The Best Junior Hockey Sticks 2026/27, By Age and Level

Buying a junior hockey stick isn't quite the same as buying an adult one. A first stick needs to be the right length, light enough to control and forgiving enough to learn with, and a stiff, expensive stick won't make a nine-year-old play any better (sorry).

So here are our favourite junior hockey sticks for 2026/27, grouped by stage, so you can find the right stick for your child now rather than one they might grow into.

First sticks for young children

For a child who's just starting, a wooden stick is perfectly sensible. It's affordable, forgiving and plenty for the speed younger players hit the ball.

• The Kookaburra Neon is a simple, durable wooden stick designed as a first stick, in Pink, Blue and Black.
• The Grays Aura GT Junior is Grays' classic wooden entry-level stick, in Blue and Teal/Navy.
• The Kookaburra Mystic reinforces the wood with fibreglass rovings for a bit more strength, while keeping that traditional wooden feel.

Shopping on a budget? Last season's Grays Aftershock UB was our best-selling junior stick over the last year by some distance, and there are still a few left in Pink/Red and Red/Black.

The step up from wood

Once your child is playing every week, a composite stick is lighter and more responsive than wood.

• The adidas Youngstar .10 is adidas' entry-level junior stick, with a mid-low bow and a forgiving Pure Control head. It's been one of our most popular junior sticks since the new season landed, in Solar Turbo and Bright Royal.
• The TK Jnr Control Bow uses TK's RLP resin and a junior Control Bow profile built to feel comfortable in younger hands.
• The Grays GT 3 Junior has a low bow and Grays' low-angled Micro head, with moderate power for players developing their core skills.
• Osaka's junior Mid Bow range comes in WD and WG versions, both built specifically for young players.

Best sticks for regular club juniors

Juniors who play for a club or school every week benefit from a little more stiffness, but they still need a forgiving first touch.

• The Grays GT 4 Junior and GT 5 Junior are the next steps up the GT range.
• From adidas, the Youngstar .20 and the limited-edition Estro .20 LE are both good choices for developing juniors.
• The Y1 JMB is Y1's junior mid bow from the 2026/27 Cosmic range, with a soft touch that suits newer players.
• The Osaka Mid Bow GF is made from 100% glass fibre and is Osaka's introduction to composite sticks for juniors.

Best sticks for advanced juniors

Stronger juniors who play at county or academy level, or who are starting to use aerials and 3D skills, can move to a performance stick in a junior length.

• The Grays PB 7+ Junior brings Grays' Probow+ ultra low bow to a junior stick, with intermediate power and plenty of control.
• The adidas Estro .40 and Fabela .30 are adidas' junior performance sticks, both with a mid-low bow and a Pure Control head. You'll find more in our adidas junior sticks.

What size junior stick do you need?

As a rule of thumb, when your child stands the stick up next to them, the top should come to roughly the top of their hip bone. Too long and it's hard to control, too short and they'll be bent over the ball. If they're between sizes, going up one size gives them a bit of room to grow, but don't go more than one size up. Our stick size guide has the full table by height.

Quick answers for parents

Is a wooden stick OK? Yes, especially for younger children. Wood is forgiving and affordable, and many juniors start with one.

Does my child need carbon? Not at first. Most junior sticks are fibreglass or wood, and a stiff carbon stick makes it harder to trap the ball. Carbon only really helps once they're older and hitting harder.

Should I buy a stick to grow into? One size up, at most. A stick that's too long is harder to control and can hold their skills back.

Still not sure? Give us a call on 0191 447 4744, drop us a message on live chat or pop into the shop and we'll help you find the right length and level. Or just browse all our junior hockey sticks.