The Complete Field Hockey Ball Guide
Hockey Ball Dimensions, Weights, Materials & Colours
Hockey has come a long way since its early days of codification in the mid 19th century. By the late 1800s, the sport had crossed the Atlantic, with Dr James Huff McCurdy writing rules at Springfield College in the United States. Constance Applebee later founded the US Field Hockey Association in 1901. Since then, the game – and the equipment – has changed dramatically.
And at the heart of the sport, the competitions, the training, and the last-minute drama - is the humble hockey ball. A simple, yet essential part of the sport, you need a hockey ball to train and to compete.
A Short History of the Field Hockey Ball
Sports very similar to hockey, have been played for over 4,000 years. With records of games being played in ancient Greece and Egypt, the sport has an interesting heritage. As you might expect for a sport played thousands of year ago, the first balls were crude – made of cork and wool.
By 1826, Australian makers were using hard sap to create hockey balls, and then as the use of rubber boomed - in 1885, Indian manufacturers created the first hockey balls made of bamboo and rubber. By the late 1900s, the modern ball had arrived: a plastic shell with a cork, wood or rubber core.
Today’s hockey ball hasn’t strayed far from the formula adopted at the end of the 20th century, with the vast majority of balls used in regulated games and tournaments featuring a PVC exterior with a cork and/or rubber core.
The hard exterior gives the ball an extra level of durability and makes the ball water-resistant.
Field Hockey Ball Dimensions
All rules concerning field hockey balls used in official matches are set by Hockey Australia in line with International Hockey Federation (FIH) regulations. Knowing these standards is essential when buying field hockey balls, especially if you play competitively. Using a ball that does not meet these regulations can result in penalties or loss of points.
In this section, we outline the official size, weight, and material requirements for regulation field hockey balls. This ensures the ball you choose complies with both Hockey Australia and FIH standards, so you can play with confidence.
Field Hockey Ball Size
Rules regarding all hockey equipment, including hockey ball dimensions and weight, are set by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). If you’re playing competitively, these are the numbers that matter.
-
Circumference: 22.4–23.5cm (8.82–9.25in)
-
Diameter: 7.13–7.48cm (2.81–2.94in)
-
Weight: 156–163g (5.5–5.75oz)
Heavy for its size, high-quality hockey balls are built to withstand constant strikes and to perform consistently in all weather conditions.
Using a ball in training and practice that matches the FIH guidelines is important so that skills learnt during practice can be directly transferred to competitive gameplay.
Junior Field Hockey Ball Size Dimensions
There’s no global FIH standard for junior balls. Formats for junior hockey balls vary by country and competition. Most younger players use a lighter, hollow ball that’s bigger than the regulation size. This makes striking easier and helps develop skills without strain.
The FORZA XL Junior Hockey Ball, for example, measures 29.6cm in circumference and weighs just 120g. It’s perfect for kids learning the basics as it requires less physical strength to strike, hit and dribble. Compared to a regulation senior hockey ball, the junior ball is softer and is therefore less painful and less likely to cause an injury if the ball strikes part of a child's body.
Field Hockey Ball Materials
The materials used in a field hockey ball are central to how the game is played. From the weight and feel off the stick, to the speed and accuracy of a strike, the materials of the ball make a real difference. Modern hockey balls look simple and relatively primitive in terms of their design. However, underneath the exterior, each layer is carefully designed to balance durability, control, and performance across all playing conditions.
What are field hockey balls made of?
Modern balls are built from a PVC plastic shell with a core of cork, wood, rubber or a combination of these materials. The outer layer is dimpled, giving the ball weatherproof durability and improved aerodynamics. Suitable in almost all weather conditions, the outer shell of the ball can also allow a high-quality ball to withstand a countless number of impacts.
Some training balls are hollow, which makes them cheaper and lighter. But for match play, the solid core offers better connection, truer flight, and more power.
Why do field hockey balls have dimples?
Dimples are not just decoration. Since the 1980s, they’ve been a standard design feature of balls used in high-level play. The dimples allow the hockey ball to travel faster, reducing drag, which in turn makes the ball more aerodynamic.
The pockets of air trapped in the dimples move with the ball, rather than pushing against it. The result? Faster movement, truer roll, and shots that can hit 145km/h (90mph) at professional level.
What colour are field hockey balls?
Official rules state that hockey balls must be white or a colour that contrasts with the colour of the pitch. In practice, white, orange and yellow are the most common hockey ball colours.
These colours are bright enough to stand out on green grass, as well as the green or blue synthetic turf that is often used for all-weather and 4G hockey fields.
FORZA 5-star International Match Hockey Balls are available in white and orange, and FORZA training balls come in an array of colours including high-visibility fluorescent yellow.
FIELD HOCKEY BALLS VS OTHER BALLS
Field Hockey Balls vs Lacrosse Balls
Lacrosse Balls compared to hockey balls are smaller, smoother, solid rubber. Lighter than hockey balls. Field hockey balls have a circumference of between 22.4cm – 23.5cm, while lacrosse balls measure 19.69cm – 20.32cm in circumference. Lacrosse balls are made of solid rubber and weigh 141.75g – 155.92g, significantly lighter than 156g – 163g hockey balls which are made of a number of materials.
Field Hockey Balls vs Baseballs
Baseballs are similar in size to hockey balls, but lighter. Hockey balls are denser thanks to plastic shells and solid cores. The circumference of a baseball used in the MLB must be between 22.9cm – 23.5cm while field hockey ball circumferences are allowed to have a greater range - from 22.4cm – 23.5cm.
