
But that doesn't mean you're capable of using everything it can do.
A hockey stick works in a similar way.
A 100% carbon stick may have enormous performance potential.
But if your technique, strength or touch isn't developed enough to use that stiffness properly, you aren't gaining the full benefit.
In some cases, you may actually perform better with a lower-carbon stick.
The Total Hockey Carbon Guide
To make hockey-stick buying easier, we break carbon levels into several broad categories:
0–20% Carbon — Beginner Players
This is the ideal starting point for many new players.
A stick containing relatively little carbon will contain more fibreglass or other softer materials.
That gives it a more forgiving feel.
These sticks are particularly useful for players learning:
- first touch
- trapping
- pushing
- passing
- hitting
- basic ball control
If you're buying your first senior stick or starting hockey as a junior, this range is often exactly where you should be looking.
Why Softer Sticks Help Beginners
When you're learning, control matters more than maximum power.
A softer stick helps absorb some of the energy when receiving the ball.
That can make the difference between a clean trap and watching the ball bounce several metres away.
At this stage, you're building technique.
The equipment should help you do that.
Not make it harder.
20–40% Carbon — Developing and Intermediate Players
The next step is the 20–40% carbon range.
These sticks begin adding more stiffness while still retaining plenty of softness and forgiveness.
They can work well for:
- school players
- developing club players
- juniors progressing into more senior hockey
- adults returning to the sport
You gain some additional hitting power without losing too much touch.
That makes this range a very useful bridge between beginner and higher-performance sticks.
40–60% Carbon — Progressing Senior Players
At around 40–60% carbon, the stick begins moving closer towards a true performance construction.
There's now more carbon than fibreglass.
That means the stick feels noticeably stiffer.
This range can suit players around 15 or 16 who are beginning to play more senior hockey and need additional power to cope with the speed and physicality of the game.
You still retain enough softer material to keep the stick manageable while technical skills continue developing.
60–80% Carbon — The Sweet Spot for Many Club Players
For many regular club players, this is arguably one of the best carbon ranges available.
A 60–80% carbon stick gives you:
- plenty of hitting power
- good energy transfer
- a performance feel
- enough softness to maintain control
- more forgiveness when receiving
That balance is why this range can work so well for everyday senior hockey.
You get much of the performance associated with high-carbon sticks without necessarily sacrificing as much touch and feel.
Why 60–80% Carbon Can Be So Effective
Modern hockey isn't only about hitting.
Players receive fast passes.
Carry the ball at speed.
Use 3D skills.
Push.
Slap.
Deflect.
Manipulate the ball in tight spaces.
A stick needs to help across all of those situations.
For many players, a slightly softer stick provides a better overall balance than chasing maximum stiffness.
80–100% Carbon — Elite and Experienced Players
At the top end are the 80–100% carbon sticks.
These are the stiffest constructions.
They provide excellent energy transfer and power when used correctly.
But they also provide less cushioning.
That means they're generally most suitable for players who:
- play frequently
- already have strong ball control
- have developed good receiving technique
- can physically generate enough force to benefit from the stiffness
- are comfortable adapting to a less forgiving stick
International and elite players often spend hours every week using their sticks.
That repeated exposure makes adapting to high stiffness considerably easier.
Does More Carbon Make a Hockey Stick Better?
This is perhaps the biggest carbon myth.
The answer is:
No — not automatically.
A high-carbon stick may use more expensive materials and provide greater stiffness.
That doesn't make it the best stick for every player.
The best stick is the one that allows you to perform your skills most effectively.
If you have better touch, control and confidence with 60% carbon than 100%, the 60% stick is the better stick for you.
Does More Carbon Make a Hockey Stick Lighter?
Another common misconception.
Not necessarily.
Carbon percentage and overall stick weight aren't the same thing.
A top-end stick might feel lighter because of how it has been designed and constructed.
But simply adding more carbon doesn't automatically make the finished stick lighter.
Two sticks with different carbon percentages could still have very similar overall weights.
Does More Carbon Make You More Accurate?
No.
Accuracy comes primarily from technique.
Your stick can support that technique.
It can't replace it.
In fact, developing your technique with a slightly softer and more forgiving stick can sometimes make more sense.
Once those skills become reliable, moving into a stiffer construction becomes much easier.
Does More Carbon Automatically Make You Hit Harder?
This one is slightly more complicated.
