Vibration Control
Feel the stick. Cushion the hit.
Cotton gauze between hand and stick shaft absorbs vibration energy from hits, traps, and tackles while maintaining the stick feel for ball control.
Protect — Field Hockey
Guard-Tex wraps the hands that absorb stick vibration, ball impact, and cold-weather playing conditions — cushioning repetitive contact while maintaining the stick feel field hockey demands.
Field hockey sticks are rigid — carbon and fiberglass composites that transmit every impact directly into hands. Hits, traps, tackles, and aerial receiving send vibration through the shaft into fingers and palms. Over a 70-minute match and hours of practice, the cumulative vibration causes hand fatigue, numbness, and grip degradation. Ball strikes to bare hands on the stick cause contusions. Cold artificial turf conditions amplify everything — stiff hands absorb more vibration and bruise more easily.
Field hockey gloves exist but many players find they reduce stick feel and ball control. The tactile feedback of bare hands on the stick tells players about ball contact quality, stick angle, and drag force. Gloves muffle that feedback.
Cold turf in November — my hands were numb by halftime. Guard-Tex insulates enough to keep feeling in my fingers for second-half stick skills.— Midfielder, College D1
Guard-Tex on the high-impact fingers provides vibration cushioning and impact protection while maintaining bare-stick feel. Cotton gauze absorbs vibration energy at the contact points between hand and shaft. In cold weather, the cotton adds thermal insulation that keeps hands functional longer.
Vibration Control
Cotton gauze between hand and stick shaft absorbs vibration energy from hits, traps, and tackles while maintaining the stick feel for ball control.
Hitting and driving. Full-power hits send maximum vibration through the shaft. Guard-Tex on the bottom-hand fingers cushions the impact that causes numbness and grip fatigue during training and matches.
Trapping and receiving. Ball reception vibrates the stick on every trap. Guard-Tex dampens the repetitive minor impacts that accumulate into hand fatigue over a full match.
Tackling and defensive work. Stick-on-stick contact during tackles creates sharp vibration spikes. Guard-Tex cushions the unexpected high-force impacts that cause bruising.
Cold-weather play. Artificial turf in cold conditions means stiff hands on cold sticks. Guard-Tex adds cotton insulation between skin and cold composite, maintaining hand function and reducing the bruise susceptibility of cold tissue.
| Feature | Guard-Tex | Athletic Tape | Bare Hands | Field Hockey Gloves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stick feel | ✓ Full — feel ball contact quality | ✗ Reduced by adhesive | ✓ Maximum | ✗ Significantly reduced |
| Vibration dampening | ✓ Cotton absorbs energy | ✗ Minimal | ✗ None | ✓ Glove padding |
| Ball control | ✓ Maintained — thin cotton | ✗ Adhesive changes grip | ✓ Maximum | ✗ Muffled feedback |
| Cold protection | ✓ Cotton insulates | ✗ No insulation | ✗ Bare to cold | ✓ Full coverage |
| Gear residue | ✓ Zero | ✗ Residue on stick | N/A | N/A |
Ring and pinky finger on the bottom hand take most vibration. Two passes each. Add middle finger for cold-weather play.
Pro tip: Your bottom hand absorbs more stick vibration than your top hand. Prioritize taping there.Index finger and thumb of the top hand control stick angle. Guard-Tex here cushions vibration while maintaining the dexterity for drag flicks and 3D skills.
Pro tip: For goalkeepers, tape all fingers on both hands for impact protection during saves.Guard-Tex holds through 70-minute matches of sweat, water-turf spray, and physical play.
Pro tip: Keep a roll in your kit bag for mid-match taping if hands take a hard ball strike.Peel off — zero residue on hands or stick. No adhesive changing your stick's grip surface for next session.
Pro tip: Compare hand fatigue after taped versus untaped matches. Most players notice significantly less end-of-match numbness.
Most Popular
Self-adhering, non-stretch cotton. Zero adhesive on skin or equipment. One roll lasts weeks of use.
Shop Now"Cold turf in November — my hands were numb by halftime. Guard-Tex insulates enough to keep feeling in my fingers for second-half stick skills."— Midfielder, College D1
"Drag flick practice — 50+ hits per session. My bottom hand was going numb by hit 20. Guard-Tex cushions the vibration and I can practice the full session."— Drag Flicker, National Squad
"Ball strike to my hand during a tackle — Guard-Tex absorbed enough impact that I had a bruise instead of a fracture. The cushion matters."— Defender, Club Hockey
"I refuse to wear gloves — I need to feel the stick for my skills. Guard-Tex gives me just enough protection without losing feel."— Forward, Premier League
Guard-Tex on bottom-hand fingers cushions stick vibration and ball impact while maintaining the bare-stick feel that players rely on for ball control.
Yes. Cotton gauze between hand and stick absorbs vibration energy from hits, traps, and tackles. Meaningful reduction during high-volume training.
Yes. Guard-Tex is thin enough for full stick control, drag flicks, and 3D skills. It provides vibration cushioning without muffling stick feedback.
Zero adhesive. Nothing transfers to composite, fiberglass, or grip surfaces.
Yes. Cotton insulates between hand and cold stick material, maintaining hand function and reducing bruise susceptibility in cold conditions.
One application holds through a full 70-minute match including water-turf spray and sweat.
Self-adhering tape. No adhesive on skin or gear. Made in Elk Grove Village, IL since 1935.
Shop Guard-Tex
