Why Are Sticks So Expensive?
by Dan Torretta - 7/10/2026
Why Are Sticks So Expensive?
One of the main selling points of floorball is that it’s more affordable than other sports, so why are some sticks listed for $200+? We’ll break down some of the factors and technologies that make some sticks more expensive than others.
Fiberglass vs Carbon Fiber
Fiberglass is a great material for a floorball stick. It’s inexpensive, lightweight, flexible, and durable. Because it’s more flexible, it naturally absorbs vibration, which helps resist slashes (to a certain extent). A 100% fiberglass shaft can be offered at a low price point because of how inexpensive it is to make.Now let’s look at carbon fiber. It’s even lighter than fiberglass, and more rigid. Carbon fiber takes more energy to bend, and releases that energy more violently, resulting in a harder shot (with proper technique). The drawback to carbon fiber is how brittle it is. It’s very good at flexing and snapping back, but it has almost no impact resistance. It’s not uncommon for higher-end sticks that are 100% carbon fiber to break after one solid slash (and no, there are no warranties). Because carbon fiber is a more expensive material, elite-level sticks that are marketed for how lightweight they are often cost significantly more than their fiberglass counterparts. A good compromise is a blend of fiberglass and carbon fiber. These are called composite sticks and are geared toward intermediate players. It’s lightweight yet durable. Most players gravitate to this level of stick because they’re not overly expensive and they don’t have to worry about breaking as often.
Special Technologies
In addition to the premium materials used, all major stick manufacturers invest heavily in research and development, a massive front-end cost that directly influences the final retail price. Take Fat Pipe’s Slicks blades, for example. They were trying to solve the problem of how to maintain the feel of the ball that a PP (polypropylene) blade gives, while decreasing the friction it causes with the playing surface. The result is a strip of PE (polyethylene) plastic on the bottom of the PP blade. They also had to solve the manufacturing problem because the two plastics have different melting points, which makes it more difficult to produce than just pouring melted plastic into a mold. The result is a very high-performance blade that gives you the best of both worlds, but naturally it’s more expensive than a blade made from just one type of plastic.Another game-changing technology is Oxdog’s High Energy Shaft (HES). We talked earlier about how carbon fiber doesn’t absorb vibration as well as fiberglass. Vibration is wasted energy. Oxdog was able to create a carbon fiber shaft that, instead of losing that extra energy through vibration, actually transfers more of that energy into the blade for harder shots. They also released their High Speed Technology (HST), which plays around with how thick the individual fibers are in certain areas to be even more energy efficient, resulting in an even more responsive stick. All the R&D that went into these breakthroughs, plus the fact that they're made in smaller batches (because not everyone needs maximum energy transfer in their shots), naturally drives prices up for their elite-level sticks.
What stick is right for you?
The honest answer is to get the one you like the most.If you’re a first-time buyer, any stick will work for you. You don’t need to start with the top end, latest technology sticks because you don’t know how to make the most of those technologies yet. Our Beginner Sticks work just fine.
If you’ve been playing for a while and are looking for an upgrade but don’t want to break the bank, any composite stick will work perfectly for you. You’ll likely notice it’s a bit lighter and your shots will be much harder than with your first stick. Begin your search here Intermediate Sticks.
If you demand the very best performance and want the latest technology, you’ll get it out of an elite-level stick when used correctly. But at least you now know why you’re making the investment. - Elite Sticks
-Download or Print as pdf-
-Comments/Questions-
Would you like to comment on this article or ask a question? Please use this form:
This is a test question or reader commentary line...it will wrap to multiple lines on a mobile display...add person's name, e.g., Mark S
This is the test response if it is appropriate.
Multiple lines look like this...
And this....
Multiple lines look like this...
And this....