Baseballs are also lighter than hockey balls - with a weight of 141.75g - 148.83g. Generally denser than baseballs, field hockey balls have a hard plastic exterior, whereas baseballs have a softer exterior made of PU leather, or real leather.
| Ball Comparison: Hockey vs Other Sports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Type | Circumference | Weight | Material | Notes |
| Field Hockey Ball | 22.4–23.5cm (8.8–9.25in) | 156–163g (5.5–5.75oz) | PVC shell with cork/wood/rubber core | Dimpled surface, built for turf play |
| Baseball | 22.9–23.5cm (9–9.25in) | 142–149g (5–5.25oz) | Cork & yarn core with leather cover | Similar size to hockey ball but lighter |
| Lacrosse Ball | 19.7–20.3cm (7.75–8in) | 142–156g (5–5.5oz) | Solid rubber | Smaller, smoother, lighter than hockey ball |
| Golf Ball | 13.4cm (5.27in) | 45.9g (1.62oz) | Solid rubber core with dimpled resin shell | Much smaller and lighter; extreme compression |
| Tennis Ball | 20.6–21.3cm (8.1–8.4in) | 56–59.4g (1.98–2.1oz) | Rubber core with felt exterior | Hollow, pressurised, much lighter than hockey ball |
Choosing the Right Hockey Ball
At Net World Sports, we stock the full FORZA range of hockey balls – from junior training balls to elite match play. Options include:
-
Training balls – range of designs including hollow and more affordable options, perfect for practice.
-
Match balls – solid core, dimpled surface, built to regulation.
-
Junior balls – oversized, lightweight, confidence-building.
Whatever your level, there’s a FORZA hockey ball to match your game:
Construction Rating: ★★★★★
Color(s): White/Fluro Orange
Circumference: 22.91cm (9.02in)
Weight: 158.76g (5.6 oz)
Exterior : Dimpled
Core: Pu Casing Premium Cork Core
Uses: Match use on all outdoor surfaces. Perfect for elite clubs.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): White
Circumference: 22.91cm (9.02in)
Weight: 110.60g (3.9oz)
Exterior: Smooth
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Match use on all indoor surfaces. Suitable for clubs at all levels.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): White/Fluro Pink
Circumference: 22.91cm (9.02in)
Weight: 110.60g (3.9oz)
Exterior: Smooth/Dimpled
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Match use on all indoor & Outdoor surfaces. Training ball is perfect for all clubs, schools & home use.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): Glittered Pink
Circumference: 22.91cm (9.02in)
Weight: 110.60g (3.9oz)
Exterior: Smooth
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Suitable for all indoor/outdoor surfaces. Training ball is perfect for all clubs, schools and home use.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): Fluro Yellow
Circumference: 29.74cm (11.7in)
Weight: 119.10g (4.2oz)
Exterior: Dimpled
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Suitable for all indoor/outdoor surfaces. Perfect for juniors or beginners looking to develop ball striking skills.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): Fluro Yellow
Circumference: 22.63cm (8.91in)
Weight: 201.28cm (3.5oz)
Exterior: Dimpled
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Suitable for all indoor/outdoor surfaces. Lightweight design helps improve ball control and ball striking skills in training
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): Fluro Yellow
Circumference: 22.63cm (8.91in)
Weight: 201.28g (7.1oz)
Exterior: Dimpled
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Suitable for all indoor/outdoor surfaces. Heavyweight design helps improve shot and pass power.
Construction Rating: ★★★
Color(s): Fluro Yellow
Circumference: 22.63/26.67cm (8.91/10.50in)
Weight: 160g (5.4oz)
Exterior: Smooth/Dimpled
Core: Hollow PVC
Uses: Suitable for all indoor/outdoor surfaces. Uneven construction helps ball control and reaction time.
| FORZA Hockey Ball Range | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Construction Rating | Colour(s) | Exterior | Size | Core | Uses |
| International Match Ball | ★★★★★ | White / Fluro Orange | Dimpled | 160g, Ø 73mm | PU Casing, Premium Cork Core | Water/Sand Astro, Matches, Elite Clubs |
| Indoor Match Ball | ★★★ | White | Smooth | 110g, Ø 73mm | Hollow PVC | Indoor Courts, Sand Pitches, Matches |
| Training Ball | ★★★ | White / Fluro Pink | Dimpled & Smooth | 110g, Ø 73mm | Hollow PVC | Clubs, Schools, Training |
| Glitter Training Ball | ★★★ | Pink | Smooth | 110g, Ø 73mm | Hollow PVC | Training, Indoors, Schools |
| XL Junior Ball | ★★★ | Fluro Yellow | Dimpled | 120g, Ø 95mm | Hollow PVC | Beginners, Kids, Skills Training |
| 100g Hockey Ball | ★★★ | Fluro Yellow | Dimpled | 100g, Ø 72mm | Hollow PVC | Beginners, Training |
| 200g Hockey Ball | ★★★ | Fluro Yellow | Dimpled | 200g, Ø 72mm | Hollow PVC | Strength Training, Skills |
| REACT Hockey Ball | ★★★ | Fluro Yellow | Dimpled & Smooth | 160g, Ø 72/85mm | Hollow PVC | Beginners, Training, Skill Development |
As well as field hockey balls, we also supply a range of other premium quality field hockey equipment. We sell field hockey sticks, goals, nets, protective gear, gameday equipment plus more! Regardless of your age or ability, we have the field hockey equipment to fully kit out you, your relatives or your field hockey club.