Higher carbon creates greater stiffness.
That gives the stick more potential to transfer energy into the ball.
But the player still needs to generate that energy.
If you don't currently have the physical strength or technique to fully use that stiffness, buying a 100% carbon stick won't magically create enormous power.
Again, think of the Ferrari.
It has the performance available.
You still need to be capable of using it.
Get 100% From the Right Stick
This is perhaps the best way to think about carbon.
It is better to get 100% of the performance from a 30% carbon stick than only get 30% of the performance from a 100% carbon stick.
Equipment should match where your game is now.
Not where you hope your game might eventually be.
Will a £350 Hockey Stick Make You a Better Player?
We wish.
If buying the most expensive stick automatically made you international quality, hockey would be considerably easier.
Price generally reflects materials, construction and technology.
But the player still determines how the stick performs.
A less expensive stick that suits your level can provide a much better playing experience than an elite stick you're struggling to control.
How Do You Choose the Right Carbon Percentage?
Instead of walking into a hockey shop and asking:
“What carbon percentage should I buy?”
Ask yourself a few other questions first.
What level of hockey do you play?
Beginner?
School?
Club?
Premier League?
International?
The level of ball speed, physicality and technical demand will affect what you need.
How often do you play?
This is extremely important.
Somebody playing once per week will take much longer to adapt to a stiff stick than somebody using it almost every day.
The more frequently you play, the more opportunity you have to adjust.
What are you using now?
Your current stick is often one of the best guides.
If you're comfortable on 20% carbon and want more power, moving to 30 or 40% may make sense.
Jumping immediately from 20 to 95%?
Probably not.
Increase Carbon Gradually
For developing players, moving up in 10–20% steps is a sensible approach.
That allows you to feel the additional stiffness without completely changing how the stick behaves.
Your technique adapts gradually.
Your touch remains confident.
Then, when you're ready for the next level, move again.
There's no need to rush.
What Carbon Percentage Should a Beginner Use?
If this is your first hockey stick, look around the 0–20% carbon range.
You'll still be able to hit the ball.
You'll still be able to develop power.
But you'll have far more touch and cushioning while learning the most important skills.
What Carbon Percentage Should a 13 or 14-Year-Old Use?
This question comes up constantly.
A junior player comes home and says:
“My friend has a 90% carbon stick, so I need one too.”
Usually, they don't.
For many developing players around this age, something around the 30–40% carbon range may be far more suitable.
That gives them additional power as their hockey develops without removing the softness they still need for control.
Every player develops differently, of course.
But age alone isn't a reason to jump to an elite stick.
What Carbon Percentage Should a Club Player Use?
For many regular club players, 60–80% carbon is an excellent place to look.
There is plenty of stiffness for powerful passing and hitting.
But there is still enough softness to support:
- first touch
- dribbling
- receiving
- 3D skills
- general ball control
For a large number of players, this may offer the best balance between performance and usability.
Do International Players All Use 100% Carbon?
No.
Elite players have individual preferences too.
Some love very stiff sticks.
Others prefer slightly lower carbon because they value feel and control.
Playing at the highest level doesn't automatically mean choosing the highest possible percentage.
The same principle applies at every level:
Use what suits your game.
Carbon Is Only One Part of Choosing a Hockey Stick
Carbon matters.
But it isn't the only thing.
Bow shape matters.
Weight matters.
Balance matters.
Length matters.
Grip matters.
Playing style matters.
And most importantly:
the person holding the stick matters.
The carbon number on the side doesn't play hockey.
You do.
Technique Still Comes First
A high-carbon stick won't fix poor trapping technique.
It won't automatically make your passes accurate.
It won't teach you to hit properly.
And it won't make decisions for you.
Develop the skills first.
Let your equipment progress alongside them.
That gives you a much better chance of getting genuine value from every upgrade.
The Best Carbon Percentage Is the One That Suits You
There isn't one number everybody should be using.
A beginner may be perfect on 10%.
A developing junior might need 35%.
A club player could love 70%.
An elite player might want 95%.
None of those players is necessarily using a better or worse stick.
They're using different sticks for different requirements.
So don't choose a stick because the carbon percentage looks impressive.
Choose it because it helps you play your best hockey.
Watch the full Total Hockey Labs guide to see the different carbon bands explained and find out why more carbon doesn't automatically mean better performance.
