Brace on a hurley

digzy

I always thought braces were nailed onto hurleys to prevent fracture.
About 20 years ago most hurleys had one or sometimes two braces. As a kid all our hurleys came with a brace as standard.
Gradually they seem to be disappearing. I noticed most Wexford lads didnt use them over the years.

Any theories?

Dangerous Man

digzy wrote: »

I always thought braces were nailed onto hurleys to prevent fracture.
About 20 years ago most hurleys had one or sometimes two braces. As a kid all our hurleys came with a brace as standard.
Gradually they seem to be disappearing. I noticed most Wexford lads didnt use them over the years.

Any theories?

I honestly have no idea. I remember for some reason when I was a nipper that you weren't allowed to have more than two braces on the hurley though.

I'd like to know the answer to this myself.

Tony Beetroot

Health and safety plus better sourced wood.

Connorzee

Adds weight

Hurleys werent as readily available then so i would think it would've been common a fella plays on with a crack in the boss with the brace keeping it together. These days it would be unheard of.

Putting a nail in a new hurley will weaken the hurley where the nail is...

All possible theories?

Mountainlad

Personally use bandless hurleys myself these days. Reason I switched was when the band comes loose it makes an awful noise and seems to affect the strike.

menace404

Isn't called a 'splice'