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Staffs come in all shapes and sizes. Although there isn’t always an option to choose your staff diameter, we’re gonna delve a bit deeper into how diameter affects the flow of a prop and talk about the most common diameters used across different stick props. I’ll also sprinkle in a bunch of personal opinions, so hang on tight!
Let’s talk about some basic physics. A smaller diameter staff actually rotates faster than a larger one, but because each revolution covers less distance, it rolls more slowly across your body. Larger diameter staffs rotate fewer times but travel farther with each revolution, making them roll more quickly. This is why diameter matters most on props that spend a lot of time rolling on your body.
All of the diameters discussed in this article refer to the outside diameter (OD) of the aluminum or carbon fiber tubing itself, not the finished diameter of the prop after grip has been added. Depending on the grip material and thickness, the final diameter in your hands will be larger.
Grip thickness can noticeably change the finished diameter of a staff. For example, a 5/8” (16mm) staff with a thick 3mm yoga mat style grip can end up with a similar overall diameter to a 3/4” (19mm) staff using a thinner 1.5mm silicone tube grip. Throughout this article we’re focusing on the diameter of the aluminum or carbon fiber core, since grips can be replaced while the tubing itself cannot.
Let’s talk about staves from the largest outside diameter (OD) to the smallest. We also have a video linked below if that’s your preferred way to learn:
Dragon Staff
Dragon staffs have spokes that slow the rolling speed compared to a regular staff, which is why they’re most commonly built using 7/8” (22mm) tubing. Some manufacturers still use 1” (25mm) tubing, but this has become much less common.
For most dragon staff users, I don’t even recommend using another diameter. Most hubs on the market, including Threeworlds and Gora, are designed around 22mm tubing, so choosing a different size can complicate things if you ever want to swap hubs or upgrade your setup.
Some people do use 19mm (3/4”) dragon staffs. If you’re using Fusion V3 hubs, spacers are available to adapt them to 19mm tubing. Although it’s definitely possible, I personally don’t like the way it flows because of the slower rolling speed. That said, I know several experienced artists who love this setup, so it’s ultimately a matter of preference.
Contact Staff
Contact staffs come in a much wider range of diameters, and the style of flow and where you live will largely determine what you gravitate toward. The three most common diameters are 7/8” (22mm), 3/4” (19mm), and 5/8” (16mm).
If you don’t have the opportunity to try all three, here’s my take.
7/8” (22mm) is probably the most common diameter worldwide. It’s popular for collapsible staffs, martial flow styles, and hybrid contact/spin styles. Although the larger diameter adds a little weight, it’s also thicker and easier to grab onto. Traditional bo staffs are generally 1” (25mm) or larger in diameter, so martial artists often find this size feels familiar. This is also a very common diameter throughout Europe and Australia.
5/8” (16mm) staffs are great if you’re heading down a more technical path. I see them used most often for traps and double or triple contact staff. Because of the smaller diameter, they roll more slowly across your body, giving you additional control during contact moves. That being said, at least in my opinion, they can make certain tricks like Angel Rolls and Steve’s feel a bit awkward if you’re used to larger diameters. These staffs also tend to be lighter, and at this diameter they’re almost always made from carbon fiber so they don’t become too flexible.
3/4” (19mm) sits nicely in the middle. You have a bit more to hold onto than a 16mm staff while still getting a slower roll than a 22mm staff. If you’re just starting out or enjoy blending contact staff with spin staff, this is a really safe choice. Although 7/8″ might be most common worldwide, I’d say 3/4″ and 5/8″ are more common in the USA.
Contact staff flowers are removable accessories that flare out as the staff rolls, creating additional drag and slowing the effective rolling speed. Some people love them because they make certain contact moves feel more controlled, while others prefer the cleaner feel of a staff without them. Like most things in flow arts, whether they’re a good or bad thing depends on your style of flow and the moves you’re trying to do, but they can be useful if you already have a staff and want it to roll more slowly.
One thing I’ve noticed in the community is that you’ll eventually get used to whatever diameter you start with. That’s not me saying this decision doesn’t matter, but if one of these descriptions sounds more appealing than the others, don’t overthink it.
A quick note on contact swords: Many of the same principles apply since they also spend a lot of time rolling across your body. The most common diameters are 5/8” (16mm) and 3/4” (19mm), while 7/8” (22mm) is much less common.
Spin Staff
Unlike contact and dragon staffs, spin staffs aren’t designed to roll on your body. They’re meant to be held near the center while performing spins, weaves, and tosses.
Because of this, larger diameters are generally preferred. Most spin staffs use 7/8” (22mm) or 3/4” (19mm), although 1” (25mm) staffs can be found as well.
The larger diameter gives you more to grip during spins and catches while also distributing more weight throughout the shaft instead of concentrating it at the ends. Most spin staffs are also only gripped in the center, both to reduce weight and because that’s the only area intended to be held. Together, these characteristics create the balanced feel that many spin staff artists prefer.
Double Staffs
For this section, I’m referring to tech doubles or batons, not double contact staff.
The most common double staff diameter is 1/2” (13mm), although diameters ranging from 3/8” to 7/8” can all be found depending on the manufacturer and intended style.
Since double staffs aren’t rolling on the body, diameter mostly comes down to grip preference. Thinner staffs can make finger spinning and technical manipulation easier, while slightly larger diameters may feel more secure during catches and tosses.
Traditional twirling batons are generally 3/8” to 7/16” in diameter, making them one of the thinnest stick props you’ll commonly find.
Other Props
Most other stick-based props aren’t affected by diameter nearly as much as staffs because they don’t spend much time rolling across your body.
Props like non-contact swords, spears, maces, swinging torches, leviwands, and devil sticks are generally designed around a specific diameter chosen by the manufacturer. In these cases, diameter is usually selected based on strength, weight, durability, and intended use rather than rolling characteristics.
That doesn’t mean diameter is completely irrelevant, but it usually isn’t something you need to spend much time thinking about.
Conclusion
To wrap this up, I think staff diameter matters most on props that involve rolling across your body. Outside of that, it mostly changes how much there is to hold onto and how the weight feels in your hands. Since most dragon staffs, spin staffs, double staffs, and other stick props come in one standard diameter from a given manufacturer, contact staff is where this decision matters the most (IMO).
Here’s the quick recap:
- Larger diameters travels faster across your body.
- Smaller diameters travel slower.
- Dragon staffs are generally 7/8” (22mm).
- Contact staffs are commonly 7/8”, 3/4”, or 5/8”.
- Contact swords are usually 3/4” or 5/8”.
- Spin staffs are generally 3/4” to 7/8”.
- Double staffs are most commonly 1/2” (13mm).
- Most other stick props use standardized diameters.
- Contact staffs can use staff flowers to slow their rolling speed.
Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of how staff diameter affects different props. Like most things in flow arts, there isn’t one correct answer. The deeper you get into your flow journey, the more you’ll discover what works best for your style.
