Hurley (stick)

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Hurley, with sliotar

A hurley, also known as a camán (the Irish word), and lesser known as hurl, a hurley stick, shtick (jocular eye dialect), or in parts of Ulster as a setanta, is a wooden stick measuring between 70 and 100 cm (26 to 40 inches) long with a flattened, curved end (called the bas), used to hit a sliotar (leather ball) in the Irish sport of hurling. It is also used in camogie, the female equivalent, and there often called a camogie stick.

Hurleys are made from ash wood, and are usually bought from local craftsmen in Ireland, who still use traditional production methods. However, for some time in the 1970s, hurleys made from plastic were used, mainly produced by Wavin. These proved more likely to cause injury however, and were phased out. Steel bands are used to re-inforce the flattened end of the hurley though these are not permitted in camogie due to increased risk of injury. Bands have been put on hurleys since the beginning; the 8th century Brehon Laws permit only a king's son to have a bronze band, while all others must use a copper band.

No matter how well crafted the hurley is, a hurler may well expect to use several hurleys over the course of the hurling season. The hurleys often break if two collide in the course of a game, or occasionally they break off on the other players (arms, legs, etc.). Two hurleys colliding is colloquially known as "the clash of the ash." Some hurleys can be repaired by a method called "splicing" this method involves cutting a bas shaped piece from another broken hurley and fixing it to the broken bas by way of glue and nails, the two piece bas is then banded ("hooped") and sanded into shape. Throwing the hurley (e.g. to block a ball going high over one's head) is illegal, though camogie players may drop it to make a handpass.