A fresh approach to sports equipment design: evolving hockey sticks using genetic algorithms

In this paper the authors describe the first stages of developing a genetic algorithm for optimising hockey stick design. The final iteration of this algorithm optimises the mass distribution and total mass of the hockey stick, and ranks the performance of each design based on its modelled ability in hitting and perceived performance in dribbling. The fitness function used draws on player performance testing results, validated models and implied human perception data.