There are only three specs that meaningfully change how a field hockey stick feels: the bow, the weight, and the carbon content. Everything else on the label is marketing. Get these three right for your game and the rest sorts itself out.
Bow is the curve of the shaft. A mid bow, with its deepest point higher up, is the most forgiving and the easiest to hit and trap with — it is where every new player should start. Low and extra-low bows push the curve lower and closer to the legal 25mm limit, which helps with drag-flicks and 3D skills but demands sharper hands.
Weight is personal, but the rule of thumb holds: lighter sticks (around 520g) are quicker through the reverse and easier on tired forearms, while heavier sticks (560g and up) carry more into the hit. Beginners almost always overrate power and underrate quickness.
Carbon content is the stiffness dial. More carbon means a harder, faster hit and less give on impact. That sounds purely good until you mis-hit — a 95% carbon stick punishes off-centre contact where a composite quietly forgives it. Match the carbon to your consistency, not your ambition.
Our honest advice: start mid bow, light, and composite. Spend the money you save on hours on the turf. You will know when the stick is holding you back, and it will not be in your first season.