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early forms of hockey balls
In Australia, early settlers in 1826 saw locals playing hockey using a ball made from hardened sap – a far cry from what we use today! In Indian villages in 1885, hockey balls were made from bamboo and Indian rubber, which gave the balls the smooth exterior needed for use on the dirt fields that the matches were played on. -
club balls
The first hockey clubs were formed in London in 1871, and each had different ideas about what was the best material to use for the ball. One club used a cube of hard black rubber, but the opposing club thought this would make for a difficult game and used cricket balls instead, which made their gameplay smoother and easier. -
modern day hockey ball
Today, hockey balls are made of hard plastic, which makes it smoother to manoeuvring over AstroTurf and grass. Some of the modern balls we use still have cores of cork, which allow them to bounce. Balls with indentations have become popular as they allow for the ball to travel at consistent speeds over wet surfaces. Balls used during practice sometimes do not have cores and are simply hollow plastic, which makes them light enough for younger players to practice skills with.