In field hockey, a tomahawk is a powerful backhand shot. Players use this technique to hit the ball hard when it is on the left side of their body (for right-handed players). It gets its name from the way a player swings the stick, which mimics someone swinging a hatchet or a tomahawk axe.
How a Player Performs It
To execute a tomahawk, a player follows these steps:
- The Grip: The player rotates their hands so the flat side of the stick faces upward or slightly toward the ground.
- The Body Position: The player lowers their center of gravity, often dropping one knee close to the ice-like turf.
- The Swing: They swing the stick horizontally across their body.
- The Contact: The player strikes the ball with the edge of the stick rather than the flat face. Specifically, they use the “back” edge of the hook.
Key Characteristics
- Speed: This is often the fastest way to hit a ball on the backhand side. It allows players to shoot at the goal with massive force.
- Height: Because the stick hits the ball at a specific angle, the ball often lifts off the ground, making it harder for goalkeepers to save.
- The Edge Rule: In field hockey, you usually must use the flat side of the stick. The tomahawk is a special exception where the rules allow contact with the edge, provided the player does not use the rounded back of the stick.
When to Use It
- Shooting: Strikers use the tomahawk to snap a quick shot at the goal from the left side of the circle.
- Clearing: Defenders use it to “smash” the ball away from their own goal when they don’t have time to turn around.
- Passing: Players use a softer version of this swing to send a long, flat pass across the pitch to a teammate.
Safety and Skill
The tomahawk requires great timing. If a player misses the ball, they might accidentally hit an opponent’s stick or shins with high force. For this reason, coaches spend a lot of time teaching players how to keep the swing controlled and the stick head low.