Field hockey stick having an edge configured to minimize ball loft

Abstract

A field hockey stick comprising a head and a shaft adjoining the head. The shaft comprises a flat playing side, a non-playing side opposite to the flat playing side, a first edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, and a second edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, the second edge opposite to the first edge. According to one embodiment, at least one of the first edge and the second edge is flattened or concave. A method for contacting a field hockey ball with the field hockey stick is also disclosed.

1 . A field hockey stick comprising: 
 a head; and    a shaft adjoining the head, the shaft comprising: 
 a flat playing side,  
 a non-playing side opposite to the flat playing side,  
 a first edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, and  
 a second edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, the second edge opposite to the first edge,  
   at least one of the first edge and the second edge being one of flattened and concave.    
   
   
       2 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is concave and has a radius of curvature of about 35 mm to about 40 mm.  
   
   
       3 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is concave and has a radius of curvature greater than about 1.47 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is concave and has a radius of curvature less than about 1.40 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is concave and has a depth of about 10 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first edge and the second edge is concave and the other of the first edge and the second edge is flattened.  
   
   
       7 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is not flattened or concave along a portion of the shaft adjacent to the head.  
   
   
       8 . The field hockey stick of  claim 7 , wherein the head has a toe, the portion of the shaft that is not flattened or concave extending to a point approximately 1.0 to approximately 1.5 inches above the toe.  
   
   
       9 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge has a surface extending from the flat playing side to the non-playing side and the second edge has a surface extending from the flat playing side to the non-playing side, the surface of the first edge being wider than the surface of the second edge.  
   
   
       10 . The field hockey stick of  claim 9 , wherein the head has a toe and the first edge is on the same side of the shaft as the toe.  
   
   
       11 . The field hockey stick of  claim 9 , wherein the head has a toe and the second edge is on the same side of the shaft as the toe.  
   
   
       12 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a throat adjoining the head and a handle adjoining the throat opposite the head, and wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge that is one of flattened and concave is disposed on the throat.  
   
   
       13 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a throat adjoining the head and a handle adjoining the throat opposite the head, and wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge that is one of flattened and concave is disposed on the throat and the handle.  
   
   
       14 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first edge and the second edge is flat and is generally perpendicular to the flat playing side.  
   
   
       15 . A method for contacting a field hockey ball with a field hockey stick comprising: 
 positioning the field hockey stick generally parallel to a ground surface on which the field hockey ball is disposed, the field hockey stick having a flat playing side, a non-playing side opposite to the flat playing side, a first edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, and a second edge between the flat playing side and the non-playing side, the second edge opposite to the first edge; and    contacting the ball with one of the first edge and the second edge of the field hockey stick, the contacted edge being one of flattened and concave.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the ball comprises hitting the ball.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the ball comprises whipping the ball by sweeping the contacted edge against the ball.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the ball comprises rolling the ball along the contacted edge.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the ball comprises contacting the ball with the contacted edge generally perpendicular to the ground surface so as to minimize loft.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the ball comprises contacting the ball with the contacted edge having a radius of curvature larger than about 1.47 inches.