Do you know the heartbreak of your favourite hurl breaking while you’re at peak performance in an important match? With the ability to knock you off your game, why let something so trivial continue to happen? It can often mean the difference in getting that final point to win the match. However, Cúltec is leading the way in the next generation of hurling sticks. The Offaly based company has brought a new synthetic fibreglass hurl to the market which is much stronger than the traditional ash hurl.
Why Choose a Cúltec Fibreglass Hurling Stick?
Approved by the GAA, the Cúltec hurl is the perfect tool in the hands of any hurler or camogie enthusiast. The synthetic hurley is hallow from the handle to the bás, with a cork in the bás to give a large sweet spot. It encompasses premium touch, strike and balance to be used by all levels of ability and age, with sizes ranging from 24” to 30”. The in-built grip on the top and lower handle offers ultimate control, as well as a textured PVC end cap to increase grip. Coming in a range of colours including pink, blue, green and the traditional cream to give players more input over the style of hurl they use.
How Does it Differ from the Traditional Ash Hurley?
To comply with the main criteria provided by the GAA, the Cúltec hurl is not unbreakable for safety reasons. A Cúltec hurley is stronger than an average ash one, but if it is placed under excessive force, it will break in a bid to protect the players from the risk of serious injury. However, unlike the ash hurley, the bás will not “fly-out”, instead a fracture may occur on one side of the handle with the hurl usually remaining in one piece. As opposed to the ash hurl which often differs in weight and feel from one hurl to the next, players are guaranteed when buying a Cúltec hurl it will be identical to the last one they had (with a 24” hurl weighing 310g + 3% per size increase). This provides players with the ability to purchase online as they no longer need to physically get a feel for the hurl, guaranteed their next Cúltec hurl will be identical to the last.
Used by the Best
Hurlers around the country have picked up their Cúltec fibreglass hurling sticks including Dublin’s Ryan O’Dwyer who has been using Cúltec hurls since 2009. He echoes one of the main advantages of these commenting, “when you break an ash hurley, it turns your game upside down. When you break a Cúltec, and it's rare enough that you would, you can pick up another one that's the same and continue as normal”. Other star players choosing to play with the Cúltec fibreglass hurls includes Offaly’s Diarmuid Horan, Wexford’s Pat Kenny, and Tipperary’s Orla O’Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. David Hegarty from Kilkenny also used a Cúltec hurley to battle against Tipperary and become All Ireland hurling champions in 2011.
So, the only question left to ask is why not a Cúltec fibreglasss hurley? The perfect addition to any hurlers kit, and dare we mention the ‘C’ word, but a great Christmas gift. When purchasing a Cúltec hurl, it is important to choose the correct size and contrary to popular belief, no you do not measure it against the hip. Modern hurling now aims to get the ball to the player’s hand as quick as possible, therefore having a short and light hurl is key.
Follow these steps to find the correct hurling stick size:
- Stand relaxed with your hands relaxed by your sides.
- The distance from the ground to your wrist is the correct hurley size.
- You should be able to hold the hurley at the top while it is touching the ground.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your Cúltec fibreglass hurl today in-store or online at O’Neills and you’ll never look back.