Measure Up For Correct Hurley Size
Length and weight of hurley have a tremendous effect on the player. The traditional method of gauging the length matched it to a player’s hip. This has proved inaccurate and unsuitable since two players of the same height can have a difference of 4″ or 10 centimetres in hip height.
Children and beginners are inclined to go for a longer hurley. The perception being that “the longer the hurley the longer the puck.” The truth is quite the opposite. “Long equals no puck”. Correct length and weight are more important than previously thought. Top players now use hurleys 3 inches shorter than their counterparts of the 1960s and 1970s. Time and space are very much reduced and tackling skills have improved. Opportunities are lost in a split second if the hurley is not completely manoeuvrable. The game is faster and there are less man to man contests of strength. The hurley that suited those clashes has no bearing on today’s game.
Young children’s wrists and arms are light and fragile. They can only use hurleys that are light and short.
How to Measure a Hurley
To assess the correct length, a child should stand straight, shoulders square, with hands held loosely by the side. Place the bas on the ground by the child’s side. Place your finger horizontally just underneath the grip as shown in the picture. With the correct size, your finger should align with/touch the child’s wrist bone.
If the child can use the hurley like a wand with one hand, it is about the right weight.
